There is a great deal of misinformation circulating the internet regarding the role of iodine in radiation emergencies. It is extremely important for individuals to realize that chronic misuse of iodine supplementation can lead to serious health concerns. Large doses of iodine intake – like excessive intake of any other mineral – is not generally appropriate except under the supervision of a medical professional.

Iodine is an essential trace mineral. Iodine is found in trace amounts throughout the human body, but it is especially concentrated in the thyroid. 10-20 mg of iodine can be found in the average healthy thyroid.

Humans obtain iodine from a number of food sources, with increased levels coming from sea-based food sources (animals and plants). Because of its importance in human nutrition, iodine is commonly added to salt to help prevent deficiencies.

Unfortunately, certain types of iodine are not beneficial to human health. Iodine-131 (a very specific iodine isotope) is a radioactive byproduct of uranium fission. In certain extreme circumstances, iodine-131 may leak into the air or ground if a uranium-based nuclear power plant experiences severe structural or physical damage. Thankfully, iodine-131 has a relatively short half-life (8 days), limiting the primary risk of exposure to those in the immediate vicinity of the damaged plant.

Because the human body is unable to distinguish between safe iodine and iodine-131, it is possible for iodine-131 to enter the body and accumulate in iodine-rich areas, particularly the thyroid. (It is worth noting that trace amounts of radioactive compounds enter the body all the time, and the body has mechanisms for dealing with radioactive compounds in normal amounts.)

If the amount of iodine-131 that enters the body exceeds known safe levels, it is possible for the thyroid to accumulate iodine-131 in unsafe amounts. A relatively simple way to prevent this is to flood the body with high levels of good iodine (typically potassium iodide). Once the thyroid reaches “full iodine capacity,” it stops absorbing more, allowing unsafe iodine-131 to be excreted instead of absorbed. Iodine supplements designed specifically for radiation treatment typically provide a 130mg adult dosage. (Note: USANA products have a much smaller dosage of iodine and should not be taken with the intent of high iodine dosing.)

While this procedure may seem straightforward, there are specific criteria that must be met before flooding the body with iodine, because excessive iodine intake is not without consequences. Many government organizations have issued excellent guidance on this topic; a very concise FAQ on the topic is available from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm072265.htm

If you have concerns about radiation exposure, please contact your local health care professional. Do not take USANA supplements – or any other supplements – at levels above recommended dosages without first consulting a doctor.

Finally, if you do decide to purchase potassium iodide as part of an emergency preparedness plan, please note that only a handful of companies have received approval to sell pharmacological doses of potassium iodide directly to consumers. Please contact your local health department for additional information.

At present, no supportable scientific evidence indicates that a person’s blood type in any way affects dietary and nutrient needs.  Certain companies and individuals have simply used this theory as a “unique” way to sell weight-loss supplements and recipe books.

No USANA products contain added BPA. Additionally, the plastic containers that hold USANA supplements and the plastic packages inside the HealthPak do not contain BPA.

The Rev3 cans, like most aluminum cans, are lined with an epoxy resin to prevent leaching of aluminum into the drink itself. This epoxy resin may contain trace amounts of BPA. The issue of whether there is an actual health threat from potential exposure to BPA from cans (not just its presence), remains highly controversial. USANA scientists continue to monitor all available information and research on the matter.

For now, since there is no evidence of the epoxy lining in aluminum cans leading to any harm (from BPA or any other reason), and there is no reasonable alternative, the very real benefit of the lining protecting against metal-leaching outweighs the theoretical risk of exposure to minute amounts of BPA.

Yes, USANA tablets can be crushed or dissolved into food or liquid. Some customers have chosen to use pill crushers or even coffee grinders to facilitate this method of delivery.

One caveat: if you choose to do this, please consume the food or liquid immediately. Product potency will decline quickly if left unconsumed.

The plastic bottles used for USANA supplements are virgin HDPE (high density polyethylene), a preferred type of plastic for tablet and capsule containers. HDPE is also approved for food use, and it is recyclable. (The recycle symbol is located on the bottom of product bottles.)

No. Currently there are no USANA Nutritionals that are designated as “time-released.”

Many cell cultures used in laboratory experiments are, for all intents and purposes, human cancer cells.
One of the basic characteristics of a cancerous cell is that it continually divides. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not have a mechanism inside their DNA that tells them when to stop dividing. As such, they continue to grow if given the proper conditions. This makes them excellent for research; because the cells multiply quickly, they can be very useful in a laboratory setting.
Some of the cells used by Dr. Wentz in his cell culture studies were likely HeLa cells. HeLa cells survive and multiply very well in culture, so they are used in research labs around the world for study. In fact, if HeLa cells are cultivated properly and given optimum nutrients, they continue to grow and divide indefinitely.
USANA is not the only company which uses these cell lines for research. In fact, these cell lines can be ordered from many catalogues. Over the past 52 years, research on HeLa cells has provided scientists with an enormous amount of knowledge about the physiology and genetics of cells.

Much of the research performed by Dr. Wentz and his laboratories (Gull Labs and USANA) is privately funded and has not been published. Below are a few abstracts from published studies conducted by Dr. Wentz and other USANA scientists. All other USANA clinical research can be found at: https://askthescientists.com/qa/usana-clinical-research/

Preobrazhensky S, Malugin A, Wentz M. Flow cytometric assay for evaluation of the effects of cell density on cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis. Cytometry. 2001;43(3):199-203.

BACKGROUND: We used a flow cytometric assay, which allows us to perform precise measurements within a wide range of cell concentrations to study the effect of the density of cultured cells on their sensitivity to cytotoxic compounds. METHODS: To measure cytotoxic action, cells are plated in a 96-well plate at a density ranging from 700 to 100,000 cells/ml and are allowed to grow for 72 h in the presence of various concentrations of a cytotoxic agent. To quantitate the number of surviving cells, each sample is analyzed in a flow cytometer with equal acquisition time. Viable cells are identified by light scattering characteristics identical to those for untreated cells. To estimate the amount of viable, apoptotic, or necrotic (late apoptotic) cells, the samples are stained with Annexin V and propidium iodide. RESULTS: Using this method, we found that the cytotoxicity of ascorbic acid for malignant lymphoid CEM-C7 cells can be increased significantly when cell density decreases, reaching a value that is typically lower than the normal physiological concentration of ascorbic acid in blood. CONCLUSION: The flow cytometric analysis described in this study can be useful in comparing the effects of cell density on the cytotoxic action of various compounds.

Preobrazhensky S, Trakht I, Chestkov V, Wentz M. Monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay for evaluation of lipoprotein oxidation. Anal Biochem. 1995;227(1):225-34.

Numerous reports indicate that the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) can significantly change its metabolic and physiological properties. Most methods for evaluation of LDL oxidation require isolation of lipoprotein, making the procedure laborious and increasing the probability of artifactual modification of LDL. In this paper we describe an immunochemical approach which can be used to measure the oxidation of isolated LDL and apoprotein B in unfractionated serum and to evaluate the effects of antioxidants on these processes. The procedure is based on differential recognition by monoclonal antibodies of native and oxidized lipoproteins. The results obtained with our assay indicate a strong correlation between the changes of apo B epitope expression during oxidation and the formation of conjugated dienes, changes in lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility, and interaction with fibroblast and macrophage receptors. The sensitivity of apo B to oxidation varies greatly among serum samples obtained from individual donors. These differences do not correlate with the differences in sensitivity to oxidation of LDL isolated from the blood samples of the same donors. It is also shown that apo B oxidation in serum can be progressively inhibited in the presence of increasing amounts of various antioxidants.

Mazumder P, Chuang HY, Wentz MW, Wiedbrauk DL. Latex agglutination test for detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. J Clin Microbiol. 1988;26(11):2444-6.

A resurgence of interest in Toxoplasma gondii has occurred because this coccidian parasite causes lethal infections in immunologically compromised hosts and is responsible for at least 3,000 congenitally infected infants in the United States annually. Thus, rapid, specific, and inexpensive serologic tests are required for routine screening of patients, especially pregnant women. We have developed a latex agglutination test for antibodies to T. gondii which utilizes covalently coupled T. gondii antigens. When compared with an indirect immunofluorescence assay, the latex test had a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 100%. Compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the latex test had 86% sensitivity and 100% specificity. When testing samples which exhibited nonspecific polar staining by the immunofluorescence assay, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay had a 50% false-positive rate, whereas the latex agglutination test yielded no false-positive results. Thus, the latex agglutination test provided an efficacious method for routine serological screening for antibodies to T. gondii.

Due to company policy, we cannot disclose the names or locations of raw material suppliers. However, USANA scientists conduct numerous tests on both raw materials and finished products to ensure purity and safety.

Among other testing, we use HPLC, ICP-MS, FTIR and GLC for quality control purposes. We perform multiple testing and screening procedures to assure that our raw materials are not only pure, but also that they contain no unintentional compounds (pesticides, heavy metals, organic contaminants, manufacturing contaminants, etc).

Regardless of their source, all raw ingredients that go into USANA products are selected for effectiveness, purity, and safety. We use vitamin and mineral compounds in the chemical forms, whether “natural” or “synthetic”, that are best absorbed and utilized by the body, and we purchase the materials with the highest standards for quality.

In general, testimonials are considered unreliable as scientific evidence and are not a worthy substitute for scientific validity. There are currently hundreds of randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies that indicate a strong correlation between diets rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables and a decreased incidence of chronic degenerative disease. This significance continues to be investigated through carefully validated scientific research.

USANA continually reviews recent scientific literature and incorporates its findings, along with in-house laboratory research and clinical studies, into product development and design. This comprehensive approach to product development provides our Associates and Preferred Customers with comprehensive, balanced, safe, and effective nutritional formulas.