PROANTHENOLS™ Masquelier's REAL OPC Grape Seed / Pine Bark Extract! Frequently Asked Questions

To answer you questions about the world's most exciting nutrient, Life Plus has collected questions from hundreds of people across the U.S. and listed the most common ones for your information. These concise answers will help you understand why Proanthenols, containing Dr. Jack Masquelier's REAL OPC exclusively, is the leading, most exciting, health supporting product on the market today. It is the most potent of all antioxidant nutrients known to man and is rapidly becoming the "antioxidant of antioxidants."

Q: What are OPCs?
A: OPC is an abbreviation for "Oligomeric ProanthoCyanidins," natural health supporting compounds found in plants. OPC's are concentrated in fibrous parts of fruits and vegetables and are often destroyed by cooking. OPC molecules are made of 2 or 3 individual monomer units called flavanols linked together. They are colorless but turn into red pigments when fruits ripen and leaves turn.

Q: What is REAL OPC?
A: REAL OPC is the proprietary trademarked name for Dr. Masquelier's patented proanthocyanidin plant extract. The complete name is Masquelier's REAL OPC. It is protected by U.S. Patent No. 4,698,360 as a free radical scavenging antioxidant, It contains extracts from both Maritime Pine bark and grape seeds. REAL OPC is the result of 50 years of research by Dr. Masquelier.

Q: What are Proanthenols?
A: Proanthenols is the proprietary trademark of Life Plus for their high quality products that exclusively contain Masquelier's REAL OPC extract from both Maritime Pine bark and grape seeds. The tablets are manufactured under strict controlled procedures to ensure the highest OPC activity possible. All Proanthenols products carry the Masquelier's REAL OPC trademark and its U.S. Patent Number.

Q: Who is Dr. Masquelier?
A: Professor Emeritus, Doctor Jack Masquelier at the University of Bordeaux, France is the world's leading authority on OPC's. Beginning to research them in 1947, he has spent his whole lifetime studying, researching, refining and applying OPC's. He was the holder of many patents and trademarks around the world and is truly a world class scientist, highly respected by the scientific community.

Q: Are OPCs Bioavailable?
A: Dr. Masquelier's research has proven the bioavailability of OPC's is maximal. He has shown that proanthocyanidins in his REAL OPC are 100% bioavailable from the digestive tract and travel through the bloodstream to every part of the body, especially those rich in collagen.

Q: How are Proanthenols and Xtra Antioxidants different?
A: Proanthenols contain a specified amount of pure Masquelier's REAL OPC super antioxidant. It is the most potent antioxidant known to man and actually helps other antioxidants such Vitamins A, C & E and Glutathione work better. Actually, OPCs free up other antioxidants and the result is that all of them perform better as antioxidants and act better in numerous other functions in the body. Xtra Antioxidants is a broad based antioxidant supplement containing Vitamins A, C & E, Beta-Carotene, Selenium, Zinc, Glutathione, Herbs and other antioxidant nutrients. The two products are synergistic.

Q: Why should I take both?
A: Xtra Antioxidants is a broad spectrum supplement that provides numerous vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are known antioxidants and are also supportive of other healthy body functions. it is usually taken as a preventive and immune system supporting product. Proanthenols contains specific high powered OPC antioxidants that are often used for specific benefits and actually help numerous other antioxidants work better. It makes sense to take both.

Q: What are free radicals and antioxidants?
A: Oxygen is essential for life, but can be very damaging to our cells when in its super reactive "free radical" form. Free radicals evolve from faulty metabolism, unhealthy diets, environmental pollution, tobacco smoke, stress, certain chemicals and drugs, radiation and other sources. They attack all cells and stimulate aging and the development of all degenera- tive diseases. Normally, our cells are shielded from free radical damage by protective enzymes and antioxidant nutrients. The antioxidants react with free radicals, protecting our bodies against disease and degeneration. Scientists call this "free radical scavenging."

Q: Where do OPCs come from?
A: They occur widely among the plant kingdom (practically every plant) and have actually been shown by Dr. Masquelier to be present in over 500 different varieties. They are most highly concentrated in the more fibrous parts of plants such as bark, stems, leaves, seed and skins. The most viable commercial sources today are grape seeds, an abundantly available by-product of the grape industry and French Maritime Pine bark, a by- product of the lumber industry in southern France.

Q: Are red or white grapes used?
A: OPC's are found in red and white grapes alike. They are only extracted from seeds of grapes that are used in the making of white wine. In the making of red wine, the seeds are fermented with the grapes for about 14 days. During fermentation, the OPC's pass from the seeds into the wine. In making white wine, the seeds are removed from the juice before fermentation begins.

Q: Are they organically grown?
A: The volume of organic grapes is far too small to supply the growing demand for OPC's. However, there is no need for concern about residues of pesticides. Independent laboratory analysis demonstrates that Masquelier's REAL OPC extracts from pine and grape seeds are the safest in the industry.

Q: Are Japanese and French grapes different?
A: Of course, grapes are not different because of their nationality. However, some suppliers try to confuse consumers by using the term "grape seed" or "grape skin" extract. These products do not necessarily contain OPC's and should not be equated to Masquelier's REAL OPC.

Q: What percentages are the pine and grape contents?
A: Masquelier's REAL OPC contains proanthocyanidins from both grape seeds and Maritime Pine Bark. Taking into account economies of scale, seasonal variations in OPC content of grapes and pine, Masquelier's REAL OPC blend ensures a consistent and maximum content of proanthocyanidins and their different precursors. The actual percentages are proprietary, but the "best of both" is guaranteed as well as the most efficacious and economic balance.

Q: Are any harmful solvents used?
A: To extract OPC's on a large scale, water is used as well as one organic solvent. During the process, the solvent is removed to a level far below required limits for health standards. Masquelier's REAL OPC is also cleared of any by-products of the solvent during the process. Solvent residues are removed to minute levels of no more than 1 to 5 parts per million (almost undetectable) that have no health consequences whatsoever.

Q: What are OPCs good for?
A: OPC's are probably the most versatile nutrients ever discovered. They are the most active free radical scavenging antioxidants known. They help protect against all degenerative conditions. OPC's are known to cross the blood/brain barrier and improve oxygenation of brain tissue, which may be helpful in preventing attention deficit syndrome. One of the greatest values of OPC's is their ability to preserve and protect collagen and its production. Collagen is an important structural constituent of our blood vessels, skin and connective tissues including ligaments, tendons and others. As potent antioxidants, the OPC's in Proanthenols are the most valuable anti-aging nutrients.

Q: Do we obtain OPCs from our diet?
A: A healthy diet rich in whole raw fruits and vegetables contains proanthocyanidins. Unfortunately, most people discard the parts of foods (stems, seeds, skins, etc.) that contain the most of them. Also, most herbs contain representative amounts of them. Red wine is actually the richest food source of OPC's.

Q: Should I take them?
A: In today's environment and high stress lifestyles, in which one person in three develop disease and over one million die each year of heart problems, we need antioxidant protection. Life Plus Proanthenols products, containing Dr. Masquelier's REAL OPC, are the most convenient way to obtain them. What is important is not necessarily the length of one's life, but its quality. In this regard, this wonderful product can make a difference.

Q: Who can take them?
A: OPC's are totally safe. We do not know of any reason for anyone of any age not to take them. They are one of the most prevalent natural compounds that occur naturally in natural whole foods.

Q: Should they be taken with food?
A: Proanthenols can be taken any time during the day, with other supplements, food or by themselves. We recommend taking them on an empty stomach to reduce the possibility of foods interfering with absorption.

Q: Can pregnant women take them?
A: No contraindications are known. The first person that Dr. Masquelier recommended to take his extract was the pregnant wife of his dean at the university in Bordeaux. She had severe swelling in her legs and was greatly helped by them. Both the fetus and mother need antioxidant protection during pregnancy and OPC's are ideal.

Q: Can OPCs be taken with blood thinners?
A: OPC's are not blood thinners and do not compete with them. OPC's help to maintain healthy collagen levels in the blood vessels and as such support good circulation. As antioxidants, OPC's help provide good levels of oxygen to the heart and brain, adding greatly to cardiac health, energy and alertness.

Q: What about other medications?
A: We simply do not know of any contraindications. However, in case of any doubt always consult your physician.

Q: Do OPCs pass the blood/brain barrier?
A: Yes, scientific studies have demonstrated that OPC's cross the blood/brain barrier.

Q: Which brand is best?
A: Every care possible is utilized in the manufacturing of Proanthenols tablets. Masquelier's REAL OPC is used exclusively. It is manufactured with the most stringent controls in the world. Low temperature processing is an important part of the tableting procedure to preserve biological activity. In addition, we include an incredible array of phytonutrients in the proprietary Life Plus PhytoZyme base.

Q: Are there any side-effects?
A: Many ingredients are contained in all natural extracts, and on rare occasions, allergy may be seen. However, we are not aware of any.

Q: How are they available?
A: Proanthenols are available in the regular strength 50mg tablets and the High Potency 1OOmg tablets.

Q: How many should I take?
A: Generally, for regular preventive use, 1 mg of OPC's are taken per pound of body weight per day. However, more is often taken. The most common dosage in Europe is 50 or 100mg three times per day.

Q: Can I take too much?
A: No reactions or side effects are known that result from taking large quantities.

Q: Why does the Proanthenols 100 formula label state to take the same number of tablets as the regular 50mg Proanthenols?
A: The Proanthenols 100 formula is designed for those who want to take larger amounts in a more convenient, cost effective way.