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From the President’s Desk

This issue should reach you in a timelier manner than the summer issue did. Unprecedented growth coupled with new product development and attendance at conferences delayed the summer issue and caused the fall issue to be dropped altogether. We are back on track and ready to relay new and important information to you.

You may have noticed that our address has changed. Due to rapid growth, we have moved our operation to a larger facility. We are still organizing and not all of the dust has settled yet, but we are able to get your order to you within three business days as we have in the past (faster, if necessary).

Please visit our new website, which is currently under construction at www.rockyfork.net.

Emulsified Vitamin A Problems

Due to problems with the emulsion, our Emulsified Vitamin A-High Concentrate product has been temporarily withdrawn from the market. Periodic quality control testing detected a problem with this product in mid-December. Previous testing had shown the product to be normal. Research into the emulsion failure is underway and reformulation work has started. The product is not adulterated or contaminated in any way but is no longer dispersible in water and should not be given in doses over 50,000 IU (2 drops). We will keep you informed in subsequent newsletters regarding the status of the product.

What’s New?

Rocky Fork Formulas, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of several new products to our line. These may not be available for a short time but should all be introduced by the middle of March.

The first of these new products is LIVER COMPLEX HS. This product as well as the new heart support product listed below have been specially designed with lyophilized bovine glands, herbs, vitamins and several other nutrients chosen for their function enhancement and rejuvanative properties. Beside lyophilized liver are the herbs milk thistle extract, dandelion root and cascara sagrada. Vitamins included are B1, B2, B12 and vitamin C. Other nutrients include dimethylglycine, inositol, choline, methionine, and carnitine. Designed to enhance liver function and for use in conditions like fatty liver degeneration and cirrhosis. May also be helpful in digestive system.

CARDIO COMPLEX HS contains Lyophilized bovine heart, and the herbal extracts of Hawthorn Berry, Motherwort and Gugulipid. Also contains vitamins B1, B6, B12 and Folic acid as well as Co-enzyme Q10, L-carnitine, N,N-dimethlglycine, calcium aspartate and magnesium aspartate. If you are concerned about reduced heart function, have a patient who needs support or elevated homocysteine levels then this product is ideal.

CHELAPLEX is a unique two-phase chelation formula. The stomach phase includes the Vitamins A, Beta-carotene, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, B6, B12, C, Bioflavonoid, Rutin, D, E; the minerals Calcium aspartate, Magnesium aspartate, Zinc sulfate, Copper, Selenium chelate, Vanadium sulfate, Germanium chelate, Chromium polynicotinate; the herbs Cayenne, Hawthorne berry, Yarrow, Garlic, Red clover, Ginger root, Gentian root and Gugulipid; the nutrients L-cystine, DL-methionine, L-taurine, L-carnitine, Glutathione, Choline, Inositol, Glycerine, a-lipoic acid, MSM, N,N-dimethylglycine, and Anhydrous betaine. The duodenal phase contains the enzymes trypsin, a-chymotrypsin, Bromelain, Pancreatin, SOD and Catalase.

MEGA GESTAID™ is another one of our specialized two-phase digestive aids. It is designed for individuals who need enzyme and herbal support for enhanced digestion but do NOT need additional hydrochloric acid. The stomach phase contains glycine, pepsin, papain and ginger root. The duodenal phase contains pancreatin, lipase, bromelain, trypsin and ox bile extract.

VIREX COMPLEX is specially designed with vitamins minerals herbs and other nutrients to combat viral infections. Contains three forms of zinc (gluconate, glycinate and aspartate), the herbs echinacea, olive leaf extract, astragalus, slippery elm and grapefruit seed extract, the vitamins A, C and bioflavonoids as well as propolis.

INSOMNIA COMPLEX is a blend of herbs and nutrients to help patients with sleep difficulties. Contains the herbs Valerian root, Kava kava extract, Passion flower, Scullcap (scutellaria), and the nutrients Melatonin and 5-Hydroxytryptophan.

DEPRESSION COMPLEX is a blend of vitamins, herbs and nutrients designed to combat the ravages of depression and moodiness. Contains the vitamins Folic acid, B6 and B12, the nutrients 5-Hydroxytryptophan and L-tyrosine and the herb St. John’s Wort.

FIBROMYALGIA COMPLEX is a blend of vitamins, nutrients and herbs designed to help combat fibromyalgia. Contains the minerals magnesium malate manganese glycinate and chromium polynicotinate, the vitamins B1 and B6, the herb Devil’s Claw and the nutrients malate, N, N-dimethylglycine and MSM.

PAIN COMPLEX contains nutrients and herbs designed to combat chronic pain. Contains the nutrients DL-phenylalanine and MSM and the herb Devil’s Claw.

Finally, due to requests, we have added CARTILAGE COMPLEX, a combination of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.

We take great pride in providing the best products at the best possible price. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that the price of Glucosamine Sulfate is being significantly reduced. Our current professional order form lists Glucosamine Sulfate at $11.70 for 100 capsules. The new professional price will be $9.45 with a suggested retail of $21.00. This change may not be reflected in the price sheet immediately but is currently in effect in our invoicing system.

We have had several questions regarding the nature of many of our products. Therefore, from time to time we include articles which help to explain (hopefully) the nature and purpose for a given product or class of products.

Our last foray into the technical realm attempted to explain a little of the history and rationale for use of gland extracts in supplement form. In this issue, we would like to explain the use and properties of chelated minerals. The word chelate comes from the Greek word “chele” which translates to English as “claw”. The reasons for this designation becomes clear when we examine the structures of chelates.

Chelates are the result of the sharing of electrons between a metal and a ligand (from the Latin word ligare, “to bind”). A ligand is usually either an anion (a negatively charged ion) or a molecule which has an atom with an available pair of valence electrons. Common ligands contain nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, halogens or a combination of them due to their electronic structures. Atoms that can share their electrons are called donor atoms. Ligands with a single donor atom are known as monodentate (Latin, “single toothed”) ligands. Polydentate ligands have two or more donor atoms. Only polydentate ligands can form chelates. These ligands grasp a metal between their electronic “teeth” or, to mix a metaphor, appear to “claw” the metal.

Divalent and trivalent metals are especially well suited to forming the coordination bonds which are characteristic of chelates. A coordination bond, also known as a complex, consists of the metal and the ligand(s), which align so that the available electrons on the donor atoms are in proximity to the metal.

Metal chelation is extremely important in biological systems. Most enzymes require a chelated metal in their structure to be effective. Vitamins like vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) contain a metal (cobalt) complexed to the tetradentate porphyrine ring and a nitrogen in a pseudonucleotide. Porphyrine also plays a vital role in chelating iron to form hemoglobin. Clinically important chelating agents include EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), a hexadentate ligand. EDTA is used to remove lead and other heavy metals from the body and is used to help remove calcium from plaquing on arterial walls in IV. drip chelation therapy. EDTA does not appear to work very well in this capacity when administered orally.

We offer several mineral supplements, most of which are amino acid chelates. Amino acids are excellent polydentate ligands and have the advantage of being readily recognized and taken up by cellular transport systems, making excellent absorption vehicles. Absorption rates are considerably higher than inorganic salts and rank at the top of organic sources. Our Calcium Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate and Cal-Mag Aspartate products use L-aspartic acid (tridentate ligand) as a carrier. Aspartate has several advantages. It has a relatively low molecular weight so that a mineral complexed with it will show a reasonable yield (about 23% for calcium and 14% for magnesium). It is a participant in transamination reactions to convert to Kreb’s cycle intermediates and is important in purine and pyrimidine synthesis. Aspartic Acid is glucogenic and is important in ammonia detoxification biochemistry. Another important amino acid in mineral chelation is L-glycine. Unfortunately, L-glycine is only a bidentate ligand so it cannot be used for trivalent metals. Several other ligands are commonly used in chelation for supplementation.

Please drop by and visit us in our booth at the FAIM Ed conference March 25 and 26 in Brooklyn, NY and at the ACAM spring conference May 4-7 in Dallas, TX. We will also be at the American Acadamy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) in Chicago on July 22, 23. Also, look for our ads in the journals of these fine complementary medicine professional organizations.