AN ADVANCED METHOD OF DEMONSTRATING THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL ALTERNATIVES IN HUMANS
Objective: Determine if the ingredients enter the bloodstream, and if the activity observed in the in vitro studies can be reproduced after oral administration.

• In this analysis, the product is consumed by a subject and then his or her blood is drawn over an appropriate time period (e.g., 1-24 hours).
• The serum from the subject is then assayed for the ability to produce an effect in the in vitro target cell-culture system. (If the ingredients make their way to the bloodstream, they are retained in the serum and show activity in the cell-culture system.)
• This analysis provides evidence of absorption and efficacy by demonstrating that the ingredients retain activity after oral administration.
• Results are only considered positive if: (1) a reasonable dose-response is observed; (2) efficacy mirrors what was observed in the in vitro tests; and, (3) the desired activity is seen over a length of time that can be considered clinically beneficial.