the compositions of the present invention provide support for and promote strong immune systems . in a preferred embodiment , the compositions of the present invention are provided in a chewable delivery system and feature a targeted array of nutrients for building and nurturing immune health , especially when stress tends to bear down on the immune system . the preferred chewable delivery system of the compositions of the present invention optimizes the first - line defenses of the mucosal immune system . the oral cavity is the gate of entry to the immune system . the oral cavity mucus membrane cell receptors are activated by immunoreactive ingredients and communicate with the lymphatics , where activated lymphocytes spread signals to the blood and other tissues . the oral cavity epithelial cells and gi tract cells are sites for systemic absorption of smaller sized immunoreactive ingredients . also , immunoreactive ingredients react directly with bacteria , viruses , and fungi in the oral cavity and esophagus . those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that supporting the mucus membranes that line the mouth , nose , lungs and digestive tract is beneficial since the majority of harmful invaders of the body must pass through these defenses . these membranes comprise the largest barrier in the body and form the first line of defense . when the mucosal immune response is triggered , it makes natural antibodies that “ arm ” saliva , tears , bronchial and nasal secretions , as well as fluids in the digestive tract , turning them into the body &# 39 ; s own powerful , natural antimicrobial wash . the preferred chewable delivery system enhances the ability of the nutrients in the compositions of the present invention to immediately react with mucus membranes in the mouth and esophagus to energize the immune system and begin the fight against bacteria . in addition , the uptake and immune system activities of nutrients from the compositions of the present invention begin in the mouth as they are chewed and continue in a cascade of immune responses throughout the immune system . the components of the compositions of the present invention bind to specific receptor sites that send signals directly to the lymphatic system — the roadway for the approximately trillion circulating white blood cells on patrol against invaders . the nutrient forces in the compositions of the present invention spread throughout the gastrointestinal ( gi ) tract where they facilitate normal cell proliferation , growth of beneficial gi bacteria , and discourage growth of bad bacteria . those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the lymphatic tissue in the gi tract is one of the major subdivisions of the immune system . everyday stress such as work , traffic , and taking care of a family can accelerate the body &# 39 ; s use of nutrients . a poor diet and sleep deprivation place additional demands on and challenge the immune system . the job of the immune system is to recognize and eliminate foreign particles and organisms and maintain balance in every part of the body . with the right nourishment , the immune system performs these functions quite admirably . under stress , however , the immune system has to work harder . because stress acts as a drain on nutrients , more nutritional support is needed for the immune system during periods of stress . also , if the immune system is unbalanced , it needs more nutritional power to assist in its efforts to compensate and achieve balance . when the immune defenses are weakened and unprepared , unwanted viruses work around system failures , microbes make themselves at home and toxins take hold . emotional stress is a silent threat to good health . while the signs of emotional stress may be recognized , one often fails to acknowledge the burden it places on the body . in addition , even when one knows they are physically stressed , whether from work or a workout , one often thinks that all that is needed is rest . but that may not be all the immune system needs to bounce back . in addition , one may fail to recognize the environmental stress the body incurs that can make the immune system work harder , or the dietary stress caused by making poor food choices . to help combat environmental stress the compositions of the present invention support the body &# 39 ; s ability to conduct cellular “ house cleaning ” by helping to remove heavy metals , toxins and damaged cellular material from cells . to help the body handle physical stress , the compositions of the present invention include peptides , amino acids and glycoproteins that engage the body &# 39 ; s natural ability to heal and repair itself . the components of the compositions of the present invention help trigger a cascade of immune signaling mechanisms . this is especially important when stress factors work against the immune system . glyconutrients help carry these immune signals to other cells . according to a preferred embodiment , the compositions of the present invention are combined with a complex of essential saccharides such as the dietary supplement sold by mannatech inc . of coppell , texas under the trade name “ ambrotose ®” the ambrotose ® product is preferably produced according to the methods and procedures set forth in international patent application publication number wo 98 / 06418 , the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein . the combination of the compositions of the present invention and ambrotose ® complex provide a synergistic array of proteins , peptides , polypeptides , and glyco - proteins - nutrients that can help to achieve optimal health through an appropriately immunomodulated immune system . the compositions of the present invention preferably include ingredients that promote the production of new blood cells , cartilage formation and bone growth . the compositions of the present invention enhance muscle protein synthesis and insulin - like growth factor release in tissues . the compositions of the present invention also assist the body in regulating muscle protein breakdown and bio - regulation during stress . the present invention encompasses compositions , dietary supplements and methods for their use that include the following active components : ( a ) prime colostrum has the highest concentrations of immunoglobulins , interferons , proline - rich peptides , amino acids and vital enzymes produced by mammary tissue , being higher than those produced in ordinary colostrum . this provides the newborn with protection against viruses and bacteria and other health threats . besides providing the first complete food for the newborn , prime colostrum has such profound immuno - stimulating properties that administration of very small amounts activates the human immune system . in addition to this immune stimulation capability , prime colostrum provides immunoglobulins directly ( e . g . iga , igg , igm ) and also growth factors ( e . g . igf - i , tgf a and b ). it supplies immunomodulatory proline - rich peptides which moderate the activity of the immune system through their effect upon the thymus gland , stimulating under - active immune systems such as those of immuno - compromised persons , or moderating those that are over - active as in individuals with auto - immune diseases . prime colostrum slows muscle breakdown , improves protein synthesis and utilization , provides digestive enzymes , regulates blood sugar and stimulates growth and repair . in sum , prime colostrum contains powerful healing , growth and repair factors that activate numerous immune , healing , growth and repair systems and assist in synthesis , retention and repair of muscle , bone , nerve and cartilage . as the body ages , becomes weakened by illness , or is subjected to physical stresses , it produces less and less of the factors that are needed to overcome metabolic insults or infection and to heal quickly . see canadian patent application no . 2 , 279 , 791 , the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference . ( b ) lactoferrin is an iron binding protein that occurs naturally in the body . it is secreted in milk , tears and saliva , and is expressed by white blood cells . lactoferrin is well known in the art as a biological regulator that performs many important functions in the body . these functions include maintaining a healthy balance in the digestive tract , helping the immune system and promoting healthy cell growth . dairy cattle provide a cost - effective source of lactoferrin for inclusion into a dietary supplement . lactoferrin from cows &# 39 ; milk can be prepared free of lactose . lactoferrin bioregulates iron , boosts the immune system , balances the digestive tract , increases energy and stamina , and promotes cell growth and healing . these broad , beneficial properties are surprising in view of the inability of bovine lactoferrin to bind to the lactoferrin receptors at the surface of the mucosal cells of human small intestine . ( c ) citrus pectin is a preferred component that endows the composition with additional benefits as a nutritional supplement . citrus pectin is a protein that contains galactose molecules on its surface which are able to bind lectins involved in the transmission within the body of certain types of cancer . ( d ) citric acid is a preferred component that may be incorporated to promote salivation and to adjust the acidity of the composition in order that solubility , activity and absorption of the components within the oral cavity is enhanced . ( e ) the β - glucan incorporated in the compositions of the present invention is disclosed in u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 223 , 491 , 5 , 397 , 773 , 5 , 519 , 009 , 5 , 576 , 015 , 5 , 702 , 719 , 5 , 705 , 184 , the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference . glucans are polymers of glucose . such glucans may be derived from the cell walls of yeast . glucan extracted from yeast is a potent stimulator of the immune system . iron is a key mineral required by all microorganisms for maintenance and growth . excess iron in the intestines promotes pathogen growth and proliferation . lactoferrin from cows &# 39 ; milk is partially saturated with iron ( approximately 25 % of total saturation ) providing a dietary source of iron as well as a means of scavenging free iron from the oral cavity and digestive tract . lactoferrin works on contact to starve pathogens of iron so that the correct balance of beneficial bacteria develops and is maintained in the digestive tract . the growth of harmful bacteria that are poorly adapted to these conditions is inhibited . by sequestering iron and delivering it for use by the cells of the body &# 39 ; s internal tissues , lactoferrin improves digestion and boosts the body &# 39 ; s natural defense mechanisms . this generates more energy and increased stamina for physical activities and optimum health . lactoferrin and prime colostrum achieve their optimal effects when dissolved slowly in the mouth , rather than being swallowed directly in the form of a pill or capsule . slowly dissolving the lactoferrin and constituents of colostrum in the mouth permits their absorption into the capillaries at the surface of the oral cavity &# 39 ; s lining , which is able to occur before the lactoferrin and prime colostrum are exposed to the harsh degradatory conditions of the stomach and intestines . for example , bovine lactoferrin is less resistant to degradation in the human digestive tract than is human lactoferrin , and the lactoferrin receptors in the small intestine of humans will not bind bovine lactoferrin . thus administration of bovine lactoferrin to humans in a mucosal delivery format , such as a format that enables its absorption through the lining of the mouth , is particularly efficacious . immunoglobulins from colostrum also pass directly into the blood through the inner mucosal layer of the mouth . orally delivered prime colostrum stimulates the body to replace growth , healing and repair factors as needed and produce them naturally to achieve homeostasis . oral administration of citrus pectin has been shown to be effective for inhibiting spontaneous metastasis of a rat prostate cancer . chewable tablets , in contrast to pills or capsules , provide a ‘ mucosal delivery format ’ ( mdf ) for constituents which can be absorbed through the oral mucosal surface , such as the colostrum , lactoferrin or citrus pectin of the compositions of the present invention . in particular , the chewable tablets of the present invention are able to enhance the benefits associated with absorption of appropriate constituents through the oral epithelial mucosa and into the underlying lymphatic system , for they are designed to be chewed in the mouth ; such tablets are therefore a preferred mdf . the compositions of the present invention provide a nutritional and dietary supplement for immune support that features a chewable formula containing : colostrum , lactoferrin , 1 - 3 / 1 - 6 glucan ; and citrus pectin . the individual components of the composition may be obtained from commercial sources : colostrum ( which is dehydrated by standard spray - drying procedures known in the art ) from any processing facility approved by the united states food and drug authority ( fda ) such as immuno - dynamics , inc . of perry , iowa under the trade name “ prime colostrum ®”; lactoferrin from approved manufacturers such as dmv international nutritionals of frazier , n . y . ; the 1 - 3 / 1 - 6 glucan is commercially available from biopolymer engineering , inc . under the tradename “ beta right ™,” citrus pectin from approved distributors or manufacturers such as g . c . i . of los angeles , calif . ; flavors from approved distributors or manufacturers such as allen flavors , inc . of edison , n . j . manufacturing of the composition , the dietary supplement , and the oral dosage forms may each be performed using standard techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art which are appropriate for the food or pharmaceutical industries , such as at any fda approved facility . energizes a cascade of immune responses that begin in the mouth and proceed throughout the body . optimizes response of natural killer cells , b - cells and t - cells which seek out and destroy foreign substances . reacts with the specific cell receptors that cause the cells to engulf and destroy bacteria and cellular debris . initiates communication in the immune system which releases chemical messengers to fight infection and disease . binds iron so that it starves bad bacteria throughout the body — re - routing it to become more bio - available for beneficial uses . contains proteins that are combined with saccharides to make glycoproteins for hormones and enzymes used in immune regulation . table 1 below lists some of the biological activities of various components of the compositions of the present invention . preferred embodiments of the invention include compositions and dietary supplements , as described above , prepared in a ‘ mucosal delivery format .’ a particularly preferred embodiment is an oral dosage form that promotes absorption of the dietary supplement &# 39 ; s components through the epithelial lining of the oral cavity . examples of oral dosage forms that promote absorption of the dietary supplement &# 39 ; s components within the oral cavity are those that either encourage retention of the dose within the oral cavity for an extended period , or discourage swallowing of the dose . such exemplary oral dosage forms include those that are chewable , are appropriate for sucking , and / or encourage salivation , for example , lozenges , particularly chewable lozenges , chewable tablets and chewable gums . the addition of natural or artificial flavouring also encourages retention of the dosage form within the mouth , particularly with children , so that there is greater transfer of the active components through the lining of the oral cavity and into the bloodstream and / or the lymphatic system . such active components include the constituents of colostrum and the lactoferrin , as described above . the physical size and consistency of the dosage form may also be adapted to prevent premature swallowing of the delivered dose . a preferred period for which the dose should remain in the mouth for effective absorption is 30 seconds to 10 minutes , with better effects being observed at the longer retention times . larger chewable forms are appropriate for animals that would otherwise be likely to swallow such foodstuff with little mastication . further preferred embodiments are methods for promoting those beneficial effects in mammals described above , in which such oral dosage forms of these compositions and dietary supplements are administered . exemplary formulations for the dietary supplement of the present invention are described in the following examples . weight percentages indicated for each ingredient are percentages of the total weight of the end product . in a preferred embodiment of the present invention , the composition comprises the following ingredients cold pressed into a chewable lozenge of hardness 14 to 44 kp that is taken as a nutritional supplement one to five times per day : 150 mg to 200 mg bovine prime colostrum ( which is about 5 to about 40 weight percent ), 10 mg to 20 mg bovine lactoferrin ( which is about 0 . 333 to about 4 weight percent ), 5 mg modified citrus pectin ( which is about 0 . 167 to about 1 weight percent ), 1295 mg to 1945 mg dextrose ( which is about 43 . 2 to about 64 . 8 weight percent ), 7 . 5 mg to 12 . 0 mg citric acid ( which is about 0 . 25 to about 2 . 4 weight percent ), 4 . 5 to 15 . 0 mg natural and / or artificial flavour ( which is about 0 . 15 to about 0 . 5 weight percent ), 7 . 5 mg silicon dioxide ( which is about 0 . 25 to about 1 . 5 weight percent ), and 7 . 5 mg magnesium stearate and dextrose ( which is about 0 . 25 to about 1 . 5 weight percent ), to a total weight of 0 . 5 to 3 . 0 grams . the lozenge is chewed for 30 seconds to ten minutes to maximize absorption of the active ingredients through the lining of the oral cavity and their absorption into the blood and lymphatic system . in a preferred embodiment of the invention , each of the following ingredients is placed , in powdered form , into a commercial mixer : 150 parts bovine prime colostrum , ( about 10 weight percent ), 10 parts bovine lactoferrin ( about 0 . 667 weight percent ), 5 parts modified citrus pectin ( about 0 . 333 weight percent ), 1297 . 5 parts dextrose ( about 86 . 5 weight percent ), 7 . 5 parts citric acid ( about 0 . 5 weight percent ), 15 parts natural strawberry flavor ( about 1 . 0 weight percent ), 7 . 5 parts silicon dioxide ( about 0 . 5 weight percent ) and 7 . 5 parts magnesium stearate ( about 0 . 5 weight percent ). if necessary , the materials are passed through a # 10 - 12 mesh screen to remove aggregates . each of the procedures should be performed with precautions against exposure to the powders and dusts that are formed , and particularly against their inhalation . after 20 minutes of thorough mixing , cold pressing the composition in a tablet press set at a maximum pressure of 6 . 4 tons yields lozenges of weight 1500 mg and hardness 34 to 36 kp . in another preferred embodiment of the invention , each of the following ingredients is placed , in powdered form , into a commercial mixer following the same procedure as for example 2 : 200 parts ( about 9 . 09 weight percent ) bovine prime colostrum , 20 parts ( about 0 . 909 weight percent ) bovine lactoferrin , 5 parts ( about 0 . 227 weight percent ) modified citrus pectin , 1943 . 5 parts ( about 88 . 3 weight percent ) dextrose , 12 parts ( about 0 . 545 weight percent ) citric acid , 3 parts ( about 0 . 136 weight percent ) natural strawberry flavor , 1 . 5 parts artificial flavor ( e . g . vanilla , chocolate ) ( about 0 . 068 weight percent ), 7 . 5 parts ( about 0 . 341 weight percent ) silicon dioxide and 7 . 5 parts ( about 0 . 341 weight percent ) magnesium stearate . after mixing and cold pressing as in example 2 , lozenges of weight 2200 mg were formed which demonstrated a hardness of 34 to 36 kp . each of the following ingredients is placed , in powdered form , into a commercial mixer following the same procedure as for example 2 : 200 parts ( about 33 . 3 to about 50 weight percent ) bovine prime colostrum , 20 parts ( about 3 . 33 to about 5 . 0 weight percent ) bovine lactoferrin , 5 parts ( about 0 . 833 to about 1 . 25 weight percent ) modified citrus pectin , approximately 215 parts ( about 35 . 8 to about 53 . 8 weight percent ) dextrose and / or maltodextrin , approximately 10 parts stearic acid as binder ( about 1 . 67 to about 2 . 5 weight percent ). after mixing and cold pressing as in example 2 , lozenges of total weight 400 mg to 600 mg were formed . in another preferred embodiment , the invention comprises a composition in which the lactoferrin is present at a concentration of from about 10 mg to about 100 mg per 1500 mg total weight ( which is about 0 . 667 to about 6 . 67 % total weight ) and colostrum , present at a concentration of from about 125 mg to about 1250 mg per 1500 mg total weight ( which is about 8 . 33 % to about 83 . 3 % total weight ). in such a preferred embodiment , a 1500 mg dose is typically provided from one to about five times per day . supplementary doses may be warranted under particular nutritional or physiological conditions . additional preferred embodiments include such compositions for use as a dietary supplement that additionally comprise modified citrus pectin at a concentration of from about 1 . 5 mg to about 15 mg per dose ( which is about 0 . 100 to about 1 . 00 % total weight ). generally , the effective amount of glucan in a dietary composition prepared according to the present invention will preferably range from about 0 . 001 w / w % to about 10 w / w % of the composition , more preferably from about 0 . 1 w / w % to about 4 w / w %. an exemplary formulation for the dietary supplement of the present invention comprising β - glucan is as follows : a preferred embodiment of the dietary supplement of the present invention comprising β - glucan is as follows : mg / tablet ingredient weight % 9 . 7500 citric acid 0 . 626 1297 . 0000 dextrose 83 . 300 7 . 5000 magnesium stearate 0 . 482 7 . 5000 silicon dioxide 0 . 482 30 . 0000 stearic acid 1 . 930 5 . 0000 citrus pectin 0 . 321 10 . 0000 lactoferrin 0 . 642 20 . 4000 strawberry natural flavoring 1 . 310 150 . 0000 colostrum 9 . 630 20 . 0000 β - glucan 1 . 280 total : 1 , 557 . 1500 100 according to the foregoing examples , dietary supplements prepared according to the present invention comprise β - glucan in an amount from about 0 . 001 to about 10 weight percent , and one or more of colostrum , in an amount from about 5 to about 83 . 3 weight percent , lactoferrin , in an amount from about 0 . 909 to about 6 . 67 weight percent , and citrus pectin , in an amount from about 0 . 1 to about 1 . 25 weight percent . preferred embodiments further comprise citric acid , in an amount from about 0 . 25 to about 2 . 4 weight percent , dextrose , in an amount from about 35 . 8 to about 88 . 3 weight percent , magnesium stearate , in an amount from about 0 . 25 to about 1 . 5 weight percent , silicon dioxide , in an amount from about 0 . 25 to about 1 . 5 weight percent , stearic acid , in an amount from about 1 . 67 to about 2 . 5 weight percent , and a flavoring , in amount from about 0 . 15 to about 1 . 31 weight percent . following below is a certificate of analysis of the colostrum product sold by immuno - dynamics , inc . of perry , iowa : certificate of analysis lot # 555 first milking bovine colostrum powder protein ( n × 6 . 38 ) 53 . 4 % igg ( v . m . r . d ., pullman , wa ) 20 . 4 % = 38 . 2 % of protein total immunoglobulin 23 . 5 % = 44 . 0 % of protein igg ( bethyl labs , montgomery , tx 15 . 7 % fat 21 . 4 % lactose 9 . 5 % moisture 3 . 1 % total coliforms & lt ; 3 cfu / g presumptive salmonella neg ./ 25 g presumptive lead & lt ; 1 ppm nickel & lt ; 1 ppm arsenic & lt ; 0 . 4 ppm mercury & lt ; 0 . 20 ppm other typical analysis physical : color white / cream taste / odor creamy milk bulk density ( tapped ) 350 g / l solubility 200 g / l chemical : ph ( 10 % solution @ 20 c .) 6 . 4 ash 4 . 5 % microbiological : standard plate count & lt ; 3 , 000 cfu / g coliform count neg ./ 25 g e . coli neg ./ 25 g salmonella sp . neg ./ 25 g mold & amp ; yeast neg ./ 25 g mycobacterium bovis negative mycobacterium avis negative m . paratuberculosis negative storage : cool , dry area away from sunlight hazard data : food substance ; no known toxicities or overdoses special handling : none ; food substance ventilation : no special requirements those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing examples are exemplary of the dietary supplement compositions , and that the capsule size , specific amount of each ingredient , and the combination of ingredients can be varied as needed . the dietary supplement compositions of the present invention are preferably administered via the oral mucosal system . the above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention . those of ordinary skill in the art should , in light of the present disclosure , appreciate that obvious modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . all of the embodiments disclosed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure . the full scope of the invention is set out in the disclosure and equivalent embodiments thereof . the specification should not be construed to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which the present invention is entitled . as used herein and unless otherwise indicated , the terms “ a ” and “ an ” are taken to mean “ one ”, “ at least one ” or “ one or more ”. the phrase “ substantially the same ” is taken to mean that a first amount , or property , is about 90 %- 110 %, preferably 95 %- 105 %, or more preferably 99 %- 101 %, of the value of a second amount , or property , respectively . the terms “ substantially ” or “ substantial ” are taken to mean a “ major portion ”, “ more than 50 %”, preferably “ more than 90 %”, or more preferably “ more than 95 %” of a particular amount or property .
dietary supplement compositions for promotion and maintenance of good health and immune system support . defined nutritionally effective amounts of colostrum , lactoferrin , pectin and β - glucan , are used in various inventive compositions as dietary supplements . the dietary supplement compositions may include other non - toxic nutrients including a complex of essential saccharides .