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Gitte Steen Jensen

Gitte Steen Jensen
Independent Researcher

PhD

About

100
Publications
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Introduction
I research cellular behavior in response to botanicals. I study botanical ligands for immune cell receptors, and document in clinical trials the effects on immune and stem cell surveillance rapidly after exposure to a single dose, including mobilization of cells from tissue into the blood circulation, and homing from blood into tissue, as well as priming immune cells to respond differently to pathogen challenges ex vivo, with changes in immune alertness within 1-2 hours.

Publications

Publications (100)
Article
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The bioavailability of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, depends on limiting transport mechanisms that may be bypassed by liposome-encapsulation. The goal for this study was to evaluate the uptake, antioxidant, and immune-modulating effects of liposome-encapsulated vitamin C (LEC) using Lypo-Spheric® technology, compared to three controls: ascorbic acid...
Article
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OBJECTIVE To perform testing for cytokines involved in dermal inflammatory reactions and to document and compare the effects of an oleander extract (OE), oleandrin, and oclacitinib on biomarkers relevant to allergic reactions. The effects of these compounds under inflamed culture conditions are of direct importance to the treatment of canine atopic...
Article
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Immune protection associated with consuming colostrum-based peptides is effective against bacterial and viral insults. The goal for this study was to document acute changes to immune surveillance and cytokine levels after consuming a single dose of a nutraceutical blend in the absence of an immune challenge. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-cont...
Article
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Nutraceutical immune support offers potential for designing blends with complementary mechanisms of action for robust support of innate immune alertness. We documented enhanced immune activation when bovine colostrum peptides (BC-Pep) were added to an immune blend (IB) containing β-glucans from yeast, shiitake, maitake, and botanical non-β-glucan p...
Article
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Euglena gracilis (EG) microalgae has immune-modulating properties, partly due to its unique intracellular β-glucan-granules (paramylon). We evaluated the effects of EG consumption on immune status in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. A placebo-controlled cross-over study evaluated acute immune surveillance, followed by a 1-week open-label phase. Immune...
Article
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Bacterial biofilms are hardy, adaptable colonies, evading immune recognition while triggering and sustaining inflammation. The goals for this study were to present a method for testing the immunogenicity of secreted metabolites from pathogenic biofilm and to document whether biofilm treated with a nutraceutical enzyme and botanical blend (NEBB) sho...
Article
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Immune cells express Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) to recognize potentially pathogenic microbial forms. Nutraceutical compounds can induce immune cell activation through PRRs. The nutraceutical immune blend (IB), QuickStart™, contains botanical and yeast-derived ligands for PRRs, along with vitamin C and zinc. We evaluated immune-activating...
Article
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Spore-forming probiotic bacteria, including Bacillus coagulans, are resilient and produce a variety of beneficial metabolites. We evaluated the immune-modulating effects of the novel probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans JBI-YZ6.3, where the germinated spores, metabolite fraction, and cell wall fraction were tested in parallel using human peripheral...
Article
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Goal To evaluate the acute impact of a nutraceutical blend on immune surveillance. Study design A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted in 11 healthy subjects. Blood samples were taken immediately before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after consuming placebo or 500 mg of UP360, which is a blend of botanicals from A...
Article
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The Nerium oleander extract PBI 05204 (PBI) and its cardiac glycoside constituent oleandrin have direct anti-viral properties. Their effect on the immune system, however, is largely unknown. We used an in vitro model of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to document effects under three different culture conditions: normal, challenged with the...
Article
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Microbial biofilms are resilient, immune-evasive, and often antibiotic-resistant health challenges, and increasingly the target for research into novel therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the effects of a nutraceutical enzyme and botanical blend (NEBB) on established biofilm. Five microbial strains with known implications in chronic human illnesse...
Article
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of ATP 360, a nutraceutical energy formula, in people experiencing long-term fatigue affecting daily living. To explore the use of ex vivo mitochondrial stress testing to evaluate cellular energy improvements with nutraceutical support. Study design: An open-label study design was used with screening for long-...
Article
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Objective To evaluate the effects of daily consumption of Nopal cactus fruit juice (NFJ) on joint mobility in a population experiencing chronic pain but otherwise in good health. Study Design A double-blind, placebo-controlled study design was used to enroll 40 people after written informed consent, randomized to consume 3 oz/day of NFJ versus pla...
Article
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Purpose To compare three fractions of a medicinal mushroom blend (MMB), MyCommunity, on immune-activation, inflammation-regulation, and induction of biomarkers involved in regenerative functions. Methods A seventeen-species MMB was sequentially extracted: first, saline solution at ambient temperature, followed by re-extraction of the solids in eth...
Article
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Background: The medicinal mushroom Trametes versicolor (Tv, Turkey Tail) is often prepared for consumption as a powder from the fungal mycelium and the fermented substrate on which it grew. The goal for this study was to evaluate the immune-modulating properties of the mycelium versus the fermented substrate, to document whether an important part...
Article
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Purpose: The objective for this clinical pilot study was to evaluate changes to chronic pain, vascular health, and inflammatory markers when consuming a dietary supplement blend (DSB, CytoQuel®), containing curcumin, resveratrol, tocotrienols, N-Acetylcysteine, and epigallocatechin gallate. Materials and methods: An open-label study design was used...
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Purpose The purpose of this work was to determine the pro-and anti-inflammatory properties of the single-cell organism Euglena gracilis (EG) and various fractions of its whole biomass. Methods Heterotrophically grown EG was tested, along with its aqueous fraction (E-AQ), the intact linear β-glucan paramylon granules (PAR), and alkaline-solubilized...
Article
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Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a proanthocyanidin-rich extract of sea buckthorn berry (SBB-PE) on the numbers of various types of adult stem cells in the blood circulation of healthy human subjects. Study design and methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted in 12 healthy su...
Article
Introduction The aloe vera ( Aloe vera ) plant has a long history of traditional therapeutic topical use. Its leaf and inner leaf juices are also ingested in various forms. Aloe vera leaf juice is made from macerated aloe leaves, and when it is intended for human ingestion, it is purified of latex constituents via a charcoal filtration process know...
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Objective The aim of this study was to document the immune activating and anti-inflammatory effects of inactivated probiotic Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (Staimune™) cells on human immune cells in vitro. Methods In vitro cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy blood donors were treated with inactivated B. coagul...
Article
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Objective To evaluate a blend of two natural ingredients on immune parameters relevant for their current topical use and potential support of microcirculation in skin tissue. Materials and methods A blend (BL) of Aloe vera-based Nerium oleander extract (NAE-8i, oleandrin-free) and hydrolyzed water-soluble egg membrane (WSEM) was applied to human w...
Article
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Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of water-soluble egg membrane (WSEM) on wrinkle reduction in a clinical pilot study and to elucidate specific mechanisms of action using primary human immune and dermal cell-based bioassays. Methods To evaluate the effects of topical application of WSEM (8%) on human skin, an open-label 8...
Article
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Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of consumption of nattokinase on hypertension in a North American hypertensive population with associated genetic, dietary, and lifestyle factors. This is in extension of, and contrast to, previous studies on Asian populations. Materials and methods A randomized, double-blind, placeb...
Article
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The goal for this study was to evaluate safety regarding anticoagulant activity and platelet activation during daily consumption of an aqueous cyanophyta extract (ACE), containing a high dose of phycocyanin. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, 24 men and women were enrolled after informed consent, and consumed either...
Article
Protection of the quality of foods such as ground meat, without increased use of antibiotics, is of growing importance. Environmental microbes such as bacteria and yeast are introduced into meat during butchering and processing. Due to the increased surface area of ground meat, the microbial load is higher than in cuts of meat. The presence of non-...
Article
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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of consumption of an aqueous cyanophyta extract (ACE) from Arthrospira platensis on chronic pain in humans, in two clinical pilot studies. Design and interventions: The two pilot studies each involved 12 subjects experiencing chronic pain. The initial study followed an open-label 4-week...
Article
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Objective The goal for this study was to evaluate the effects of daily consumption of Puer tea extract (PTE) on body weight, body-fat composition, and lipid profile in a non-Asian population in the absence of dietary restrictions. Materials and methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design was used. A total of 59 overweight o...
Article
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The Nopal cactus grows widespread in many parts of the world, and in some areas is considered a noxious weed. In addition to the use of the stems and leaves (also called pads or cladodes) and fruits (prickly pears) as food, Nopal has a long use in traditional folk medicine. The fruit shares some constituents with the stems, and contains additional...
Article
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This study evaluated the effects of consumption of hydrolyzed water-soluble egg membrane (WSEM) on joint function in an otherwise healthy population experiencing chronic pain. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study included two 4-week periods of placebo and WSEM consumption, separated by a 4-week washout period. Twenty-five...
Article
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Objective: Aloe has been used for the treatments of various ailments dating back almost 6000 years. There are more than 450 species of aloe coming from various parts of Africa and South America, and from the island of Madagascar that contains unique species endemic to the island. One such species is Aloe macroclada that has been used for centuries...
Article
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Objective The goal for this study was to evaluate the effects of an Aloe vera-based Nerium oleander extract (NAE-8®), compared to an extract of A. vera gel alone (ALOE), and to an aqueous extract of N. oleander (AQ-NOE) in bioassays pertaining to dermatologic potential with respect to antioxidant protection, anti-inflammatory effects, and cytokine...
Article
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The goal for this work was to characterize basic biological properties of a novel Arthrospira platensis-based aqueous cyanophyta extract (ACE), enriched in the known anti-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor phycocyanin (PC), but also containing a high level of non-PC bioactive compounds. Antioxidant properties were tested in parallel in...
Article
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Highbush (cultivated) and lowbush (wild) are the two major blueberry species in the US market. Eight phenolic acids were detected and quantified from these two species by HPLC-MS. Chlorogenic acid was found to be the predominant phenolic acid in both species, with 0.44 mg/g fresh weight in lowbush blueberries and 0.13 mg/g fresh weight in highbush...
Article
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Abstract The goal for this study was to evaluate the effects of daily oral intake of a consumable liquid fermentate containing high-molecular-weight hyaluronan, as well as to perform a basic evaluation of safety and tolerability. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study design was used to examine the effects of oral intake of hyaluronan...
Article
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Abstract The goal for this study was to evaluate the effects of consumption of dried apple peel powder (DAPP) on joint function and range of motion (ROM). Additional in vitro and clinical testing was performed to suggest specific mechanisms of action. An open-label clinical pilot study involved 12 healthy people with moderate loss of joint ROM and...
Article
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Abstract The aim of this study was to document anti-inflammatory properties of a dried fermentate derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EpiCor(®)), hereafter referred to as dried fermentate in vitro using cell-based bioassays, and in vivo using a skin irritation model in healthy humans. In vitro testing involved parallel assessment of primary huma...
Article
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Background Polygonum minus Huds.is a culinary flavouring that is common in South East Asian cuisine and as a remedy for diverse maladies ranging from indigestion to poor eyesight. The leaves of this herb have been reported to be high in antioxidants. Flavonoids which have been associated with memory, cognition and protection against neurodegenerati...
Article
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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a traditional herbal preparation, Jobelyn,® for its effects on anemia and CD4+ T-cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) patients in Nigeria. Design: An open-label pilot study involving 10 confirmed (HIV+) patients who were not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ARVT) was p...
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Abstract The impact of chronic inflammatory conditions on immune function is substantial, and the simultaneous application of anti-inflammatory and immune modulating modalities has potential for reducing inflammation-induced immune suppression. Sorghum-based foods, teas, beers, and extracts are used in traditional medicine, placing an importance on...
Article
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There are two predominant palm tree species producing edible fruit known as “açaí” found widely dispersed through the Amazon: Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Euterpe precatoria Mart. They differ from each other in terms of how the plants grow and their phytochemical composition. E. oleracea (EO) has received considerable attention as a “super fruit” bec...
Article
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To study the effects of probiotic metabolites on maturation stage of antigen-presenting immune cells. Ganeden Bacillus coagulans 30 (GBC30) bacterial cultures in log phase were used to isolate the secreted metabolite (MET) fraction. A second fraction was made to generate a crude cell-wall-enriched fraction, by centrifugation and lysis, followed by...
Article
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A safety evaluation was performed for EpiCor, a product produced by a proprietary fermentation process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Studies included the following assays: bacterial reverse mutation, mouse lymphoma cell mutagenicity, mitogenicity assay in human peripheral lymphocytes, and a cytochrome P450 ([CYP] CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) induction asse...
Article
To evaluate anti-inflammatory properties of a nutraceutical blend containing L-ergothioneine in concert with other anti-inflammatory and analgesic ingredients, combined with nutritional cartilage support. Twelve human subjects were tested over a 6-week period of product consumption followed by a 6-week wash-out period, conducted at NIS Labs during...
Article
To evaluate acute effects of bovine colostrum low-molecular weight fraction (CLMWF) on selected aspects of innate immune function in healthy human subjects. A placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized cross-over trial involving 12 healthy subjects, age 22-72, was conducted at NIS Labs during the year 2010. Placebo or 150 mg CLMWF was given ora...
Article
To evaluate effects on the innate immune system after exposure to, a consumable low-molecular weight fraction (CLMWF) of immunoglobulin-depleted bovine colostrum whey. Cell-based immune assays were performed in vitro, and host resistance towards bacterial and viral infection was evaluated in two mouse studies. In vitro data showed a multimodal effe...
Article
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Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays an important role in inflammatory processes. This study examined the effects of natural eggshell membrane (NEM(®)) (ESM Technologies, LLC, Carthage, MO, USA) on interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and TNF-α cytokine production by 4-day peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures e...
Article
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The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the acute effects on circulating lymphocyte subsets, antioxidant status, and cytokine profile after consumption of EpiCor(®) (EP) (Embria Health Sciences, Ankeny, IA, USA), a dried fermentate produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a placebo-controlled randomized crossover study design with...
Article
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Dietary interventions involving antioxidants are of interest for reducing inflammation, improving joint motion, and altering pain perception. We evaluated the effect of oral consumption of a fruit and berry blend on pain and range of motion (ROM). This open-label clinical pilot study involved 14 study participants with limitations in ROM that was a...
Article
Acai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has been demonstrated to exhibit extremely high anti-oxidant capacity. Seven major flavonoids were isolated from freeze-dried acai pulp by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated as orientin (1), homoorientin (2), vitexin (3), luteolin (4), chrysoeriol (5), quercetin (6), and dihydrokaem...
Article
The pulp of açai fruit ( Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has been demonstrated to exhibit extremely high antioxidant capacity. Seven major flavonoids were isolated from freeze‐dried acai pulp by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated as orientin ( 1 ), homoorientin ( 2 ), vitexin ( 3 ), luteolin( 4 ), chrysoeriol ( 5 ), quercetin...
Chapter
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The pulp of the Amazonian palm fruit, açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), has been found to have exceptional antioxidant capacity in vitro, particularly against the superoxide, peroxyl, and hydroxyl radicals. Studying foods for their potential health benefits to humans can benefit from in vitro assays that can correlate with in vivo outcomes. Using the...
Article
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This study was performed to evaluate anti-inflammatory and immune modulating properties of the probiotic, spore-forming bacterial strain: Bacillus coagulans: GBI-30, (PTA-6086, GanedenBC30TM). In addition, cell wall and metabolite fractions were assayed separately to address whether biological effects were due to cell wall components only, or wheth...
Article
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The in vitro and in vivo properties of an açai based juice blend (MonaVie Active, Salt Lake City, UT) were evaluated. Initially, a phenolic profile was determined for the beverage, and a cell-based antioxidant protection (CAP-e) assay (Honzel et al., 2008) was performed, which showed that the antioxidants in the beverage could penetrate erythrocyte...
Conference Paper
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The objective of this research was to examine the value of a novel cell-based antioxidant protection in erythrocytes (CAP-e)* assay for the evaluation of whether antioxidants in natural products are capable of penetrating and protecting live cells from oxidative damage. The assay uses basic chemical principles, similar to those used with the ORAC t...
Article
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This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was designed to evaluate effects of consumption of an antioxidant-rich, yeast culture-based high-metabolite immunogen EpiCor®. Twenty-five healthy participants con- sumed 0.5 gram EpiCor® or placebo daily for 5 weeks. The hematocrit increased significantly in the EpiCor® group (p
Article
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The objective of this study was to compare three tests frequently used for evaluation of antioxidant potential in natural products: (1) oxygen radical absorbance assay (ORAC), (2) cell-based antioxidant protection in an erythrocyte model (CAP-e), and (3) reactive oxygen species formation in polymorphonuclear cells (ROS PMN). The methods were applie...
Article
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This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of a juice blend (JB), MonaVie Active, containing a mixture of fruits and berries with known antioxidant activity, including acai, a palm fruit, as the predominant ingredient. The phytochemical antioxidants in the JB are primarily in the form of anthocyani...
Article
The objective of this study was to perform a preliminary assessment of the potential antimicrobial effects in vitro of nutritional yeast culture (Diamond V XP™), containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae, media on which it was grown, and metabolites produced during fermentation. It was tested against Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC...