According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA), asthma affects more than 20 million American children and adults, while seasonal allergies affect about 35 million—and it’s a trend that’s on the rise.

In people with asthma, airways walls become inflamed, hypersensitive and easily irritated. The inflammation causes the airways to narrow, which makes getting air to the lungs harder, causing symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathing difficulties. In allergy sufferers, the immune system reacts to “false alarms” like airborne irritants. Both conditions involve the production of leukotrienes, which are inflammatory molecules produced by the body’s immune cells that cause the narrowing of the airways, increased mucus production and tissue swelling.

There are many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies available to consumers, however, according to Efficas Inc., Boulder, CO, novel and complementary nutritional therapies for the immune system are in desperate demand, as patients struggle with chronic inflammatory diseases and the side effects of potent pharmaceutical treatments such as steroids.

Years ago, Dr. Floyd Chilton of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and his colleagues set out to find a way to control leukotriene production through diet. They found that those suffering from asthma could benefit from a diet with higher levels of certain essential fatty acids (EFAs) than are available in traditional foods because the EFAs helped the body reduce inflammation triggered by leukotrienes. After seven years of research, they found that a combination of two naturally-occurring essential fatty acids, GLA and EPA, could significantly reduce the production of leukotrienes, providing they were administered in the right amounts and ratio, and specially formulated to improve absorption.

The result of that research is Efficas Care, a patented berry flavored emulsion that was test marketed in August 2006, and officially launched in June this year. With a daily serving size of 12 grams (or about one tablespoon), Efficas Care is a non-prescription “medical food” developed to “safely and naturally inhibit the body’s production of leukotrienes.”

In a clinical trial, when Efficas Care was added to a daily diet, the production of leukotrienes was suppressed in 75% of asthmatics. In another research study, more than 70% of allergy and asthma sufferers reported that Efficas Care, when added to their treatment, relieved most or all of their symptoms. The product also produced no clinically significant side effects.

According to the company, studies have demonstrated that Efficas Care, when taken every day, results in a significant reduction of leukotrienes within 14 days. Quality of life benefits are evident within 28 days.

The Facts Behind the Formula

Efficas Care is comprised of 750 mg GLA, 500 mg EPA and other natural ingredients that “bring relief,” including borage oil, fish oil (anchovy, sardine), purified water, fructose, natural flavors, lecithin (soy), guar gum, xanthan gum, polysorbate 80 (emulsifier), sorbic acid, and ascorbyl palmitate. And due to the natural blend of EFAs present in high-quality wild fish oil, each packet also contains approximately 350 mg of DHA.

According to the company, it would require 17 one-gram gelatin capsules of oil to deliver the effective amount of GLA and EPA found in a single Efficas Care packet—the daily amount needed to help manage allergy and asthma symptoms.

“Efficas Care is intended to be used along with allergy and asthma medications,” advised Amy Cone Burrell, marketing director for Efficas Inc. “Because it naturally inhibits leukotriene production, we have found that many allergy and asthma sufferers are able to cut back on their medications over time. For example, in an open-label study, 55% of asthma sufferers reported a reduction in bronchodilator use after using Efficas Care for 28 days.”

And while the current berry flavor is good for all ages, mixing well in yogurt and smoothies, Ms. Cone Burrell said Efficas is currently developing a formula specifically for children that will most likely be bubble gum flavored. “The formula is the same as our current product, but dosed at a half teaspoon per day for kids ages two through five, and one teaspoon per day for kids ages six through eleven, versus the 1 tablespoon per day for the kids ages 12 through adult in our current packet,” she said. “The safety studies have been done in kids age two and up, but our efficacy studies only go to age 12 right now.” She added that efficacy studies in children two through eleven are in the works so that the company can expand its medical food claims to include children.