What are Transfer Factors?
Transfer Factor is a set of messaging molecules that convey immune information within an individual’s immune system. Nature also uses transfer factor to carry immune information from one individual’s immune system to another individual. This in fact is how it got its name: by being the factor that transferred immunity from one person to another. Transfer factors are the primary communications used by the immune system to defend against harmful microbial threats. Transfer factors are small molecules that occur naturally in all mammals and are passed from mother to new-born through the mother’s first milk called colostrum. By transferring information from cell to cell, transfer factors serve as “teachers” to the cells, ensuring a strong immune system capable of surviving, even thriving, in its new environment.

Where are they found?
In the blood and in the first milk after a mother gives birth.

Is it a vitamin, mineral or herb?
 No. It is a supplement unlike any other. It is in a class of its own.

What role do Transfer Factors play in the immune system?
 These are an inducer fraction, an antigen specific fraction and a suppressor fraction. The immune system must be able to respond quickly, respond specifically and not exhaust itself by over responding and attacking normal tissue. The three transfer factor fractions were named because of the discovered affects they had on immune system. The inducer fraction triggers a general state of readiness in the immune system. The antigen specific fraction is an array of critical tags used by the immune system to identify a host of enemy microbes. The suppressor fraction is as important as the other fractions in that the components of this fraction keep the immune system from focusing all its strength on a defeated infection while ignoring new microbial threats. The suppressor fraction is also responsible for controlling allergic reactions and blocking autoimmune disorders.

Are Transfer Factors made of sugars, proteins or fats? 
 Isolated transfer factors have been determined to be a chain of small peptides consisting of 44 amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

How do Transfer Factors work? 
 Soon after giving birth, female mammals produce colostrum, which is a milk-like substance that jump-starts a new-born’s immune system. Researchers now believe that the benefits of colostrum don’t necessarily end there. If you have a compromised immune system or are just looking for a boost to your healthy immune system, colostrum may be the jump-start you need to fight infection or immune-related chronic diseases such as cancer.

How was Transfer Factor discovered? 

 In 1949 Dr. H. Sherwood Lawrence was working on the problem of tuberculosis. What he was trying to discover was if any component of the blood could convey a tubercular sensitivity from an exposed recovered donor to a naive recipient. Whole blood transfusions could be used but only between people of the same blood type. Lawrence first separated the blood’s immune cells, the lymphocytes or white blood cells, from the whole blood. Then he broke open the lymphocytes and separated the contents of the cells into various size fractions. What he found was that a fraction of small molecules was able to transfer tuberculin sensitivity to a naive recipient. This is what Dr. Lawrence called transfer factor. 
Transfer factors are becoming a valuable way to treat communicable disease in the future as researchers learn more and gain the ability to isolate specific factors. In fact, transfer factors may someday cure the diseases ravaging the world population, such as AIDS and Ebola.

What is colostrum? 

 It is the first milk that a mother produces immediately after giving birth.

What prompted these scientists to look for Transfer Factor in colostrum? 

Those who have worked with cattle know that if a calf is not allowed to nurse from its mother it will most often die within a short time. The calves would die in spite of an abundance of food. Death in these cases was cause by infections brought on by the most common organisms. For whatever reason the immune systems of these calves were not working. Seeing this suggests that there is some kind of immune information was being transferred from the mother and her infant. The logical question then became: was it transfer factor? The answer was a resounding YES!

Transfer Factor™ is isolated from colostrum, what about milk allergies and lactose intolerance? 

Milk allergies are caused by the large milk proteins, primarily casein, and to a lesser extent the immunoglobulins. These proteins are completely removed from the transfer factor. Lactose intolerance is most common in Oriental populations; much less so in those of European or African descent. We are conscience of this concern and remove the lactose from our product.

Can persons who have milk allergies use Transfer Factor? 

Yes. Transfer factors themselves are non-allergenic. Common allergens such as immunoglobulins and casein are removed from Transfer Factor products.

Can persons who are lactose intolerant use Transfer Factor? 

Yes! Lactose intolerant persons can consume up to three grams of lactose without difficulty due to colonic bacterial digestion. The amount of residual lactose is well below these sensitivity limits.

Can someone be allergic to Transfer Factors? 
Unlike antibodies that are large molecules, transfer factors are quite small 4.5 There small size makes them nonallergenic 6.7.

Is Transfer Factor protected by Patent? 

Yes. US Patent 4,816,563 covers the molecular extraction of Transfer Factor from colostrum. 4Life Research holds the license for that patent and the Trademark for the name Transfer Factor.

Is it expensive?

Compared to any other immune boosting and modulating product on the market, Transfer Factor is extremely cost effective. The 4Life Transfer Factor products are the “Rolls Royce” of the industry. You may be able to buy cheaper but you’ll find that effectiveness wins every time. When it comes to your family’s health, what’s more important? Cheap or something that can really work?

What is the difference between Transfer Factors and antibodies?

Unlike antibodies that are large proteins, Transfer Factors are small peptides containing about eight amino acids. The small size of the transfer factors makes them non-allergenic. Antibodies are consumed by directly attaching themselves to the offending cell or protein. Transfer Factors perform a different role. Transfer factors are immune messenger molecules that educate and alert naive immune cells to an impending danger. In this regard Transfer Factors perform a catalytic role in the immune system, triggering the affect without themselves being consumed.

Is Transfer Factor™ only good for new-borns?

Transfer Factor is good for everyone who needs an extra immune boost. The three groups who are most in need of immune strengthening are the young, the old, and anyone under stress. Almost all of us fall into one of these categories. We often talk of the baby-boom generation. Most of these people are at an age where already their immune systems are becoming lax. Transfer Factor is a way to boost a lagging immune system.

Is transfer factor safe for infants?

Colostrum  transfer factor was designed by Nature for new-borns. Removal of the milk allergens and lactose leaves only the essence of the immunological information in the form of Transfer Factor™.

Are there studies to back up the power of Transfer Factors?

There have been over 3000 medical studies completed and 40 million dollars spent in researching the benefits of transfer factors. 4Life Transfer Factor™ and Transfer Factor Plus™ were tested for their ability to increase Natural Killer Cell (NK) activity by the Institute of Longevity Medicine in California. Natural Killer Cells seek and destroy harmful cells through direct contact. Natural Killer Cells are especially important in strengthening and supporting the immune system. Test results showed that 4Life Transfer Factor™ boosted NK cell activity 103% above normal immune response without supplementation, more than two times higher than the next highest product. The study also showed that Transfer Factor Plus™ increased the NK cell activity over 430% above normal immune response without supplementation, or about five times higher than any of the other previously tested products. With the ability of transfer factors to boost the immune system this will help stop the overuse of antibiotics. According to David Markowitz, M.D. who has been running a clinical trial in his paediatric practice, “In an aged match review of transfer factor users we have seen 74% less reported illness and 84% less use of antibiotics.”