ADD (and ADHD) ranks among the most common neurological disorders among American children, affecting up to 5 percent, or as many as 2 million, at any one time. In fact, in every classroom in the United States you can expect to find at least one child with ADHD. While it is not itself a specific learning disability, ADHD can interfere with concentration and attention, making it difficult for a child to do well in school and in social situations. (2)

ADD/ADHD is a baffling and frustrating disorder due to the fact that experts do not agree on its exact cause or causes. There are many theories and much debate.

Both the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference (1998) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (2000) report on ADHD have confirmed that there is no known biological basis for ADHD. (125, 126, 123)

Placebo-controlled and double-blind trials prove that young university students experience significantly less stress from tests, stay more clear-headed and composed, and keep a more stable mood when taking Flavay Plus®. (148, 149)

One prominent neurologist stated: "The more you study hyperactivity or ADD, the less certain you are as to what it is, or whether it is a thousand different situations all called by the same name." (121)

Another leading neurologist stated: "No single cause has yet been identified for ADHD. In fact, ADHD will probably one day prove to be an umbrella term for a number of associated disorders." (2)

"There is no identified cause specific to ADD... We are left with the possibility that ADD may be a catch-all condition." (132)

"The exact mechanism underlying ADD remains unknown." (127)

"The position that ADHD is not a proven syndrome has many advocates, physicians as well as educators. However, whether or not a syndrome exists, it is clear that many children have difficulty in school because of an inability to attend to tasks." (128)

Furthermore, experts' opinions differ as to what ADD actually is, and this causes even more grief and confusion for parents and those suffering with the symptoms. For example, the American Psychiatric Association lists fourteen signs, of which at least eight must be present for a child to be officially classified as ADD/ADHD. These fourteen signs are:

1. Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated.
2. Having difficulty remaining seated when required to do so.
3. Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
4. Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities.
5. Often blurting out answers before questions are completed.
6. Having difficulty in following instructions.
7. Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
8. Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another.
9. Having difficulty playing quietly.
10. Often talking excessively.
11. Often interrupting or intruding on others.
12. Often not listening to what is being said.
13. Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities.
14. Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences. (130)

Having read that, consider the physicians' dilemma: "Official guidelines for evaluating ADD symptoms are vague and open to interpretation - yet they lead to an all-or-nothing diagnosis. In all the behaviors listed by the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association) under ADD, the word is often used to describe behavior that has become a problem. How useful is this?" (132)

Similarly, one specialist writes: "ADD is hard to define exactly... Untreated, [however,] it leaves millions of children and adults misunderstood and unnecessarily floundering, even incapacitated." (127)

Though many experts do not agree on the cause of the condition, the mainstay of conventional treatment of ADD/ADHD is medication; usually stimulant medication such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), Desoxyn (methamphetamine) or Cylert (pemoline). When stimulants are not effective, children may be given tricyclic antidepressants. (133)

It's no wonder that millions of parents across the United States are overwhelmed and feeling trapped within a very bad situation: Not only have their children been diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD, but the prescribed treatment usually consists of powerful stimulant drugs.

Stimulant Drugs Provide No Lasting Improvement

Short-term learning benefits have been achieved with these medications, but no lasting improvement has been shown. Stimulant drugs were found to have a short-term effectiveness of 60 to 80 percent in reducing the hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness of school-age children. (136, 133) Similar rates of success have been found in adults with ADD. (137, 133)

A compilation of all the review studies published over the last twenty years on the effects of stimulant medication for ADD/ADHD showed that the medications only temporarily managed the symptoms of overactivity, inattention and impulsivity, as well as increased compliance, effort, and academic productivity, decreased aggression and negative behaviors. (138, 133)

Published research has found the long-term value of Ritalin disappointing. Studies beginning in the 1960s showed that children who took stimulants for hyperactivity (the name for ADD at the time) over several years did just as poorly in later life as the group of hyperactive children who took no medication. Compared to children without hyperactivity, both groups were less likely to have finished high school or to be employed, and more likely to have had trouble with the law or to have drug or alcohol problems. A large percentage of the hyperactive group, medicated or not, did relatively well, but overall those in this category wound up struggling much more frequently than their normal peers. (132)

Overall, long-term adjustment, as measured by academic achievement, antisocial behavior, and arrest rate, was unaffected by medication. (138, 133)

How the Medications Work

Hundreds of animal studies and human clinical trials leave no doubt about how the medications work. First, the drugs suppress all spontaneous behavior. In healthy chimpanzees and other animals, this can be measured with precision as a reduction in all spontaneous or self-generated activities. In animals and in humans, this is manifested in a reduction in the following behaviors: (i) exploration and curiosity; (ii) socializing, and (iii) playing. Second, the drugs increase obsessive-compulsive behaviors, including very limited, overly focused activities. (123)

What Are Some of These Drugs' Side Effects?

Several authorities report that the long-term consequences of stimulant drug use could be devastating. Equally disturbing is that for many children and adults these commonly prescribed drugs often do not work very well. More on that in a moment.

Several short-term effects could be the "Ritalin rebound," loss of appetite and resulting weight loss, insomnia, headaches, stomachaches, drowsiness, potential liver damage, facial tics, and a "sense of sadness," to mention just a few.

All stimulant drugs impair growth not only by suppressing appetite but also by disrupting growth hormone production. This poses a threat to every organ of the body, including the brain, during the child's growth. The disruption of neurotransmitter systems adds to this threat. Studies of amphetamine show that short-term clinical doses produce brain cell death. Similar studies of methylphenidate show long-lasting and sometimes permanent changes in the biochemistry of the brain. (123)

These drugs also endanger the cardiovascular system and commonly produce many adverse mental effects, including depression. Too often stimulants often become gateway drugs to additional psychiatric medications. Stimulant-induced over-stimulation, for example, is often treated with addictive or dangerous sedatives, while stimulant-induced depression is often treated with dangerous, unapproved antidepressants. As the child's emotional control breaks down due to medication effects, mood stabilizers may be added. Eventually, these children end up on four or five psychiatric drugs at once and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder by the age of eight or ten. (123)

It is important to note that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and all other drug enforcement agencies worldwide, classify methylphenidate (the generic name for Ritalin) and amphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) in the same Schedule II category as methamphetamine, cocaine, and the most potent opiates and barbiturates. Schedule II includes only those drugs with the very highest potential for addiction and abuse. (122, 123)

Ritalin as a Recreational Drug & Addiction

A recently identified drawback of Ritalin is its popularity as an illicit drug. An annual survey by the University of Michigan entitled, "Monitoring the Future," warns of a trend concerning Ritalin abuse. From 1993 to 1994 the number of high school seniors admitting to having abused Ritalin doubled, representing about 350,000 students nationwide. Kids call Ritalin "Vitamin-R," "R-ball," or "the smart drug" and seek it out to study better and to get high. (133, 134)

One college student took Ritalin in order to help focus his attention in his studies. Soon he was snorting it twice daily, needing more and more to achieve the same results. (135)

A 1995 Newsweek article reported that students at an upscale New York college crushed and snorted Ritalin tablets like cocaine. They described an immediate rush, as if they felt hyperactive. (135)

According to DEA statistics, emergency room admissions due to Ritalin abuse numbered 1,171 in 1994. (134) The side effects of Ritalin addiction include strokes, hypothermia, hypertension, and seizures. Several deaths have been attributed to Ritalin abuse, including that of a high school senior in Roanoke, Virginia, who died from snorting Ritalin after drinking beer. (135)

All Experts Agree: The Multi-Modal Approach is Best

While no single cause has yet been identified for ADHD, researchers around the world have come a long way in identifying environmental and biochemical links to the disorder, and in tracking just how it affects the brain's metabolism and function. Although leading investigators currently differ on the best treatment for ADHD, all agree that a multi modal approach—one that incorporates dietary measures, counseling, special academic strategies and possibly medication—is best. (2)

Dietary and Nutritional Strategies To Consider:
The Age-Old Wisdom of Nutrient Therapy

Two thousand five hundred years ago, Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," said to his students, "Let they food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." Moses Maimonides, the great 12th century physician, repeated the Hippocratic sentiment when he said, "No illness which can be treated by diet should be treated by any other means." In essence, Hippocrates and Maimondides were insisting that their students practice nutrient therapy. This type of therapy is being used by only a very small minority of physicians today. There is, however, a rapidly developing rebirth of interest in this unique orientation, and physicians all around the world are beginning to look more closely at this wisdom from the Father of Medicine. (116)

For example, in 1985 the American Medical Association called a meeting of experts on the subject of food and behavior. Conclusions from this conference were summarized as follows: "Dietary pharmacology is no longer at the fringe of medicine ... Foods do affect behavior. Foods do affect the brain." (117, 116)

Behavior, Learning and Allergies

There is increasing recognition among physicians, nutritionists and parents who are trying to cope with hyperactive and learning disabled children that nutritional status plays an important role. The relationship between the child's biochemical life and his functional performance is very important. Blood tests reveal that 75 percent of hyperactive-learning-disabled children have low blood sugar and/or allergies. (143, 144, 145)

Chronically undernourished humans and animals have shown evidence of physiological and biochemical changes in the central nervous system and brain. Inadequate nutrient intake affects the development of the brain most crucially during the period of rapid growth. In humans this critical period occurs during the last three months of pregnancy and the first six months of infancy. And, 90 percent of the total growth of the brain takes place during the first three years of life! Evidence is accumulating which details the influence of nutritional status on neuromuscular functions, behavior and intelligence. (45)

A study conducted on 220 preschool children demonstrated that children who lack optimal amounts of essential nutrients experience reduced attention span and intellectual ability. The same researchers conducted a study at the University of Minnesota in 1960 which showed that students' ability to think was reduced when kept on a nutritionally poor diet, characterized by a lack or imbalance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. (146, 45)

Also consider eliminating the possibility of food allergies: Perhaps the behavioral problems are also manifestations of allergies caused by foods that are not handled successfully by the body. In a study conducted at the Institute of Child Health in London, using an elimination diet resulted in significantly improving the behavior of a group of hyperactive children. Their behavior worsened when they were challenged with allergy-provoking foods. Similarly, in the prestigious medical journal Lancet, investigators reporting on a study conducted with 185 hyperactive children on an elimination diet supported the concept that food allergies are associated with hyperactivity. (2)

In another report published by Lancet, a carefully designed and executed study of 76 overactive children found that 62% improved on elimination diets. Foods causing hyperactivity included colors and preservatives, soy, milk, chocolate, wheat, oranges, eggs, sugar, and other foods. (147)

Another study, as reported in Pediatrics, also reported on sugar as a possible instigator of aggressive behavior, hyperactivity, and attention problems exhibited by children with ADHD. In that investigation, children with ADHD who consumed large amounts of sugar showed greater inattention in performing tasks. (118) Meanwhile, investigators reporting in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders revealed that children with ADHD experienced abnormal rhythms in the stress hormone cortisol--an abnormality frequently associated with problems in metabolizing carbohydrates. Yale researchers have confirmed that children with ADD may have a problem in metabolizing glucose, in that offering children doses of oral glucose significantly diminished their ability to concentrate. (119, 2)

Where conflicting data exists regarding food allergies, sugar and ADHD, clinicians generally recommend modifying the diet to eliminate possible allergenic foods, dietary chemical preservatives, and sugar to determine whether a particular individual is affected by any of these factors. (2)

Feed the Mind: The Brain is a Hungry Organ

In recent years, many in the scientific community have devoted their research to documenting the relationship between nutrients and brain cell function. The brain is dependent on adequate gastrointestinal function for delivering the essential nutrients it cannot make on its own. Otherwise, the brain cannot keep its biological machinery running. In addition to providing the essential compounds for cellular energy production, the GI tract must also deliver the ingredients for other critical brain constituents. These include essential fatty acids, or phospholipids, which act as building blocks for cell membranes, hormones, and certain neurotransmitters. The GI tract also carries B vitamins to the brain. B vitamins are indispensable in synthesizing neurotransmitters and in forming myelin, the insulating substance that sheaths connections between neurons and makes it possible for them to transmit messages effectively. (2)

The Brain-Immune Connection

Top research institutions worldwide now understand that there is a two-way chemical dialog between the brain and the immune system. Each can influence the other directly. There is an ongoing chemical dialog between the brain and the immune system, a connection that depends on two languages: the neurotransmitters of the brain, and the immunotransmitters of the immune system.

Cytokines (the immune system's own chemical messengers crafted to deliver warnings to speed up or slow down the immune system's responses) may also play a complex role in causing or promoting neurological illness. In recent years, investigators have identified a large number of cytokines as the cause of quite a few--and sometimes detrimental--effects on brain function. For example, certain cytokines are capable of producing fatigue, slowed thinking, and other depressive symptoms. (2)

A Completely Safe, Non-Drug, Natural Approach
to Normalizing Brain Function

Flavay® is totally safe to use; a 100% non-toxic and natural—but powerfully effective—nutritional supplement. Flavay® is a highly specialized, nutritional complex of pairs and triples of a specific molecule called "flavan-3-ol," isolated from natural extracts, that has been extensively tested and examined clinically for biological antioxidant protection, collagen strengthening, tissue rebuilding, and other health producing outcomes.

Manufactured and used in France since 1950 for circulatory problems, inflammation and allergies, a more recent use of Flavay® has arisen among people suffering from a lack of concentration and attention. It is said to have begun quite accidentally when people took the product for another purpose, such as allergies, and noticed an improvement in concentration and mental focus—the classic symptoms of attention deficit.

Scientifically, how could this possibly be true? How could molecules extracted from mundane vegetal sources have a profound influence on the brain? According to scientific research, there are a number of mechanisms of action.

Many decades of studies have established that Flavay® improves circulation, including microcirculation in the brain. Flavay® is one of the few dietary antioxidants that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells. The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from compounds that normally circulate in the blood. Brain cells are very sensitive to some compounds, even though they may not damage other cells in the body or even be needed by other cells. In laboratory experiments in which blood is rapidly injected into brain blood vessels, dramatically increasing the blood pressure within those vessels for a brief time, Flavay® shows a significant protective effect. (3, 4, 1)

Flavay’s® antioxidant protection of brain cells is significant as recent studies have established a connection between free radical damage and cognitive impairment. Research demonstrates that Flavay® helps regulate nitric oxide: a colorless gas produced by many different cells in the body: from endothelial cells on the walls of the arteries to the neurons in the brain to the disease-fighting cells of the immune system. Nitric oxide modulates communication between brain cells and is thereby deeply involved in concentration, learning and memory. And, by controlling the muscular tone of blood vessels, nitric oxide regulates circulation and normalizes blood flow. As long as nitric oxide is produced in the right amount, it is beneficial to the body. Overproduction of nitric oxide, however, promotes production of more free radicals in the brain, which can hamper mental function and cause memory loss and brain aging. Thus, Flavay’s® ability to help maintain the optimal level of nitric oxide profoundly influences brain (and immune) functions. (2, 95)

There is also evidence that Flavay® may help the body to regulate enzymes which control the crucial neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals that carry messages among brain cells and are involved in excitatory responses. Flavay’s® ability to support healthy blood flow to the brain is also important to brain function. Researchers have shown that decreased blood flow to the brain plays a major role in age-related brain disorders. Flavay® may also help deliver other nutrients to the brain, such as zinc and selenium, which are essential to normal brain function, according to recent research. Preliminary studies have confirmed what many users of this remarkable complex have experienced: striking benefits in improved concentration and mental focus, the classic symptoms of attention deficit disorder.(115, 3, 4)

A preliminary study by a psychologist in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who specializes in treating attention deficit disorder, found striking benefits from these naturally-derived molecules, known as Flavay®. The researchers found that it worked just as well as the commonly prescribed stimulant medications, including Ritalin, on thirty children and adults diagnosed with ADD. The subjects were given a battery of computerized and behavior tests to judge their attention, concentration, and other important factors in ADD under various circumstances: when they were either on or off their usual stimulant medications, or on Flavay® alone. When they were off their medications, their ADD deteriorated. On their medications, they were much improved. But when they took daily doses of Flavay®, their scores and behavior were just as improved as when they took stimulant drugs. Many of the subjects also had other positive effects. (115)

This nontoxic, water soluble nutrient holds promise as an alternative to Ritalin. Many children with ADD have found this substance effective to decrease their symptoms by normalizing brain function. It seems to improve memory by improving circulation to the brain. Free radicals reprogram DNA and have been implicated in more than sixty diseases. Flavay® has been shown to help in inflammation of the joints and other tissues, as well as improve functioning of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems. (131, 1)

Flavay® Supports The Brain-Immune Connection

Top research institutions worldwide now understand that there is a two-way chemical dialog between the brain and the immune system. Each can influence the other directly. There is an ongoing chemical dialog between the brain and the immune system, a connection that depends on two languages: the neurotransmitters of the brain, and the immunotransmitters of the immune system. (2)

Flavay® supports your immune system in several important ways. First, by recycling the activity of vitamins C and E—key players in the body's immune system—Flavay® gives the body more ammunition to fight infection. Second, research demonstrates that Flavay® prevents free radical damage to macrophages, a type of white blood cell that generates nitric oxide to destroy bacteria, viruses, and host parasites. (4, 5, 2)

As long as nitric oxide is produced in the right amount, it is beneficial to the body; nitric oxide fights infection, kills tumor cells, and promotes wound healing. But when nitric oxide is produced in excess, it throws the brain-immune connection off kilter and causes some of the brain's worst free radical damage. Over the past decade, scientists have shown that the production of nitric oxide through the combination of immune and nervous system activity (often sparked by an infection, exposure to a toxin, or as part of the aging process) plays a key role in the development of neurological diseases. Thus, Flavay’s® ability to help regulate nitric oxide can profoundly benefit the body’s immune and brain functions. (2)

Flavay Plus® Adds Synergistic Help
for Brain Function, Attention & Acuity

Flavay Plus® uses a synergistic blend of Flavay® with antioxidant vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients to best take advantage of the dynamic interplay among the key antioxidants and their co-factor nutrients.

Phosphatidyl serine: Flavay Plus® is formulated with phosphatidyl serine (Leci-PS™), a complex of amino and fatty acids extracted from soy lecithin, which has proven to be a safe, potentially effective therapeutic agent in treating memory deficit disorders and is an often-used supplement for attention deficit disorders. Phosphatidyl serine has been the subject of many human clinical trials regarding memory loss, mood, cognitive performance, learning ability and stress. Many studies show that phosphatidyl serine can optimize cognition. In the most famous human study, researchers gave 300 mg of phosphatidyl serine a day for 12 weeks to 149 subjects over 50. Various memory and learning tests were administered before and after. The results showed that phosphatidyl serine managed to raise cognitive performance to the levels typical for as much as 12 years younger. (26, 28)

In a study where a group of 27 ADHD children took 200 to 300 mg of phosphatidyl serine daily for four months, researchers found that 25 children exhibited improvement in learning capacity and behavior; and the researchers noted that there were no adverse affects. This substance also has the potential to stimulate the brain to produce dopamine. Published, double-blind research shows that phosphatidyl serine can also be helpful for depression. (26, 27)

Phosphatidyl serine is a phospholipid that is vital to brain cell structure and function. Phospholipids are molecules containing both amino and fatty acid components, which are found in every cell membrane in our bodies. Phosphatidyl serine plays an important role in our neurotransmitter systems, in metabolism levels of the brain, and in maintaining nerve connections in the brain. It appears to help reestablish the normal down-regulation of cortisol secretion that is increased in chronically stressed individuals, and its benefit in dementia and depression may relate to improved brain cell membrane fluidity. In the clinical studies, phosphatidyl serine (100 mg three times daily) has been shown to improve the mood and mental function in those with Parkinson’s disease. (26, 27, 32, 33)

Scientific studies have demonstrated that phosphatidyl serine supplementation can increase the output of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter so important to memory. Clinical trials with elderly patients suffering from memory deficit disorders have shown that adding phosphatidyl serine to the daily diet improved the ability of these patients to think and decreased behavioral disturbances. In other studies, phosphatidyl serine also improved the performance of patients with age-associated memory impairment, a disorder affecting millions of Americans each year. (32)

The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders reported that children with ADHD experienced abnormal rhythms in the stress hormone cortisol. (119, 2)

Research has shown that phosphatidyl serine works to keep the brain’s processes within normal limits, raising them when they are low and lowering them when they are high. So phosphatidyl serine boosts the weak stress response in the elderly person and calms down exaggerated stress in the healthy young person. Both physical and mental stressful conditions cause stress hormones to be released into circulation, even in the young and healthy. Phosphatidyl serine given to athletes prior to starting exercise produced an impressive degree of down-regulation of the stress hormones. Phosphatidyl serine may have the capacity to “normalize” the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Italy, phosphatidyl serine lowered stress hormone (cortisol) production by 30 percent. (31)

Two more recent placebo controlled studies confirmed the earlier double-blind trials; young, university students experienced significantly less stress from tests when they took phosphatidyl serine (300 mg daily for 30 days), they stayed more clear-headed and composed, and kept a more stable mood. (148, 149)

Altogether, this research shows that Flavay Plus® can help young people confront the stressful challenges of living in today's world.

Ginkgo biloba leaf: Flavay Plus® also includes standardized ginkgo biloba leaf extract, primarily known as a brain booster. In Germany and France, ginkgo biloba extract is commonly prescribed for mental problems that are often caused by poor circulation to the brain, such as difficulty concentrating, poor memory, confusion, depression, and anxiety. There have been numerous European studies conducted on ginkgo biloba extract and many have reported positive effects in terms of memory and acuity. Recently, the New York Institute for Medical Research conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study using ginkgo biloba extract on patients suffering from dementia (caused by either stroke or Alzheimer’s disease), with positive results. This is significant because there are few drugs that have any impact at all on cases of dementia. And, the study was published in a mainstream medical journal. (34)

Vitamin A (Beta-carotene and cartenoids): Flavay Plus® contains the preferred form of Vitamin A, beta-carotene (Betatene™). Beta-carotene is converted by the body into vitamin A only as the body needs it and what isn't converted remains as a powerful antioxidant, shown to be a cancer preventative, shown to strengthen the immune system and benefit the eyes and cardiovascular system. The beta-carotene in Flavay Plus® is the highest quality, full-spectrum, patented Betatene™, a complete array of plant-derived, antioxidant cartenoids: beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene. (9, 6)

B-Vitamins: Flavay Plus® is also formulated with many B-vitamins, which are an important requirement of the brain’s diet as they help form neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of the nervous system). Pyridoxal phosphate, a vitamin B-6 member, is pivotal in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). For people who are over stimulated, GABA induces a balancing relaxation. Some people with anxiety, panic disorders, and depression may not manufacture sufficient levels of GABA. (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)

Some nutrient deficiencies can produce symptoms that are familiar as symptoms of hyperactivity and learning disorders. A deficiency of thiamin (vitamin B-1), for example, may produce irritability, nervousness and even increased sensitivity to noise. (45)

Some neurological childhood conditions appear to be connected to the B-vitamins. A study conducted at Saint Joseph Hospital in Pennsylvania found low serotonin (a neurotransmitter involved with mood) levels in hyperactive children. The researchers gave some of the subjects vitamin B-6 and observed their serotonin levels rise appreciably. Also, research suggests that a deficiency of vitamins B-2 and B-6 play a primary role in the cause of emotional disorders. (39, 43)

Vitamin B-12 deficiency can mimic Alzheimer’s disease: vitamin B-12 deficiency may cause fatigue, headaches, heart and nervous system disturbances such as numbness and tingling of the arms or legs, depression, mental confusion, and memory deficits. (9)

Vitamin C: Flavay Plus® also contains vitamin C: water-soluble, a potent free radical scavenger, recycles vitamin E, plays a primary role in the formation of collagen, essential for vascular health and a strong immune system. Controlled studies prove the contribution of vitamin C in the manufacture of white blood cells and interferon. (6, 7, 8, 9, 95)

It's also important to note that Flavay® dramatically extends the activity of vitamin C in the body.

Vitamin E: The body’s principal fat-soluble antioxidant. Much of the body’s free radical damage occurs in fats and in fatty membranes of cells—exactly where vitamin E protects the body. (6, 7, 8, 9, 95)

Selenium: Flavay Plus® includes selenium, as it is necessary for the body’s production of glutathione (an antioxidant produced by the body which protects the brain and nerve tissue from the harmful effects of free radicals) and thioredoxin reductase which recycles vitamin C. Selenium also has a synergistic effect with vitamin E, which means that the two combined are more powerful than either alone. Many Americans do not consume even the small RDA of selenium in their diet. (6, 7, 8, 9)

Zinc: Flavay Plus® also includes zinc because a number of studies are pointing to an association between zinc deficiency and ADHD. One such 1996 study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, revealed a statistically significant correlation between zinc and fatty acids, in that both were decreased in children with ADHD. In another study, conducted at Ohio State University, investigators found a relationship between zinc deficiency and response to stimulant therapy among people with ADHD. Basically, this study showed that children diagnosed with ADHD may be zinc deficient, and that this deficiency may result in their poor response to stimulant therapy. (2)

An essential mineral, zinc has many important effects on the brain and immune system, including neurotransmitter production and enzyme functioning. Zinc is a necessary part of the body’s production of DHA and a constituent of many vital enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is a critical cellular antioxidant enzyme that is responsible for mopping up peroxynitrate, the highly toxic free radical produced in abundance in the normal course of immune system battles (as in viral or bacterial infections) and plays a powerful role in immune system inflammation. Together with the B vitamins, zinc assists in the utilization of insulin and glucose. There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that zinc is needed for the proper maintenance of vitamin E levels in the blood and aids in the absorption of vitamin A. Other important functions of zinc include the promotion of glandular and reproductive health; and there is strong evidence that zinc is required for the synthesis of the nucleic acids RNA and DNA, which are essential for cell repair and cell growth. Studies have found large percentages of apparently healthy children to be deficient in zinc. There is evidence that zinc levels fall after physical and mental stress. Flavay Plus® uses zinc orotate, a high-quality, highly bioavailable form of zinc. (6, 7, 8, 9)

Flavay Plus® utilizes the dynamic interplay between these nutrients and their co-factors in order to provide you and your family with the best that nutritional science has to offer in a convenient, cost effective capsule.

Proven Safety of Flavay®

After more than 50 years of human use, no adverse effects have been observed. Furthermore, intensive biological, toxicological, pharmacological and analytical research was conducted for the purpose of registering it as a medicine in France and other countries in Europe. In one study, daily doses of up to 35,000 mg for six months were determined to cause no adverse effects. Flavay® was also clinically tested, in particular for all sorts of symptoms related to venolymphatic insufficiencies (strenghthening veins, improving circulation and reducing edema and inflammations). The spin-off is a goldmine of data: The rigorous testing to meet the standards required by the health ministries of France, Germany and other European countries demonstrate that Flavay® is highly bioavailable, nontoxic, nonallergenic, noncarcinogenic, nonmutagenic, will not cause birth defects, and is completely safe. (3, 4, 109-114)

Dr. Masquelier’s unequaled manufacturing process has been conducted for half a century at the very same facilities in France, and under the control of French Pharmaceutical inspection. These time-proven standards serve as a reliable assurance of the quality, consistency, bioavailability and safety of Flavay®.

Who can take Flavay®?

Everyone, from the very young to elderly. Flavay® has no known contraindications (conditions under which it should not be used). Flavay® is completely safe and nontoxic. In fact, clinical trials have been conducted in which pregnant women (troubled by varicose veins and other circulatory problems in the legs) safely used Flavay®. (3)

Safety of Flavay Plus®

The essential vitamins and minerals in Flavay Plus® are naturally-derived and completely safe. Flavay Plus® includes phosphatidyl serine, derived from soy lecithin, which has been proven safe in standard toxicology tests. From the large number of human studies conducted, phosphatidyl serine has developed a flawless safety record and proven compatible with a wide array of medications. (26)

Why Trust Flavay®

Consumers need to know that the marketplace is full of imitations, various “extracts” and derivative forms of Dr. Masquelier’s scientifically proven and patented complex. Unfortunately, many have even used Dr. Masquelier’s name and research in unauthorized ways to promote illegitimate products.

Flavay® is the name you can trust for the precisely defined active polyphenol complex patented and perfected by the inventor, Dr. Jack Masquelier, validated by the French Ministry of Health and documented by a library of research consisting of many patents and hundreds of scientific papers, articles, doctorate theses, lectures and presentations. For quality, consistency, bioavailability and safety, consumers may rely upon Flavay®.

Flavay® and Flavay Plus®
for Concentration and Attention

Altogether, this research shows that Flavay® and Flavay Plus® can help people of all ages confront the stressful challenges of living in today's world with improved concentration and attention—providing you and your family with the best that nutritional science has to offer in convenient, cost effective capsules.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT FLAVAY® CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING