Eggs have always been eaten for breakfast, but now they are also being used to treat acne and may one day prevent stomach cancer.
Since 2004, Isotech Research Inc. in Airdrie, Alta., has studied the applications of immunoglobulin yolk, or IgY, which occurs in the yolk of an egg and is produced by hens as antibodies.
Liliana Camargo, a microbiologist with Isotech, said antibodies are extracted from eggs and combined with ocean clay to produce a hydrating cream and mask to treat acne.
The cream, sold mainly in China, Japan and South Korea, shows a 75 percent control rate in acne studies conducted in China, Camargo said.
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“It’s a natural antibiotic.”
Acne medications now on the market are effective, but contain high concentrations of Vitamin A that can produce side effects in the liver and stomach.
Camargo said the IgY-based product’s big advantage is in the use of natural ingredients such as eggs and the development of new value-added markets for chicken producers.
Isotech is working with the Alberta Egg Producers Co-operative and Vanderpol Egg Products Inc., using eggs from hens specifically raised for this research.
The company inoculates chickens with specific bacteria to produce antibodies to fight the bacteria. Eggs are separated into whites and yolks and IgY is extracted from the yolks.
Isotech is exploring new markets for the acne product, but is also developing products to fight Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria in the stomach lining that causes ulcers and sometimes cancer.
Clinical trials are under way in China.
