Ortho-Adapt Vegan is our premier adaptogenic formula, reformulated for the needs of vegetarians. Includes Pantethine (the "activated" form of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)), and botanical adaptogens. Supports the body's ability to respond to stress with balanced, proactive energy ("stage of resistance" or adaptogenic phase) rather than alarm or exhaustion.

Adaptogens and Stress
Adaptogens are substances that increase the body's ability to shift gears when new demands are placed on it. Adaptogens mobilize internal reserves of strength, lessening the severity of the initial shock of the alarm phase which occurs as the body tries to deal with a new, stressful situation. They also keep the body from overreacting to the stressor, thus avoiding, reducing, or delaying the exhaustion phase: the burnout that follows periods of extreme stress. True adaptogens act by extending the phase of resistance, a state in which the body's energies and capacities are optimally mobilized to adapt to new challenges.

A Natural Solution for Coping with Stress
AOR's Ortho-Adapt contains a carefully formulated blend of vitamins, nutrients and herbs with adaptogenic properties. These include pantethine (an active co-enzyme form of vitamin B5), Vitamin C, and well known botanicals like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Siberian "ginseng" (Eleutherococcus senticosus). All of these ingredients have been shown to help the body respond to stress. The formula also contains adrenal glandulars, providing superior support for the adrenal glands, which are key to the body's stress coping abilities. Ortho-Adapt is also available in a vegan formula which does not contain glandulars.

Many factors, such as healthy lifestyle habits as well as genetics and upbringing can influence how your body responds to life's challenges. However, scientific research has also identified key botanicals and nutrients that can help you to rise to the demands of life.

Orthomolecules Essential to Adaptive Response
Pantethine is an active co-enzyme form of vitamin B5. Pantethine is converted by the body into a critical metabolic factor called coenzyme A (CoA). CoA in turn, plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of key adrenal hormones involved in the body's release of energy reserves in response to stress. People who are deficient in vitamin B5 rapidly develop symptoms associated with burnout, including fatigue, listlessness, depression, headache, sleep disturbances, low immune function leading to more frequent colds and other infections, high blood pressure, and hypoglycemia.

Vitamin C has long been known to be critical to the ability of the adrenal glands to respond to stress. Vitamin C is involved in the biosynthesis of adrenal hormones, and concentrations of vitamin C in the healthy adrenal glands are higher than in any other part of the body except the brain. Human and animal studies have both shown that high-dose vitamin C supplementation can help to modulate the impact of stressful conditions, preventing immune suppression and buffering cortisol secretion.

Botanical Adaptogens
Rhodiola rosea is a well-studied adaptogen. It has a long history of use in the traditional medicine of Siberia for adaptation to the rigors of life on the tundras of North-Central Asia. More recently several scientific studies have documented the ability of standardized Rhodiola to enhance the body's physical and mental work capacity and productivity under conditions of stress. Users find that Rhodiola is highly effective at helping with the psychological impact of stress, even as it enhances physical and mental endurance.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) provides powerful support against overwhelming stress, but its effects are in many ways distinct from most other adaptogenic herbs. While most adaptogens primarily work by helping the body to mobilize and maintain the physiological response to stress, Ashwagandha appears to work first and foremost by reducing the stress-related excesses of the alarmed nervous system.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is the source of the phytochemical glycyrrhizin, which acts to activate the receptors for key adrenal hormones (mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids) involved in mobilizing energy reserves in response to stress. It also helps your body to keep these hormones in their more active forms, by inhibiting the enzymes that degrade adrenal hormones into less active forms.

Eleutherococcus senticosus, or "Siberian ginseng," has powerful adaptogenic properties. It has been shown to enhance the immune system and improve physical performance. Eleutherococcus lacks the side effects observed in some users of Panax ginseng, which overexcites some people, and also has a more global beneficial effect on the immune system.