Bio-Photonic Scanner

QUESTION: Dr. Hansen, Have you been approached about the Bio-photonic scanner? Developed at the University of Utah. It is a new Bio Marker for the body. It measures your Anti oxidant level in your body. Much like a cholesterol check is a biomarker this too is a bio Marker in the body. Here is my web site www.getyournumber.mypharmanexusa.com Cut and paste this in your browser. I would like to visit with you if you have some interest. I have placed this scanner in several locations through out the USA. Our Company has a 17-year exclusive on this technology. There was an ABC report in your area a few weeks ago about it. Forgive me for using your Question box but I felt I needed to ask you the question. This is new and the Bio-Photonic scanner was released only a few months ago. Thank you for your time I hope this email has not offended you in anyway. Kelly (last name withheld)

ANSWER: Dear Kelly,

Thanks for your question. I am familiar with the Pharmanex® BioPhotonic Scanner. It estimates the tissue level of carotenes in the skin. Carotenes are important water soluble antioxidants with powerful health benefits. However, I do not believe that the BioPhotonic Scanner is worth the expense. Unfortunately, there is not a good, inexpensive method of testing all of the nutritional markers for health. Carotenes represent only one of 7 major antioxidants used in the body, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, Glutathione, Melatonin and Hydrogen Peroxide.

I do not agree with some of the Pharmanex® promotional literature such as the article by Dr. Lester Packer, which appears biased. He states: "The measurement of skin carotenoids by the Pharmanex® BioPhotonic Scanner is a convenient and useful indication of the body's overall antioxidant status. The reason for this is that skin carotenoid levels are a good indication of the carotenoid concentrations in blood and other tissues (Peng et al., 1995). Since carotenoids are delivered to tissues by LDL circulating in the blood, their concentrations are correlated with the amounts of the other fat-soluble antioxidants in the body such as vitamin E or co-enzyme Q. Therefore, increased levels of carotenoids reflect overall levels of antioxidant defense and diminished oxidative stress.

I disagree with this statement. The BioPhotonic Scanner is NOT an indicator of the body's overall antioxidant status and there is no scientific evidence that it correlates with the amounts of the fat-soluble antioxidants in the body such as vitamin E or co-enzyme Q.

Instead, I recommend taking the amounts of antioxidants proven by scientific studies to help prevent or reverse the diseases of aging.

Best in health,
Dr. Hansen