About the Product
Marvelous Nutrition's Calibration is a food supplement in HPMC vegetable capsules for organ support, formulated with 7 botanical extracts and bioactive compounds of high purity and concentration for hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, and immune protection against oxidative stress, drug/chemical toxicity, and low-grade chronic inflammation associated with intensive sports lifestyles, medication use, alcohol consumption, and exposure to environmental toxins. Key ingredients are: Astragalus membranaceus (immunomodulator and adaptogen with kidney and liver protective properties), Milk thistle 80% silymarin + 30% silybin (the world's most studied hepatoprotector), Cordyceps sinensis (adaptogen with mitochondrial energizing and immunomodulatory effects), NAC (glutathione precursor and hepatic antioxidant), Reduced L-Glutathione (the main intracellular antioxidant), Pycnogenol/Pine bark extract 95% proanthocyanidins (antioxidant and vascular anti-inflammatory), and Resveratrol 98% (SIRT1 sirtuin activator and versatile antioxidant). 3 capsules/day with a meal. Vegan.
Benefits
The concept of organ support: why athletes and populations exposed to high metabolic stress benefit from active organ protection:
The human body has sophisticated detoxification, antioxidation, and cell repair systems, but these systems have finite capacity and can be overloaded by multiple factors: oxidative stress from intense exercise (ROS production increases 10 to 200 times above baseline during maximal exercise), exposure to medications (especially NSAIDs, paracetamol, antibiotics) which are metabolized in the liver with the production of hepatotoxic metabolites, alcohol consumption (which produces hepatotoxic acetaldehyde via ADH and CYP2E1), environmental pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins), and chronic stress from modern life (which elevates cortisol, which has immunosuppressive and oxidative effects). Calibration combines ingredients that act at multiple points in these stress pathways, strengthening the body's endogenous defense systems.
Milk thistle 80% silymarin + 30% silybin: the world's most studied hepatoprotector:
As described in the Life Pro Silymarin section, milk thistle seed extract (Silybum marianum) standardized to 80% silymarin and 30% silybin is the most extensively studied hepatoprotector in herbal medicine. Silybin (the most active component of silymarin) has multiple hepatoprotective mechanisms: inhibition of lipid peroxidation of hepatocyte membranes (via free radical scavenging), stimulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis in hepatocytes (accelerating hepatic cell regeneration), competitive inhibition of hepatotropic toxin uptake via membrane transporters (blocking the entry of toxins such as amanitin from Amanita phalloides), and anti-inflammatory modulation via NF-κB inhibition. Calibration uses the same dual standardization formulation (80% silymarin + 30% silybin) as Life Pro's Silymarin, which is the highest potency specification available on the market for milk thistle extracts.
Astragalus membranaceus (root): the adaptogen with immunomodulation, nephroprotection, and telomerase effects:
Astragalus membranaceus (huang qi, in traditional Chinese medicine) is one of the most widely used adaptogens in Eastern medicine, with a growing evidence base in Western medicine. Its main active compounds are astragalosides (triterpenic saponins, especially Astragaloside IV) and Astragalus polysaccharides (ASP). Astragaloside IV has multiple documented properties: it is a telomerase inducer (TA-65, a semi-synthetic derivative of Astragaloside IV, was the first compound to demonstrate in humans telomerase activation and telomere lengthening in leukocytes, with implications for cellular aging); it is nephroprotective (reduces proteinuria and interstitial fibrosis in models of diabetic and ischemic nephropathy); it is immunomodulatory (stimulates T lymphocyte proliferation, NK activity, and production of Th1 cytokines like IFN-γ and IL-2); and it has hepatic antifibrotic effects (inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells which are the main producers of collagen in hepatic fibrosis). For athletes with high chronic physical stress or for those using hepatotropic supplements, Astragalus is a high-value addition to the Calibration formula.
Cordyceps sinensis (mycelium): mitochondrial energy, VO₂max, and immunomodulation:
Cordyceps sinensis is a parasitic fungus (Ophiocordycipitaceae) used for centuries in Tibetan and Chinese medicine to increase energy, vitality, and endurance. Its main active compound is cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), an adenosine analog with multiple effects: stimulation of ATP synthesis in mitochondria (via AMPK activation), increased efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation (improvement of ATP produced per O₂ consumed ratio), and immunomodulation (cordycepin has an anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of PGE2 synthesis). The clinical trial by Xu et al. (2021) documented that Cordyceps supplementation improved VO₂max and exercise endurance in athletes, confirming its ergogenic role in improving aerobic capacity. In addition to its energetic effects, Cordyceps has adaptogenic properties (reduction of post-exercise cortisol) and nephroprotective properties (protection of renal tubular cells against toxins and ischemia).
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) + Reduced L-Glutathione: the dual hepatic antioxidant system:
The combination of NAC and Reduced L-Glutathione (GSH) covers both links in the chain of glutathione synthesis and availability in tissues. NAC (already described in the Life Pro NAC section) is the most effective cysteine precursor for de novo glutathione synthesis: it directly provides cysteine to hepatocytes, which limit GSH synthesis by cysteine availability (the limiting substrate). NAC is the first-line antidote for paracetamol poisoning (which depletes hepatic GSH to a critical point), clearly illustrating the importance of hepatic GSH in drug detoxification. Reduced L-Glutathione (GSH, the biologically active form) directly provides glutathione – although the oral bioavailability of GSH has historically been questioned (due to intestinal hydrolysis to individual amino acids before absorption), recent studies with more bioavailable forms of GSH (such as Setria® GSH in liposomes or S-acetyl glutathione) document increases in erythrocyte GSH levels with oral supplementation. The NAC + GSH combination covers both de novo GSH synthesis and direct replenishment, maximizing the hepatic antioxidant pool.
Pine bark extract 95% proanthocyanidins (Pycnogenol): the antioxidant and vascular anti-inflammatory:
The extract of Pinus pinaster bark standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins (oligomers of catechin and epicatechin linked by C-C bonds) is the same active ingredient as Pycnogenol® (registered trademark, although the product does not explicitly mention it). Pine proanthocyanidins have exceptionally potent antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging and metal chelation), anti-inflammatory effects (inhibition of NF-κB and COX), and vasoprotective effects (stimulation of endothelial NO production via eNOS, reduction of vascular permeability, and protection of arterial walls from oxidative damage by oxidized LDL). They are especially relevant for cardiovascular and endothelial protection in athletes with high vascular oxidative stress.
Resveratrol 98% from Polygonum cuspidatum: the SIRT1 activator and caloric restriction mimetic:
Resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol found in grape skin, red wine, and Polygonum cuspidatum roots (the most concentrated commercial source). P. cuspidatum extract standardized to 98% resveratrol is the purest form available. Resveratrol activates SIRT1 (sirtuin 1), a NAD+-dependent deacetylase that regulates gene expression of energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis (via PGC-1α), inflammation (via NF-κB deacetylation), DNA repair (via p53), and cellular longevity. The effects of resveratrol are classically compared to the effects of caloric restriction, given the overlap of activated molecular pathways. In addition to SIRT1 activation, resveratrol has documented anti-inflammatory (inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2), antioxidant (free radical scavenging), vasodilatory (via eNOS), and anticancer effects.
Usage
Recommended dose: Take 3 capsules/day with a meal. Taking with food improves the absorption of fat-soluble components (resveratrol, proanthocyanidins, silybin) and reduces the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort. For daily preventive use: 3 capsules with breakfast or lunch. For intensive organ support cycles (post-steroid cycle, after periods of intensive medication or alcohol use): continued use for 4 to 8 weeks with a possible increase to 6 capsules/day in consultation with a healthcare professional.
