If you work for the city of Ankeny and donuts, smoking and stress are part of your daily routine, you may need to prepare for some change.

The city of Ankeny is launching a comprehensive wellness program designed to encourage its employees to live a healthier lifestyle. A part of the city’s initial efforts was employee use of EpiCor, a dietary supplement produced by Ankeny-based Embria Health Sciences designed to boost an individual’s immune system.

Assistant City Manager James Spradling said one reason the city is pushing for a wellness program is the increase in healthcare costs, which were expected to increase much higher this year than in previous years. He said health care costs will continue to rise, and something has to be done to reduce those costs.

City employees gave EpiCor a shot for six months, taking it from October 2010 until March of this year.

Embria Health Sciences representatives met with employees and answered questions before the city’s six-month trial began. For the employees that chose to try EpiCor, the city purchased the supplement at cost from EpiCor supplier Proactive Health Products, and then split that cost with the 80 employees and 18 family members that wanted to try the supplement. The city then gave surveys to those who used the supplement to study the effectiveness of it.

At the end of the city’s study, doctor visits for cold, flu and respiratory symptoms had decreased by 28 percent, according to the city's press release.

Embria Health Services Research and Development Director Stuart Reeves said Ankeny’s results are similar to the company’s two clinical trials in the reduction of doctor visits for cold and flu symptoms.

“It’s very exciting for it to happen in a real world situation,” Reeves said.

He said EpiCor works by boosting some parts of the immune system, while suppressing other parts.

“We in the West have immune systems that can easily become out of balance,” Reeves said. “It’s helping the immune system behave in an appropriate manner.”

As a supplement, EpiCor has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Tom Brazelton, a web communication specialist for the city, said he enjoyed the experience. He noticed that he got sick less often while taking EpiCor, but also noticed that he could breathe better during allergy season.

“I didn’t realize how bad I was suffering from allergies until I started taking EpiCor,” Brazelton said.  

Spradling said the results opened his eyes that the city should be doing more on the side of preventative healthcare.

“We see EpiCor as a part of that,” Spradling said.

Spradling said although the city has always had an interest in fitness, now there will also be a focus on nutrition, coping with stress and more. Future parts of the program will include identifying those with health risks, like smoking and obesity, and helping them minimize those risks.

“It’s important to have a broader scope of programs,” Spradling said.

The city recently was invited to discuss the partnership with Embria during the National Foundation for Women Legislatures 2011 annual conference in Des Moines, said city public relations officer Deb Dyar. The conference was held this past Sunday.