Source Naturals - AHCC supplement,  500 mg, 60 Capsules

Source Naturals AHCC supplement (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) is a proprietary compound produced by cultivation and enzymatic modification of several species of mushroom mycelia, including shiitake, grown in rice bran extract. Considered a superfood supplement in Japan, AHCC has been researched extensively for its immune enhancement properties. According to human and animal research AHCC may increase natural killer cell activity. AHCC may also increase macrophage activity, enhance cytokine production, and support the healthy functioning of the liver as well as act as an antioxidant.

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Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract of several studies on supplements and natural medicine topics, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D. We occasionally discuss AHCC supplement research.

 

AHCC Supplement Facts:
AHCC Proprietary Blend   -  500 mg *
    Mushroom Mycelia Extract, Candelilla Wax,
    Cyclodextrin, and Microcrystalline Cellulose.

Suggested Use: 1 or 2 AHCC capsules daily on an empty stomach, or as recommended by your health care professional.  For general well-being, take 1 AHCC capsules a few times a week. Consult your doctor if you plan to use AHCC for more than one or two months.
* AHCC supplement daily value not established.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
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Studies in mice show AHCC:supplement
Enhances resistance to infection
Enhances natural killer cell activity
Protects the liver from injury induced by toxic or anti- cancer agents.
AHCC may have potential as an immune enhancing agent in the therapy of opportunistic infections.
AHCC reduces breast cancer metastasis in mice when combined with chemotherapy agents.
AHCC may even have antioxidant properties.

Supplementation with active hexose correlated compound AHCC increases the innate immune response of young mice to primary influenza infection.
J Nutr. 2006 Nov;136(11):2868-73. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104,
The emergence of H5N1 avian influenza and the threat of new or adapted viruses in bioterrorism have created an urgent interest in identifying agents to enhance the immune response to primary virus infection. Active hexose correlated compound AHCC is a natural mushroom extract reported to increase natural killer (NK) cell activity, survival, and bacterial clearance in young mice. However, the effects of AHCC on the response to viral infections have not been studied. In this study, young C57BL/6 mice were supplemented with 1 g AHCC /(kg body weight x d) for 1 wk prior to and throughout infection with influenza A (H1N1, PR8). Supplementation increased survival, decreased the severity of infection, and shortened recovery time following intranasal infection with flu, as determined by the recovery of body weight and epithelial integrity in the lungs. AHCC increased NK activity in lungs at d 1 and d 4 and in the spleen at d 2 postinfection. Supplementation increased the percentage and number of NK1.1+ cells in the lung and reduced the infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages compared with controls. These data suggest that AHCC supplementation boosts NK activity, improves survival, and reduces the severity of influenza infection in young mice.

Studies in humans show AHCC supplement
Has protective effects on the liver in cases of liver injury, cirrhosis, cancer, or hepatitis.
AHCC and cancer -- one study shows AHCC improves the prognosis in patients with hepatocellular cancer however several more studies are needed before determining the role of AHCC in cancer treatment in humans.

Prognostic improvement of patients with advanced liver cancer after active hexose correlated compound AHCC treatment.
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2006 Mar;24(1):33-45. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, Patumthani, Thailand.
Most patients with liver cancer are diagnosed when they are not suitable for resection. Although some palliative approaches can be applied to these patients, the overall survival rate remains unsatisfactory. AHCC, a newly developed functional food, has been shown to act as a potent biological response modifier in in vitro experiments. Recently, AHCC was found to improve the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients following surgical treatment. We investigated whether AHCC could prolong survival and improve the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer. A prospective cohort study was performed with 44 patients with histologically confirmed liver cancer. All of the patients underwent supportive care. Of the 44 patients, 34 and 10 received AHCC and placebo orally, respectively. Patients in the AHCC treated-group had a significantly prolonged survival when compared to the control group. Quality of life in terms of mental stability, general physical health status, and ability to have normal activities were significantly improved after 3 months of AHCC treatment. Unlike the control patients, AHCC treated-patients with longer survival time had the tendency of better outcomes since the levels of AST and ALT had not increased rapidly from their baselines at follow-up. In addition, the levels of total IL-12 and neopterin were slightly increased in AHCC treated-patients. This study suggests that AHCC intake could prolong the survival and improve the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer and delay the gradual decline of their physiological status.

AHCC Dosage
Many of the studies in humans have used dosages of AHCC supplement of about 3 grams a day. The ideal dosage AHCC in cancer or other conditions for long term use is still being evaluated.

Summary
More research with AHCC and cancer is needed before making any firm recommendations on effectiveness, dosage, frequency and length of use, interactions with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and the conditions for which this interesting compound can be useful. Thus far much of the AHCC and cancer research looks promising but few are have been done in humans.

AHCC Research Update
Active hexose correlated compound enhances tumor surveillance through regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2006 Oct;55(10):1258-66. Epub 2005 Dec 16. Gao Y, Zhang D, et al. Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, CAB Building, Room 517, 300 Cedar Street, 208031, New Haven, CT
AHCC has been studied for its role in immune functions. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were orally administered AHCC or water, followed by tumor cell inoculation. Compared to pure water-treated mice, AHCC treatment significantly delayed tumor development after inoculation of either melanoma cell line B16F0 or lymphoma cell line EL4. Treatment with AHCC enhanced both Ag-specific activation and proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, increased the number of tumor Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells, and more importantly, increased the frequency of tumor Ag-specific IFN-gamma producing CD8(+) T cells. Interestingly, AHCC treatment also showed increased cell number of NK and gammadelta T cells, indicating the role of AHCC in activating these innate-like lymphocytes. In summary, our results demonstrate that AHCC can enhance tumor immune surveillance through regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.

Active hexose correlated compound enhances tumor surveillance through regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2005 Dec 16;:1-9
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, CAB Building, New Haven, CT
In this study, C57BL/6 mice were orally administered AHCC or water, followed by tumor cell inoculation. We showed that compared to pure water-treated mice, AHCC treatment significantly delayed tumor development after inoculation of either melanoma cell line B16F0 or lymphoma cell line EL4. Treatment with AHCC enhanced both Ag-specific activation and proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, increased the number of tumor Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells, and more importantly, increased the frequency of tumor Ag-specific IFN-gamma producing CD8(+) T cells. Interestingly, AHCC treatment also showed increased cell number of NK and gammadelta T cells, indicating the role of AHCC in activating these innate-like lymphocytes. In summary, our results demonstrate that AHCC can enhance tumor immune surveillance through regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.

AHCC Enhances the Immune Function of Mice in the Hindlimb-Unloading Model of Space Flight Conditions.
Department of Microbiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta
J Appl Physiol. 2004 Jun 11
Hindlimb-unloading is a ground-based model that simulates some of the aspects of space flight conditions including lack of load bearing on hindlimbs and a fluid shift to the head. It has been shown that treatment with Active Hexose Correlated Compound ( AHCC ) restores resistance to infection in mice maintained under hindlimb-unloading conditions. The present study was designed to clarify the mechanisms by which AHCC enhances resistance to infection in this model. We hypothesized that oral administration of AHCC will enhance the function of the immune system, which could lead to the increased resistance to infection observed in this model. AHCC or the excipient was orally administered to mice and the function of the immune system was assessed in spleen and peritoneal cells isolated from those groups. The results of the current study showed that, administration of AHCC for one week prior to and throughout the 2nd day of hindlimb-unloading period enhanced the function of the immune system assessed by spleen cell proliferation and cytokine production in spleens and nitric oxide and cytokine production in peritoneal cells. These findings suggest that AHCC can be used as a potent immunoenhancer especially in cases where the immune system is suppressed by any condition including diseases such as HIV infection and cancer.

Amelioration by active hexose correlated compound ( AHCC ) of endocrine disturbances induced by oxidative stress in the rat.
Endocr Regul. 2004 Mar;38(1):7-13.
AHCC, an extract derived from fungi of Basidiomycetes family, has been found to be a potent antioxidant. Since the secretion of some hormones can be affected by reactive oxygen species, the objective of this study was to examine how ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA), which generates hydroxyl radicals in vivo, modulates the hormone secretion and the effects of AHCC. CONCLUSION: FeNTA induces various endocrine disorders and AHCC ameliorates these effects by acting as an antioxidant.

Suppressive effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound - AHCC - on the increased activity of hepatic and renal ornithine decarboxylase induced by oxidative stress.
Life Sci. 2003 Dec 19;74(5):593-602.
Active Hexose Correlated Compound ( AHCC ), an extract derived from fungi of Basidiomycetes family has been shown to act as a biological response modifier in various disorders. In our present study, ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), which generates hydroxyl radicals in vivo, was given intraperitoneally to rats and AHCC was tested for its ability to suppress oxidative stress and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in the liver and kidney. These results suggest AHCC acts as a potent antioxidant and protects against disorders induced by oxidative stresses.

Prophylactic efficacy of a basidiomycetes preparation AHCC against lethal Candida albicans infection in experimental granulocytopenic mice.
Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi. 2003;44(2):127-31.
The prophylactic effects of AHCC against lethal Candida albicans infection were investigated in non treated or immunosuppressed mice. In leukopenic mice and nontreated mice, the intraperitoneal administration of AHCC prior to C. albicans infection clearly prolonged the survival periods of the infected mice. In doxorubicin-treated mice, AHCC was less but significantly effective. On the other hand, in prednisolone-treated mice, AHCC was not effective. Oral administration of AHCC also protected the 5-FU-treated mice from lethal Candida infection, as indicated by prolongation of the survival periods and inhibition of Candida growth in the kidneys of these mice and by the increase in a number of neutrophils in their peripheral blood. These results suggested that AHCC may display a protective role against opportunistic fungal infection in leukopenic hosts.

Improved prognosis of postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients when treated with functional foods: a prospective cohort study.
Matsui Y. J Hepatol 2002 Jul;37(1):78-86.
Active hexose correlated compound ( AHCC ) is a newly developed functional food. In vitro experiments have shown that AHCC enhances natural killer cell activity, and may be considered a potent biological response modifier in the treatment of cancer patients. However, the effects of AHCC in a clinical setting have not been reported. We seek to determine whether AHCC can improve the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients following surgical treatment. A prospective cohort study was performed. A total of 269 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed HCC were studied. All of the patients underwent resection of a liver tumor. Time to treatment failure (disease recurrence or death) and ten parameters related to liver function after surgery were examined. RESULTS: Of the 269 patients, 113 received AHCC orally after undergoing curative surgery ( AHCC group). The AHCC group had a significantly longer no recurrence period and an increased overall survival rate when compared to the control group.  This study suggests that AHCC intake can improve the prognosis of postoperative HCC patients.

Suppressive effect of active hexose correlated compound on thymic apoptosis induced by dexamethasone in the rat.
Endocr Regul 2000 Dec;34(4):181-8.
Mushroom extracts are known to have immunomodulating and antitumor effects in humans as well as in animals. In the present study AHCC, an extract obtained from several kinds of basidiomycetes was examined for its suppressive effect on thymocyte apoptosis induced by dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AHCC exhibits immuno-modulating effects at least partially by regulating thymic apoptosis.

Prophylactic efficacy of a basidiomycetes preparation AHCC against lethal opportunistic infections in mice.  
Yakugaku Zasshi 2000 Aug;120(8):715-9.
The prophylactic effects of AHCC against experimental opportunistic infections were investigated in leukopenic mice. In cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenic mice, oral or intraperitoneal administration of the AHCC at doses of 1000 or 50 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 4 consecutive days prior to Candida albicans infection significantly prolonged the survival periods of the infected mice, and decreased the viable counts of C. albicans cells recovered from their kidneys. Similarly, the oral treatment with AHCC protected mice from lethal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and intraperitoneal one also protected mice from infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest a potential usefulness of the AHCC as a prophylactic agent for the management of patients with opportunistic infections.

Combination therapy of active hexose correlated compound ahcc plus UFT significantly reduces the metastasis of rat mammary adenocarcinoma.
Anticancer Drugs. 1998 Apr;9(4):343-50.
Synergistic effects of AHCC mushroom extract on the treatment with UFT against mammary adenocarcinoma, SST-2 cells, in congenitally T cell-depressed spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were observed. AHCC plus UFT had slight but significant effects on the growth of primary tumors. Pulmonary metastases were not inhibited by the treatment with AHCC plus UFT, whereas metastases to axillary lymph nodes (LN) were obviously inhibited. Combination of AHCC plus UFT showed similar synergistic anti-metastatic effects in SHR rats with accelerated pulmonary metastases following the surgical removal of the primary tumors. In vitro studies demonstrated that AHCC plus UFT enhanced the NK cell activity in tumor-bearing rats, whereas UFT alone depressed the NK cell activity. AHCC plus UFT also enhanced the NO production and cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages. In addition, AHCC restored the suppressed mRNA expression of interleukin-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced by the chemotherapy. Taken together, the combination of AHCC plus UFT brought about good therapeutic effects not only on primary tumor growth but also on reducing metastasis and these effects were mediated by host immunity which was restored or activated by AHCC. AHCC mushroom extract may be a good candidate for a biological response modifier.