AHCC

AHCC is an alpha-glucan rich nutritional supplement produced from shiitake (Lentinula edodes). The product is a subject of research as a potential anti-cancer agent.[1] AHCC is a popular alternative medicine in Japan.[2]

Chemical structure of partially acylated α-1,4-glucan, the main polysaccharide in AHCC.
AHCC is a compound produced from Shiitake mushroom.

AHCC is a registered trademark of and manufactured by Amino Up Co., Ltd. in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan.[3]

Development and Chemical composition

AHCC was developed by Amino Up Co., LTD. and Dr. Toshihiko Okamoto (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo) in 1989.[4]

Polysaccharides form a large part of the composition of AHCC. These include beta-glucan (β-glucan) and partially acylated α-glucan. Partially acylated α-glucan, produced by the patented long term culturing process, is unique to AHCC. Approximately 20% of the make up of AHCC is α-glucans.[5]

Glucans are saccharides, of which some are known to have immune stimulating effects.[6]

Potential Mechanisms of Action

The manufacturer of AHCC, Amino Up Co., Ltd., states that the culturing process utilized in its manufacture favors the release of small bioactive molecules that act as nontoxic agonists for toll-like receptors (TLRs), specifically TLR-4, initiating a systemic anti-inflammatory response.[7] AHCC is believed to bind to TLR-2 and TLR-4, and act as an immune modulator,[8] as Immune cells such as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells will produce cytokines by either cytokine stimulation by dendritic cells or ligand binding to TLRs.[9]

Use in Integrative Medicine

AHCC is widely used in the world and many people use it for general health maintenance and treatment of various diseases.

It is often used as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for immune support,[4] as reports in animal and clinical settings have indicated that AHCC is associated with an enhanced response to infection and increased survival.[10][11] AHCC is in some cases also used by those undergoing conventional cancer therapy (e.g. chemotherapy[5]) for its reported immunomodulatory functions.[12]

In Japan, AHCC is the 2nd most popular complementary and alternative medicine used by cancer patients. Agaricus blazei supplements are the most popular, outpacing AHCC use by a factor of 7:1.[2]

Research

Laboratory research suggests AHCC may have immunostimulatory effects.

AHCC has been proposed as a treatment for cancer, but research into its effectiveness has produced only uncertain and inconclusive evidence.[1] Detailed research is needed into the pharmacology of AHCC before any recommendation of its use as an adjuvant therapy can be made.

Studies have suggested that AHCC supplementation may affect immune outcomes and immune cell populations, suggesting that it has anti-inflammatory effects.[13] Moreover, available data have demonstrated that AHCC may possibly reduce symptoms, improve survival, and shorten recovery time in animal models infected with viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections.[14][15]

See also

References
  1. "AHCC". WebMD. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. Hyodo I, Amano N, Eguchi K (April 2005). "Nationwide survey on complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients in Japan". Journal of Clinical Oncology. 23 (12): 2645–54. doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.04.126. PMID 15728227.
  3. "AHCC / A Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula edodes Mycelia – Amino Up". www.aminoup.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  4. Anil D. Kulkarni; Philip Calder; Toshinori Ito (2016). Clinician's Guide to AHCC. International Congress on Nutrition and Integrative Medicine. ISBN 978-4-9909264-1-0.
  5. Ito, Toshinori; Urushima, Hayato; Sakaue, Miki; Yukawa, Sayoko; Honda, Hatsumi; Hirai, Kei; Igura, Takumi; Hayashi, Noriyuki; Maeda, Kazuhisa (2014-03-10). "Reduction of Adverse Effects by a Mushroom Product, AHCC in Patients With Advanced Cancer During Chemotherapy—The Significance of the Levels of HHV-6 DNA in Saliva as a Surrogate Biomarker During Chemotherapy". Nutrition and Cancer. 66 (3): 377–382. doi:10.1080/01635581.2014.884232. ISSN 0163-5581. PMID 24611562. S2CID 22715995.
  6. Fujii H, Nakagawa T: Novel substance having physiological activity, process for producing the same, and use, U.S. Patent Application Publication, Mar 6, 2003.
  7. Mallet, Jean-François; Graham, Émilie; Ritz, Barry W.; Homma, Kohei; Matar, Chantal (2016-02-01). "AHCC promotes an intestinal immune response in BALB/c mice and in primary intestinal epithelial cell culture involving toll-like receptors TLR-2 and TLR-4". European Journal of Nutrition. 55 (1): 139–146. doi:10.1007/s00394-015-0832-2. ISSN 1436-6215. PMID 25596849. S2CID 24880929.
  8. Mallet, Jean-François; Graham, Émilie; Ritz, Barry W.; Homma, Kohei; Matar, Chantal (2015-01-18). "AHCC promotes an intestinal immune response in BALB/c mice and in primary intestinal epithelial cell culture involving toll-like receptors TLR-2 and TLR-4". European Journal of Nutrition. 55 (1): 139–146. doi:10.1007/s00394-015-0832-2. ISSN 1436-6207. PMID 25596849. S2CID 24880929.
  9. Zhinan Yin; Hajime Fujii; Thomas Walshe (August 2010). "Effects of AHCC on Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells Producing Interferon-γ and/or Tumor Necrosis factor-α in Healthy Adults". Human Immunology. 71 (12): 1187–1190. doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2010.08.006. PMID 20732368.
  10. Ritz, Barry W (2008-08-22). "Supplementation with AHCC increases survival following infectious challenge in mice". Nutrition Reviews. 66 (9): 526–531. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00085.x. ISSN 0029-6643. PMID 18752476.
  11. Nogusa, Shoko; Gerbino, Jeffrey; Ritz, Barry W. (February 2009). "Low-dose supplementation with AHCC improves the immune response to acute influenza infection in C57BL/6 mice". Nutrition Research. 29 (2): 139–143. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2009.01.005. ISSN 0271-5317. PMID 19285605.
  12. "AHCC Research AHCCの研究 – Amino Up". www.aminoup.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  13. Mascaraque, Cristina; Suárez, María Dolores; Zarzuelo, Antonio; de Medina, Fermín Sánchez; Martínez-Augustin, Olga (2014-10-02). "AHCC exerts therapeutic effects in lymphocyte driven colitis". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 58 (12): 2379–2382. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201400364. ISSN 1613-4125. PMID 25186628.
  14. Wang, Shuhui; Welte, Thomas; Fang, Hao; Chang, Gwong-Jen J.; Born, Willi K.; O'Brien, Rebecca L.; Sun, Buxiang; Fujii, Hajime; Kosuna, Ken-Ichi (2009-01-13). "Oral Administration of AHCC Enhances Host Resistance to West Nile Encephalitis in Mice". The Journal of Nutrition. 139 (3): 598–602. doi:10.3945/jn.108.100297. ISSN 0022-3166. PMC 2646222. PMID 19141700.
  15. Aviles, Hernan; O'Donnell, Phyllis; Sun, Buxiang; Sonnenfeld, Gerald (December 2006). "AHCC Enhances Resistance to Infection in a Mouse Model of Surgical Wound Infection". Surgical Infections. 7 (6): 527–535. doi:10.1089/sur.2006.7.527. ISSN 1096-2964. PMID 17233570.
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