An extract of mushrooms from the Basidiomycete family, like shiitake mushrooms, is the active hexose linked compound (AHCC). This product contains glucans called polysaccharides which scientists think are responsible for their biological activity.
Lab experiments indicate that AHCC can increase the function of some forms of immune cells. Animal tests show that AHCC has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may enhance the response of the immune system in mice with immune systems compromised by chemotherapy. AHCC increased liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis, and lowered blood levels of certain tumor markers, in a few human trials.
What does AHCC Do and does it really work?
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most prevalent sexually transmitted illness in the United States, impacting sexually active individuals between 60 and 80 per cent. Notwithstanding its occurrence there is no treatment. However, a research at the Houston University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) Medical School might offer optimism for HPV individuals. It comes in the form of a pill and contains an extract from an uncommon source: mushrooms.
The extract, the Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), is a readily available dietary substitute and comes from shiitake mushrooms. Judith A. Smith, Pharm. D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth Medical School, was previously involved in relieving the side effects of chemotherapy. A decade ago, Smith started training for AHCC.
HOW WAS AHCC STUDIED AS A Normal HPV TREATMENT?
AHCC was researched in two independent experiments at the McGovern Medical School at the Houston (UTHealth) University of Texas Health Science Centre.
- Trials have shown that in women with chronic HPV, AHCC can remove infections.
- These 2 studies aimed to evaluate if AHCC could eliminate an HPV infection in women at 2 different quantities of daily supplements and to evaluate the length of treatment required for successful care.
First Research Specifics include:
- 10 females with chronic, high-risk HPV were examined.
- From 5 weeks to 6 months each woman took 3 grams of AHCC once everyday.
- Total eradication of the HPV virus was seen by half of the people who lived on the AHCC treatment for 4 months.
- AHCC achieves this precisely by blocking elevated amounts of something in the immune system named “interferon beta,” which is a form of cytokine (signaling protein). Interferon beta will inhibit one of its equivalents, interferon gamma, from doing its job of freeing immune warriors (called ‘natural killer cells’ and ‘cytotoxic T cells’) from clearing a persistent virus at very large levels.
- Studies in animals indicate that AHCC could have anticancer and immune enhancement properties. In-human trials indicate that AHCC is well-tolerated and that the frequency of adverse effects in chemotherapy patients can be minimized.
- Two small studies indicate AHCC can boost outcomes in liver cancer patients. However, bigger, randomized, monitored trials are required to validate these effects.
AHCC anti-tumour Effects:
In tumor tissue, AHCC improved 5-fluorouracil antitumor activity by promoting apoptosis, upregulating the expression of the related X protein BCl-2, and downregulating B cell lymphoma 2. Proposed pathways to resolve drug resistance in cancer cells include downregulation of Heat Shock Factor 1, which causes heat shock protein HSP27, believed to be active in pancreatic cancer cells with gemcitabine resistance.
AHCC really work and could be genuinely successful in the treatment of HPV — it will not only kill, but eliminate, the virus. Data from a third animal research helped Smith and her team to tackle the next obstacle: evaluating AHCC ‘s effectiveness in human patients. Thanks to philanthropic donations, a pilot trial was conducted to treat 10 women with a dietary supplement.
