Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), found in Shiitake mushrooms is a potent antioxidant, boosting the immune system, having several anticancer actions; it also uniquely eradicates at least half of all HPV cases when used for 6 months, according to MD Anderson Clinical Trials.
What is AHCC?
Active Hexose Correlated Compound is a patented compound derived from the root-like mycelia of Lentinus edodes (Shiitake mushrooms). It is rich in polysaccharide alpha-1, 4-glucan.
AHCC - anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, immune boodsting
In 2014 AHCC was shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits (6); it has been shown to increase resistance to infective bacteria (such as Klebsiella) (7) and West Nile Disease (8). These effects go hand-in-hand with its effects as a strong immune boosting compound, with research showing it enhances T-cells, dendritic cells and antibody response (for example, 9). The extract, AHCC, is a proven immune system booster; for example, a 2017 trial with breast cancer showed that women taking anthracycline drugs (for example, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 5-FU) received significant T-cell enhancement and a better quality of life (3).
AHCC - anticancer effects
In recent years, AHCC has several studies showing that it can, for example, reduce adverse effects of drugs in pancreatic cancer (10); enhance 5FU effectiveness (11) and restrict cancer recurrence after liver surgery (12).
AHCC against HPV
There have been several studies on the use of Shiitake mushrooms and AHCC. The latest study (1) by Dr. Judith Smith, associate Professor at MD Anderson, McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas showed that “AHCC 3 g once daily was effective to support the host immune system to eliminate persistent HPV infections and was well tolerated with no significant adverse side effects reported”.
This follows work (2) from 2014 where this, alpha-glucan polysaccharide found in Shiitake mushrooms, eradicated HPV in three separate studies, two in vitro and one with mice.
The new 2022 study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 50 women over 30 years of age followed for 12 months. All patients had confirmed and persistent high-risk HPV infections for longer than two years.
In this trial, the AHCC was provided as a supplement of Lentinula edodes mycelia or LEM. This was provided by Amino Up, Ltd., Sapporo, Japan.
Of the 50 women divided into 2 randomised groups, 63.6% of the patients in the AHCC supplementation arm were HPV negative after 6 months, with 64.3% of those achieving a durable response (HPV negative after a further 6 months without supplementation).
Chris Woollams, former Oxford University Biochemist and a Founder of CANCERactive added, “Clearly, AHCC is a very good immune system booster from a number of studies, as are many polysaccharides from mushrooms. But I am especially interested if it can help knock out HPV, which lies behind a number of dangerous cancers. We know that the immune system can help knock out viruses in the body. However we also know that, like Herpes 8, HPV can lie dormant in the nerves, coming out to play when the immune system is weak. 6 months of AHCC saw a result in the blood tests for circulating HPV. Longer studies are needed now to find out if it is leaving the nervous system as well, or if people infected with HPV need to take it for a much longer time period to be completely rid of the virus.
In the past we have seen Pau d’arco, artemisinin, turmeric, ellagic acid (from raspberries) and graviola each have an effect at various stages of HPV infection. HPV infection and advanced cervical cancer is on the increase (4). HPV infection is also found in 10-15% of throat cancer (Head and Neck Cancer), where it seems more likely to metastasise (5) according to new research from Dana Farber Cancer Institute.”.
Go to: Latest News, Cervical Cancer
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References
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AHCC® Supplementation to Support Immune Function to Clear Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infections; Judith A Smith, Anjali A GaikwadL Lata Mathew , Barbara Rech , Jonathan P Faro , Joseph A Lucci 3rd , Yu Bai, Randall J Olsen, Teresa T Byrd; Frontiers in oncology; 2022 Jun 22;12:881902. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.881902
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Mushroom eradicates HPV from the body - https://chriswoollamshealthwatch.com/your-illness/general-health/mushroom-eradicates-hpv-from-the-body/
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Lentinula edodes mycelia extract plus adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients: Results of a randomized study on host quality of life and immune function improvement; Yukiko Nagashima, Shigehumi YoshinoMol et al, Clin Oncol, 2017 Sep;7(3):359-366.
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Advanced stage cervical cancer on the increase in USA - ABC news, August 23rd 2022
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Study findings in metastatic HPV-linked head and neck cancer may help guide treatment, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
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AHCC exerts therapeutic effects. Mascaraque C, et al Mol Nutr. 2014 Dec;58(12):2379-82.
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AHCC enhances resistance to Klebsiella infection in mice. J Appl Physiol. Aug 2003;95(2):491-496.
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AHCC enhances host resistance to West Nile Encephalitis in mice. Wang S et al; J Nutr. Jan 13 2009.
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Low dose AHCC supplementation improves immune resonse; Nogusa S et al; Nutr Res. 2009;29(2):139-43.
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Reducing Chemotherapy-Related Adverse Events Pancreatic cancer; Nutr Cancer. 2016;68(2):234-40.
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AHCC potentiates low dose 5FU; Cao Z et al, Nutr Res Pract. 2015 Apr;9(2):129-36.
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Preventing recurrence with AHCC after curative hepatectomy; Kamiyama T et al; Integr Can Ther. 2022