AHCC or Active Hexose Correlated Compound is a unique extract from several different species of Basidiomycetes mushrooms. It has been shown in a number of studies to have antioxidant properties and has immune system boosting effects in both rodents and humans. AHCC has also been demonstrated to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. A recent review examining the effects of AHCC supplementation on mice exposed to a variety of infectious diseases and illnesses highlights the impressive potential of AHCC.
In mice, AHCC supplementation has been found to be an effective countermeasure for infection with a variety of illnesses including: the influenza or flu virus, avian influenza or “bird flu”, Klebsiella pneumonia- a bacterial strain linked to bacterial pneumonia and urinary tract infections, Candida albicans - a type of yeast, and antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In all of these studies supplementation of the mice with AHCC prior to infection improved the survival rate of the mice and the ability of their immune systems to cope with the infection.
For example, mice treated with AHCC 7 days prior to infection with the influenza virus exhibited increased survival, enhanced immune cell activity, more rapid recovery and a less severe infection. Even more impressively, mice treated with 100 times the 50% lethal dose of the avian influenza virus showed up to a 30% survival rate, as compared to 0% survival in mice not given AHCC. Even in mice with suppressed immune systems, AHCC improved survival following infection with a number of opportunistic pathogens including Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans and antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
The mechanism of action of AHCC is uncertain, but seems to be linked to two active components called a and ß-glucans, which increase the activity of immune system cells like Natural Killer cells, thereby enhancing the body’s ability to combat infection.
Ritz BW. Supplementation with active hexose correlated compound increases survival following infectious challenge in mice. Nutrition Reviews; 2008, 66(9): 526-531.
For more information, see AHCC.
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