Laura Smith
Active hexose correlated compound, or AHCC, is a nutritional supplement extracted from the mycelia of shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are a type of edible fungus native to Japan and China. They are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world and have been popular in the cuisines of many Eastern countries for hundreds of years. AHCC is widely used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support and has been studied for its potential medicinal properties, including its role in the immune system, cancer, liver disease, and Human papillomavirus (HPV).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is it? | An extract manufactured in Japan from shiitake mushrooms |
| Scientific name | Active hexose correlated compound |
| Other names | AHCC, Champignon |
| What does it contain? | Polysaccharide called beta-glucans, partly acylated alpha-1,4 glucans, alpha-glucans |
| How is it made? | Cultured in an antiviral-rich rice bran extract until it forms a visible colony. It is then cultured for an additional 45 to 60 days |
| How is it consumed? | Nutritional supplement in capsules or vegicap form |
| Dosage | 4.5 to 6 grams daily for up to 6 months or 3 grams daily for up to 9 years |
| Benefits | Boosting the immune system, protecting against cancer, reducing symptoms and improving survival in animal models infected with viruses, bacteria and fungal infections, suppressing HPV infections |
| Side effects | May interact with cancer medications and other drugs that the liver breaks down, decreased the effectiveness of Femara (a medicine for breast cancer) in a mouse model, can cause stomach discomfort, blood abnormalities, skin swelling, skin sensitivity to the sun, allergic skin reactions and breathing problems |
| Precautions | Avoid if you're allergic to it or its components, proceed with caution if you have a mushroom allergy |
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What You'll Learn
AHCC is an extract made from shiitake mushrooms
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract made from shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) are a type of edible fungus native to Japan and China. They are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world and have been a popular ingredient in East Asian cuisines for hundreds of years.
AHCC is manufactured from the mycelia of shiitake mushrooms, which are the root-like parts of the fungus. The mycelia are cultured in an antiviral-rich rice bran extract for 45 to 60 days until they form a visible colony. The final extraction process involves a complex series of steps that break down complex molecular structures into simpler ones.
AHCC has been studied for its potential health benefits, particularly its role in boosting the immune system and protecting against cancer. It has also been researched for its effects on liver disease, HPV, and viruses like the flu. While some small studies have shown positive results, more extensive clinical trials are needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of AHCC for humans.
AHCC is widely used as a nutritional supplement and is often taken for general health maintenance and immune support. It is estimated that over 1,000 clinics worldwide use AHCC, and it is especially popular in Japan as a complementary and alternative medicine for cancer patients.
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It is believed to boost the immune system
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract made from shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan and China and are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. They are also used in medicine.
AHCC is believed to boost the immune system. It has been studied for its role in regulating the immune system, and it is widely used for general health maintenance and treatment of various diseases. According to a small trial of 36 adults, AHCC effectively boosted the immune system after four weeks. AHCC has also been shown to suppress HPV infections after three to six months, according to a small study of 41 females.
AHCC is often used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support. Reports in animal and clinical settings have indicated that AHCC is associated with an enhanced response to infection and increased survival. Laboratory research suggests that AHCC may have immunostimulatory effects. It has been proposed as a treatment for cancer, but research into its effectiveness has been inconclusive.
AHCC is unique because of its very low molecular weight of 5,000 daltons and its richness in alpha-glucans, which increase its absorption and efficacy. It is also believed to act as an immune modulator, as immune cells such as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells will produce cytokines by either cytokine stimulation or ligand binding to TLRs.
AHCC is generally considered safe in doses ranging from 4.5 to 6 grams daily for up to 6 months or 3 grams daily for up to 9 years. However, it can interact with certain medications and may not be safe for those with mushroom allergies.
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AHCC is used for general health maintenance and treatment of diseases
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract made from the mycelia of shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan and China and are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world.
AHCC is widely used for general health maintenance and the treatment of various diseases. It is often used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support. Reports from animal and clinical settings indicate that AHCC is associated with an enhanced response to infection and increased survival. It has been studied for its role in regulating the immune system and has been shown to effectively boost the immune system. A small trial of 36 adults showed that AHCC boosted the immune system after four weeks of use.
AHCC has also been studied for its potential role in treating cancer, liver disease, and Human papillomavirus (HPV). Small studies have shown benefits in these areas, but more extensive clinical trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be made. AHCC has been proposed as a treatment for cancer, but research into its effectiveness has produced uncertain and inconclusive evidence. It is important to note that AHCC can interact with cancer medications and other drugs broken down by the liver.
In addition to its potential benefits for immune support and disease treatment, AHCC has been studied for its effects on viruses like the flu and the West Nile virus. Preclinical trials using animal models have shown positive results, but clinical trials are necessary to determine its effectiveness in humans. AHCC is also believed to have anti-inflammatory effects and has been studied for its potential in reducing symptoms, improving survival rates, and shortening recovery times in animal models infected with viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections.
While AHCC is generally considered safe in recommended doses, there is limited safety data available. It is important to consult a healthcare professional before taking AHCC, especially for individuals with mushroom allergies or those taking other medications.
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It may be unsafe to consume in large amounts
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract manufactured in Japan from shiitake mushrooms. It is widely used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support, as reports in animal and clinical settings have indicated that AHCC is associated with an enhanced response to infection and increased survival.
While AHCC has been shown to have various health benefits, it may be unsafe to consume in large amounts. Shiitake mushrooms are likely safe when cooked and eaten in food amounts. However, they can be unsafe and cause side effects when consumed in large amounts as medicine or when eaten uncooked. Consuming large amounts of uncooked shiitake mushrooms can cause stomach discomfort, blood abnormalities, and skin swelling. It might also make the skin more sensitive to the sun and can cause allergic skin reactions and breathing problems in some people.
AHCC is also available in supplement form, with recommended doses ranging from 3 to 6 grams daily. These doses have been studied for up to 6 months or up to 9 years and are considered possibly safe. However, consuming higher doses of AHCC supplements for extended periods may be unsafe and could lead to similar side effects as consuming large amounts of uncooked shiitake mushrooms.
In addition, AHCC may interact with certain medications. It is metabolized via the "P450 2D6" pathway, an enzyme primarily expressed in the liver. This enzyme is responsible for the metabolism and elimination of many clinically used drugs. As a result, AHCC has the potential to interact with the absorption of other drugs that use this pathway, including some cancer medications and drugs broken down by the liver enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6. Therefore, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional before taking AHCC supplements, especially if you are taking any other medications.
Furthermore, individuals with mushroom allergies should exercise caution when consuming AHCC. While the extraction process for AHCC breaks down complex molecular structures, reducing the likelihood of an immune system reaction, there is still a risk of allergic reaction for those with mushroom allergies. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as itching, hives, or shortness of breath.
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AHCC is widely used in Japan
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract made from shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan and China and are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. They have been a part of the cuisines of many Eastern countries for hundreds of years.
The extract is manufactured in Japan by Amino Up Co., Ltd., using a proprietary process. This process involves culturing the mycelia of shiitake mushrooms, which are the root-like parts of the fungi, in an antiviral-rich rice bran extract. The culturing process is said to favour 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.
AHCC is available as a nutritional supplement and is used to improve general immune system health and treat various diseases. It is often used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support, as it has been associated with an enhanced response to infection and increased survival in animal and clinical studies. While AHCC has shown promising results in small studies, more extensive clinical trials are needed to determine its effectiveness and safety for general use.
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Frequently asked questions
AHCC, or Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is an extract made from shiitake mushrooms. It is often used as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for immune support.
AHCC has been studied for its role in boosting the immune system, protecting against viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections, and possibly reducing the symptoms of and improving survival rates for cancer, liver disease, and HPV.
There have been very few side effects reported from taking AHCC. However, it can interact with cancer medications and other drugs that the liver breaks down. It is also not recommended for those with mushroom allergies.
Doses of AHCC ranging from 4.5 to 6 grams daily for up to 6 months or 3 grams daily for up to 9 years have been studied and found to be possibly safe.
