[Shiitake mushroom mycelium AHCC efficacy] Cancer patients are looking for 3 benefits of AHCC

HPV, the human papillomavirus, is an important causative factor in cervical cancer. Of the more than 100 HPVs, more than 40 are found in the reproductive tract and cause cervical dysplasia* and even cervical cancer. Most of these HPVs are transmitted orally or through sexual contact when the immune system is compromised.

*Cervical dysplasia: Alteration of cervical cells due to HPV infection

However, there is no cure for HPV so far. Therefore, it is best to prevent it through vaccines, and if you have already been exposed or infected with HPV, your body's immune system will have no choice but to allow the virus to overcome itself.

Recently, various studies have been conducted on the benefits of AHCC in inhibiting HPV infection. A clinical trial published in 2022 confirmed that AHCC had a positive effect on HPV infection control [3].

"Supplementation of AHCC (3 g/day) was effective in supporting the host immune system to clear HPV infection and was well tolerated without serious side effects."

CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are a type of white blood cell that is essential for the body's immunity. These CD4+ and CD8+ T cells not only have anti-tumor action to eliminate cancerous tumors in the body, but also play a role in activating T cells through interaction with dendritic cells [4-5].

In 2019, a study showed that AHCC increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells [6].

"In an observational study in healthy adults over 50 years of age, supplementation with AHCC® (3 g/day) increased the frequency of peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ and/or TNF-α."

Today, we're going to look at how AHCC can help with immunity through an academic paper. These AHCCs are produced through highly complex manufacturing processes such as enzymatic treatment, separation, concentration, sterilization, and lyophilization after the shiitake mushroom mycelium is cultured. It is said that AHCC contains only about 20% of alpha-glucan, which is a key ingredient.

Therefore, if you want to consume AHCC, it is important to look for AHCC sources with confirmed alpha-glucan content.

So, I hope you have a healthy day in body and mind. It was Jinny.

[1] Suknikhom W, Lertkhachonsuk R, Manchana T (2017). The Effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) on Levels of CD4+ and CD8+ in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer or Peritoneal Cancer Receiving Platinum Based Chemotherapy. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 18(3):633-638. 
[2] Terakawa N, Matsui Y, Satoi S, Yanagimoto H, Takahashi K, Yamamoto T, Yamao J, Takai S, Kwon AH, Kamiyama Y. (2008). Immunological effect of active hexose correlated compound(AHCC) in healthy volunteers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition and cancer, 60(5), 643-651.
[3] Smith, Judith & Gaikwad, Anjali & Mathew, Lata & Rech, Barbara & Faro, Jonathan & Lucci, Joseph & Bai, Yu & Olsen, Randall & Byrd, Teresa. (2022). AHCC® Supplementation to Support Immune Function to Clear Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infections. Frontiers in Oncology. 12. 881902.
[4] Haabeth, Ole Audun Werner; Tveita, Anders Aune; Fauskanger, Marte; Schjesvold, Fredrik; Lorvik, Kristina Berg; Hofgaard, Peter O.; Omholt, Hilde; Munthe, Ludvig A.; Dembic, Zlatko; Corthay, Alexandre; Bogen, Bjarne  (2014). How Do CD4+ T Cells Detect and Eliminate Tumor Cells That Either Lack or Express MHC Class II Molecules?. Frontiers in Immunology, 5.
[5] Ahrends, Tomasz; Borst, Jannie  (2018). The opposing roles of CD4+ T cells in anti-tumour immunity. Immunology, 154(4):582–92.  
[6] Shin, Min Sun; Park, Hong-Jai; Maeda, Takahiro; Nishioka, Hiroshi; Fujii, Hajime; Kang, Insoo  (2019). The Effects of AHCC®, a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinura edodes Mycelia, on Natural Killer and T Cells in Health and Disease: Reviews on Human and Animal Studies. Journal of Immunology Research, 1–7.