7 health benefits of fucoidan and ahcc
DESCRIPTION
“People living with cancer have a variety of needs. Reaching and improving their Quality of Life should be our first priority.” By Susana Trujillo N.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.TRANSCRIPT
7 “People living with cancer have a variety of needs. Reaching and improving their
Quality of Life should be our first priority.”
By Susana Trujillo N.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
Cancer may affect people at all ages, but the risk for the more common varieties tends to
increase with age. Some risk factors include age, unhealthy lifestyle, environmental factors,
occupational carcinogens, radiation, family history, alcohol and other chemicals interacting to
produce a given malignancy.
As Michale Howerton wrote, “The immune system has a blind spot by design. The immune
system has an ability to attack itself and this leads to autoimmune diseases, so as protection, it
screens out its own tissue.” For decades, scientists assumed that cancer was beyond the reach
of the body’s natural defenses. Still, the impact on how the research on cancer is being
approached keeps revolving around immunotherapy. Using the body’s own natural system for
fighting diseases, immunotherapy may also offer a lifeline for patients with certain types of
cancer who have exhausted other treatment options.
Health Benefits
of Fucoidan & AHCC
What is
Fucoidan?
What is AHCC?
Before we start reviewing the research behind Fucoidan and AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated
Compound), let’s understand what these ingredients are:
Fucoidan is a sulfated viscous polysaccharide, a main component of brown seaweeds such as Wakame, Kombu, and Mozuku. It was discovered by Professor Kylin at Uppsala University in Sweden in 1913, which he described as slippery kelp and a soluble fiber. As stated by Li et a.l., chemically, the major component of Fucoidan is sulfated fucose and other sugars such as galactose, mannose, xylose, uronic acid that are bound together. Fucoidan is a raw material that is used in many dietary supplements, functional food and food additives. Fucoidan has shown in research to lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent blood vessel damage by excreting cholesterol. In addition, studies done in Japan and the United States reported that Fucoidan has anticoagulation activity, antitumor activity, peptic ulcer prevention and antimicrobial activity. Fucoidan has also shown to balance blood pressure, to induce hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activity, to lower blood sugar levels, and more.
Since the day Fucoidan was introduced as a substance which has the ability to induce cancer cells to self-destruct in the 55th Japan Cancer Society Conference in 1996, extensive research on Fucoidan has been done. As of April 2014, 1,140 research papers and reports have been reported in the National Library of Medicine’s database.
Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) is a
fermented mushroom extract that is commercially
available and promoted for immune support. AHCC
is the world's most researched specialty immune supplement supported by 20 human clinical
studies, by over 30 papers published in PubMed-indexed journals
and by more than 100 pre-clinical and in vitro studies.
AHCC is considered Japan's leading alternative cancer therapy and
it has been used in hundreds of cancer clinics throughout Asia. It
is a highly effective immuno-modulator used in over 700 clinics as
a standard preventative regiment for all incoming patient
to reduce the risk of hospital infections. The daily immune supplement of tens of thousands of
healthy people in Japan and worldwide, seeking to help their bodies to fight the formation of
abnormal cells, whose growth can lead to cancer, chronic disease and infections (such as the
influenza / flu virus).
You might be wondering, why people with certain diseases and low immunity are taking these
two ingredients. What health benefits can you expect from them? Let’s review some of the
most amazing health benefits obtained from medical research studies:
1- Apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death) HIGHLIGHTS
a. For every cell, there is a time to live and to die.
b. Apoptosis induces cancer cells to commit suicide.
c. Programmed cell death is also called Apoptosis. This process is needed to
destroy cancer cells that represent a threat to the integrity and health of the
organism.
Research has shown that the active
component of brown seaweeds known as
Fucoidan may inhibit proliferation and induce
apoptotic cell death in several tumor cells.
For a long time, brown seaweeds have been a
regular part of the diet in many Asian
countries, especially Japan and Korea.
Fucoidan is the collective name for algal
sulfated polysaccharides extracted from the
brown seaweeds, and its structure consists
mainly of polymers formed by branched
polysaccharides sulfate esters with a L-fucose
building block.
Recently, Fucoidan has been reported to induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines, but
the mechanism is controversial because it is uncertain which cascade plays a pivotal role in
the induction of apoptosis by Fucoidan. For example, one study done at Kyushu University
in Japan, demonstrated that Fucoidan induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7)
without affecting the viability of normal epithelial cells. In addition, caspase-8 is considered
essential for Fucoidan-induced apoptosis.
2- Angiogenesis Inhibition HIGHLIGHTS
a. Angiogenesis is a key process in the promotion of cancer.
b. Natural products that inhibit angiogenesis have anticancer activity.
c. By inhibiting Angiogenesis, there are fewer chances for the cancer to spread and
damage other surrounding organs.
d. Fucoidan is a natural product that has shown in research to inhibit angiogenesis
in tumor tissue.
Angiogenesis corresponds to the formation of new blood vessels. Many recent studies have
shown that sulfated polysaccharides (Fucoidan) are
angiogenesis inhibitors. At present, the antitumor
activity of Fucoidan has recently attracted
considerable attention. It was reported that the
antitumor effect of “Mekabu” Fucoidan appears to
be mediated by IFN-γ-activated NK cells, and the
antitumor action of Fucoidan is due to its anti-
Angiogenic potency. To investigate the effect of
Fucoidan on Angiogenesis in vivo, the scientists at
the Qingdao University, evaluated several
harvested tumors. They found out that Fucoidan
caused significant reduction in the intratumoral
VEGF expression compared with the control group.
At the same time, they investigated the effect of
Fucoidan on lung metastasis of breast cancer. 4T1
cell is a highly invasive breast cancer cell lines. To
investigate the effect of Fucoidan on invasiveness of 4T1 tumor, the mice were euthanized,
and the lungs harvested for enumeration of lung metastatic nodules metastasis after
Fucoidan treatment. The results showed that compared to the control, which had an
average of 34 nodules per mouse, Fucoidan resulted with significantly fewer lung metastasis.
In another study, done at the Dalian Medical University in China, using human umbilical vein
endothelial cells (HUVEC)-based cell culture model, they investigated the anti-Angiogenic
activity of Fucoidan extracted from the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. They treated
the HUVECs with various concentrations of Fucoidan. The results showed significant
inhibition of cell proliferation, cell migration, tube formation and vascular network
formation.
3- Immune Enhancement Activity HIGHLIGHTS
a. By supplementing the immune system with Fucoidan and AHCC, the body may
be more capable of fighting cancer.
b. At high amounts, Fucoidan and AHCC may enhance the immune system.
c. A strong immune system seeks out and destroys cancer cells.
Fucoidan
Research on Fucoidan has shown to restore the immune functions of immunosuppressed
mice, and it was an immunomodulator acting directly on macrophage and T lymphocyte.
Fucoidan also showed to promote the recovery of immunologic function in irradiated rats.
The mechanism is associated with the arrest of lymphocyte apoptosis by Fucoidan.
Fucoidan also demonstrated to induce the
production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and
interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in vitro, enhance the
functions of T lymphocyte, B cell,
macrophage and natural killer cell (NK
cell) and promote the primary antibody
response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC)
in vivo. High molecular-weight Fucoidan
prepared from Okinawa Mozuku
(Cladosiphon okamuranus) promotes an
increase in the proportion of murine
cytotoxic T cells.
Many polysaccharides like Fucoidan
obtained from natural sources are
considered to be biological response
modifiers (BRM) and have been shown
to enhance various immune responses.
Besides of directly inhibiting the growth
of tumor cells, Fucoidan can also restrain
the development and diffusion of tumor
cells through enhancing body’s immunomodulatory activities. Fucoidan may increase the
quantity of macrophages, and mediates tumor destruction through type 1 T-helper (Th1)
cell and NK cell responses.
AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound)
In conventional medicine, some antibodies, cytokines, vaccines and other immune system
substances are synthesized in the lab to be used in cancer treatment. These BRMs change
how the body’s immune defenses interact with cancer cells in an attempt to enhance or
restore the body’s ability to fight the disease.
AHCC is a biological response modifier (BRM). In fact, in Japan AHCC is widely considered to
be the strongest known immune system strengthening BRM and it is often used alongside
conventional cancer treatments. When clinicians are able to halt the development of cancer
using immunotherapy, a “truce” has been established between the cancer and the immune
system. The cancer is dormant, and as long as the patient can maintain this state of truce, it
is possible to postpone future treatment. Following are two examples of studies that
explored the impact AHCC can have on the immune systems of cancer patients.
A healthy immune system performs a function called immune surveillance, in which it
uncovers the presence of cancer cells and tumors throughout the body. This surveillance
function is critical because cancer cells have an ability to hide, thus avoiding detection by
the immune system. Restoring immune surveillance means that tumor cells can be
“unmasked,” which then allows the immune system to once again detect and destroy them.
White blood cells and the interferon they release are necessary for the immune system to
“sniff out” and unmask cancer cells and tumors and so researchers set out to determine
how AHCC may be helpful in this effort. Researchers at Yale University and Amino Up
Chemical Co., Ltd. explored the effect of AHCC on immune surveillance by administering the
supplement to test animals. AHCC significantly delayed the formation of melanoma and
reduced tumor size. Specifically, AHCC significantly increased levels of tumor antigen-
specific immune cells and their ability to produce gamma interferon and also increased the
numbers of NK cells. The authors of the study concluded that their results demonstrated
that AHCC can enhance tumor immune surveillance through regulating both humoral and
cell-mediated responses.
4- Reduces the Chemotherapy Side Effects HIGHLIGHTS
a. Fucoidan and AHCC may be able to relieve and prevent the side effects caused
by conventional treatments.
b. Some common side effects are:
i. Fatigue
ii. Hair loss
iii. Nausea and vomiting
iv. Impaired liver and spleen function
v. Myelosuppression
vi. Loss of appetite
c. Fucoidan and AHCC ingredients might help to control the side effects from
getting worse.
Fucoidan
i. Fatigue
A study organized at Tottori University in Japan, Ikeguchi, et al. analyzed whether Fucoidan
protects patients from the toxicity of anti-cancer drugs. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, general
fatigue and bone marrow suppression are
well-known common adverse effects of
anti-cancer drugs. Peripheral neuropathy
is specific for oxaliplatin. They found that
Fucoidan suppressed the occurrence of
general fatigue in colorectal cancer
patients during chemotherapy. It has
been demonstrated that fatigue reduces
the individual resources of patients,
affects their nutritional status, increases
morbidity and can have a negative impact
on the dose intensity of cancer therapy.
Iop et al reported that fatigue, which was
graded using NCI CTC, was detected in almost 30% of patients receiving chemotherapy. In
the present study, grade 2 and 3 fatigue was detected in 60% of colorectal cancer patients
during chemotherapy. The use of antidepressants also seemed to play a role in the
treatment of fatigue. In this study, patients who received Fucoidan were
able to endure prolonged chemotherapy without fatigue. However,
Fucoidan did not have an impact on other adverse effects of anti-cancer drugs. The
mechanisms that explain chemotherapy-induced fatigue remain to be determined, and no
general treatment is currently available to alleviate the symptoms.
AHCC
More than half of the people who are diagnosed with cancer undergo chemotherapy at
some point. This means tens of millions of children and adults are treated each year with
drugs designed to kill cancer cells, but these drugs also destroy healthy cells and as a result
cause some significant side effects, as noted in the previous section. Some cancer cells grow
slowly while others grow rapidly, therefore clinicians need to select different chemotherapy
drugs designed to target the specific growth patterns of a person’s cancer cells. Whether
the drugs taken are designed to attack cancer cells that grow slowly or rapidly, medication-
related complications are often a result.
Of the common side effects associated with chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, hair loss,
fatigue, impaired liver function, loss of appetite and low levels of white blood cells, red
blood cells and platelets, one that has the potential to be very serious is neutropenia, or low
white blood cell levels. White blood cells fight infections and if patients’ levels drop too low,
they may need to stop chemotherapy for a while. This action not only places patients at an
increased risk for serious infections that could be life-threatening, but it also interrupts their
cancer treatment. Impaired liver function also can be dangerous and infrequently can result
in liver failure. Low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) could result in clotting problems (e.g.,
easy or excessive bruising, excessive bleeding when cut, bloody nose or gums, blood in the
urine), while low red blood cells levels often cause anemia, characterized by fatigue,
dizziness and shortness of breath.
Given the great number of cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy each year and the
disruptive and sometimes debilitating side effects it can cause, it is important that these
individuals have effective options available to them to help alleviate and possibly eliminate
these adverse effects and enhance their quality of life. AHCC supplementation has
demonstrated an ability to help chemotherapy patients improve
their lives in some of the ways we discuss here.
ii. Hair Loss Losing one’s hair because of chemotherapy is not a life-threatening side effect, but it
can be very life-altering and emotionally
devastating. Both men and women report that
hair loss is one of the side effects they most
fear after they are diagnosed with cancer. Not
everyone who undergoes chemotherapy loses
their hair, because it depends on the type and
dose of drug used. However, hair root cells
grow rapidly and if you have a rapidly growing
cancer, chances are you can expect to lose
hair and not just from your scalp.
Chemotherapy can cause eyebrow, armpit, pubic, eyelash and other body hair to fall out.
The good news is that in most cases, hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary: hair
tends to regrow three to 10 months after treatment ends. The other good news is
that AHCC may help reduce hair loss. For example, scientists evaluated the
effect of AHCC on hair loss caused by a single dose of the chemotherapy drug cytosine
arabinoside (Ara-C). Rats used in the study were administered either 500 mg/kg per day
of AHCC for seven consecutive days plus a single dose of Ara-C or a single dose of Ara-C.
Results of the study, which were published in Cancer Epidemiology in 2009, showed that
five of seven rats treated with Ara-C alone had severe hair loss and two had moderate
hair loss. Four of the nine rats that received both Ara-C and AHCC, however,
experienced no hair loss, two had moderate and one had severe hair loss.
iii. Nausea and Vomiting
According to the American Cancer Society, nausea and vomiting are among the most
feared side effects of chemotherapy. Even though these symptoms are not considered
life-threatening, they can significantly disrupt the lives of those who experience them,
making it very difficult or impossible for them to work, care for their children and
perform normal, everyday functions.
Although the prevalence and severity of nausea and vomiting associated with
chemotherapy have been somewhat alleviated by the introduction of new drugs to treat
these symptoms, such drugs are not for everyone. Some patients do not want to take
additional drugs along with their chemotherapy. In addition, anti-nausea drugs are not
always effective and may also have side effects of their own, which can add to the
discomfort cancer patients experience.
Nausea and vomiting can be so severe for
some cancer patients that they choose to
stop their chemotherapy. Clinical
studies and case reports show
that AHCC can improve patients’
quality of life regarding nausea
and vomiting. In one small study, for
example, Dr. G.H. Ahn of Ok-Cherm Hospital
in South Korea prescribed AHCC for eight
months to 12 patients who had stage II–IV
cancer. Over the treatment period Dr. Ahn
noted any changes in nausea, vomiting and pain experienced by the patients and found
an improvement in all three symptoms, which results in a better quality of life for these
patients.
iv. Impaired Liver and Spleen Function
In the same study that explored the effect of AHCC on hair loss in rats exposed to a
chemotherapy drug, researchers also evaluated the impact of AHCC on modulating liver
damage. To accomplish this, they administered a single dose of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
plus methotrexate (MTX), two antimetabolite, cancer-fighting drugs, to two groups of
rats: one group received the drugs only and a second group received AHCC for 28 days
plus a single dose of 6-MP plus MTX.
The researchers then measured the levels of two liver enzymes that are used to
determine the degree of liver function: SGOT (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase,
also called aspartate transaminase) and SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase,
also called alanine transaminase). The
higher the levels of these enzymes, the
greater the damage and destruction to
liver tissue. The scientists found that
rats given AHCC had normal levels
of SGOT and SGPT while the
untreated rats had large increases
in these enzyme levels. In addition, the
rats treated with AHCC along with 6-MP
and MTX demonstrated significantly
increased body weight and levels of
leukocytes and red blood cells. All these factors together indicated that AHCC
significantly reduced the side effects associated with the chemotherapy drugs.
The spleen is an organ that people don’t hear much about, but it plays an important role
in immune function. This fist-sized organ is part of the lymphatic system, contains white
blood cells that fight infections and destroys damaged and old cells. Although it is true
that people can live without a spleen, the body loses some of its ability to fight
infections if the spleen is removed because of disease or damage. A team of scientists
investigated the impact of AHCC on the spleen after it was subjected to chemotherapy.
The researchers used the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide, which typically causes
the spleen to shrink in size by 50 percent. In mouse models, the researchers noted that
the spleens in mice given cyclophosphamide plus AHCC did not shrink as
much as they did in mice not treated with AHCC. The AHCC-treated mice also
had a lower rate of infection than mice not treated with AHCC.
v. Myelosuppression
It was noted that Fucoidan exhibited no side effects, such as allergic dermatitis. All 20
patients completed the 6 months of Fucoidan therapy safely. Additionally, no patients
succumbed due to chemotherapeutic toxicity. A total of 307 cycles of mFOLFOX6 or
FOLFIRI were administered during the study, with a median of 15.4 cycles per patient
(range 7–38). The average number of treatment cycles (19.9) in the Fucoidan group was
significantly greater than that in the control group (10.8 cycles, P=0.016).
No patients presented with severe toxicity (grade 4) in either group. The occurrences of
diarrhea and neurotoxicity were not suppressed by Fucoidan. Myelosuppression was
found to be similar in the fucoidan and control groups. In contrast, general
fatigue was detected in 60% of the control group, but was significantly
suppressed to 10% in the Fucoidan group. Patients were followed up at our
hospital. The median follow-up period of the 20 patients was 15 months (range 5–27).
During the follow-up period, 6 patients (2 in the Fucoidan group and 4 in the control
group) succumbed due to colorectal cancer progression. The survival of the 10 patients
receiving Fucoidan treatment was longer than that of the 10 patients in the control
group, but the difference was not significant.
Chemotherapy can both destroy white
blood cells as well as damage bone
marrow function, a condition also known
as myelosuppression. Bone marrow is the
spongy tissue located inside some large
bones that houses stem cells. These stem
cells transform themselves into white and
red blood cells and platelets. When
chemotherapy damages bone marrow,
the production and levels of these critical
immune system substances decline. The
result is that patients become highly susceptible to infections and they may also develop
anemia, which exacerbates their lowered resistance. Overall, myelosuppression is a very
serious and life-threatening state. Several studies have shown
that AHCC can have a positive effect on myelosuppression and
improve the white blood cell levels in response to chemotherapy.
In South Korea, Dr. G.H. Ahn of Ok-Cherm Hospital administered six grams daily of AHCC
to 12 patients who had stage II–IV cancer (two patients each had breast, ovarian,
stomach, lung, uterine and lung cancers) and who were undergoing chemotherapy. Over
a period of seven months, levels of white blood cells rose from below 6,000 to nearly
8,000.
In animal studies, scientists have
observed a reduction in damage to
bone marrow when AHCC was
administered. In one such study,
published in Cancer Epidemiology, two
chemotherapy drugs
(cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil)
were given to four groups of mice:
one group each received one of the
drugs, one group received AHCC plus
cyclophosphamide and one group
received AHCC plus 5-fluorouracil. The
red blood cell count remained close to
normal in the two groups of mice that were treated with AHCC, but it declined in the
two groups that received the chemotherapy drugs only. A study in rats given
chemotherapy also demonstrated that oral intake of AHCC protected the animals
against a loss of red blood cell production.
In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Therapeutics & Oncology, scientists
evaluated the impact of AHCC in groups of mice that were treated with a variety of
chemotherapy regimens, including paclitaxel alone or some combination of paclitaxel, 5-
fluorouracil, cisplatin, irinotecan, doxorubicin and/or cyclophosphamide. They found
that the myelosuppressive effects of chemotherapy were generally alleviated in mice
that also received AHCC and that both liver and kidney toxicity related to chemotherapy
were significantly improved by AHCC.
The ability of AHCC to mitigate myelosuppression and to enhance immune
cell activity and function are critically important benefits for individuals
who experience a decline in white blood cell levels as a result of
chemotherapy, as well as a potential way to reduce the risks associated
with this life-threatening complication.
vi. Loss of Appetite
Along with nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy can cause cancer patients to experience
changes in taste. These factors often add up to a loss of appetite and poor nutritional
intake. Because cancer patients already have a compromised immune system, a poor or
inadequate diet can result in weight loss, a breakdown in muscle, increased
susceptibility to infection and an overall poorer quality of life.
AHCC has been used by thousands of cancer patients and many
report an improvement in loss of appetite when taking the
supplement while undergoing chemotherapy. When their appetite is
restored, patients are better able to maintain or regain lost weight, improve their
nutritional intake and support their immune system.
5- Enhance the Therapeutic Effects of Anticancer Drugs HIGHLIGHTS
a. Research showed that AHCC does not inhibit the major detoxification process
of the liver, meaning it will not delay the breakdown of chemo drugs.
b. AHCC will not increase the toxicity when used in combination with chemo
drugs or other medications.
c. AHCC is safe to combine with other medications.
6- Liver Protection, Less Toxicity HIGHLIGHTS
a. The liver is susceptible to toxic chemicals like chemotherapy.
b. Research showed that AHCC can protect against chemically-induced liver injury.
c. For example, alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs.
Hayashi et al reported that Fucoidan reduces CCl4-induced acute and chronic liver
failure with hepatic fibrosis. The anti-inflammatory activity of Fucoidan was
demonstrated in rats, and Fucoidan conferred no toxicity in rats at high doses. Thus,
Fucoidan is anticipated to improve human health, and has been widely distributed as a
foodstuff but not as a drug. However, the detailed mechanism of action of Fucoidan
remains to be verified, and its effects in humans have yet to be determined.
AHCC may help prevent liver damage in cancer patients who are receiving
chemotherapy. Other reports suggest AHCC may be helpful in treating serious liver
diseases, such as acute liver failure and hepatitis. Acute liver failure is an uncommon but
serious condition that has a high mortality rate. “Hepatitis” means inflammation of the
liver and it also refers to a group of viruses that affect the organ. The most common
types are hepatitis A, B and C. According to the CDC, in 2008, an estimated 4.4 million
Americans were living with chronic hepatitis, although most of them are not aware they
are infected. Approximately 80,000 new infections occur each year in the United States.
Some studies of AHCC in liver disease have demonstrated promising results. For
example, a mouse study was conducted to identify the effect of AHCC on liver damage.
A group of mice were given AHCC in advance of being treated with carbon tetrachloride,
which is known to cause liver damage and in animal studies has been shown to increase
the risk of liver cancer. The scientists discovered that AHCC prevented a decline in the
enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST), which is involved in detoxification. Therefore,
AHCC reduced the amount of liver damage associated with carbon tetrachloride. In
addition, when the scientists studied liver cells from the mice under a microscope, they
found that cell destruction had been prevented. Overall, the researchers concluded
that AHCC prevented damage to the liver associated with the oxidation
caused by a toxin such as carbon tetrachloride.
Acute liver failure, which includes both fulminant liver failure (which causes coma within
two weeks of onset of symptoms)
and sub fulminant liver failure (or
late-onset liver failure, which
causes coma within two weeks to
three months after onset of
symptoms) is an uncommon
condition in which the liver
undergoes rapid deterioration in a
previously health individual. The
condition usually affects young
people and has a high mortality
rate ranging from 60 to 80 percent.
Scientists explored the effect
of AHCC in an animal model of
acute liver failure. In the
experiment, which was conducted
by Professor Masatoshi Yamazaki of Teikyo University’s Department of Pharmacy, two
groups of mice were administered lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and galactosamine to
induce acute liver failure: one group was pretreated with AHCC and the other group was
not. Thirty percent (three out of 10) mice that did not receive AHCC died within 24
hours of receiving LPS and galactosamine while none of the AHCC-treated mice died.
Thus, the researchers concluded that AHCC protected the mice against drug-induced
liver failure.
Experts have also looked at possible benefits of AHCC in hepatitis patients. In some
cases of hepatitis and liver cancer, patients and doctors report an
improvement in the loss of platelets, a decrease or elimination of the viral
load (the concentration of virus in the blood) and cessation of the
deterioration of liver function.
An example of how AHCC may help patients with hepatitis can be seen in a case study of
a 32-year-old man who had chronic hepatitis B. After he began taking three grams of
AHCC daily, he experienced a decline in the HBe antigen value (which indicates the
amount of hepatitis B virus) and his HBe antibody value (the antibody that helps
eliminate the hepatitis B virus) increased. Although the patient’s platelet count
decreased even after he started taking AHCC, it did not continue to decline. Eventually,
elimination of the hepatitis B virus was confirmed.
People with hepatitis C also reportedly
respond to AHCC. Hepatitis C is a chronic
viral infection that is characterized by
elevated levels of liver enzymes, high viral
loads, inflammation and scarring of the
liver. Untreated hepatitis C can result in
cirrhosis and liver cancer. Healthcare
professionals, especially in Asia, have
reported on case studies in which three to
six grams of AHCC daily have reduced liver
enzyme levels and other chronic diseases
loads in hepatitis C patients. Other reports
indicate that numerous patients have achieved a decline in viral load of more than 80
percent after taking AHCC for six months and that some reach the normal viral load
range after taking AHCC for seven to 12 months. Controlled studies are still needed to
verify these findings.
7- Improves the Quality of Life HIGHLIGHTS
a. Making the functional foods AHCC and Fucoidan a part of their treatment plan
can provide them with a safe, natural way to improve the quality of their lives
while they are facing the battle of cancer.
The term quality of life (QoL) is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals
and societies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), quality of life (QoL)
defined as individual perception of life, values, objectives, standards, and interests in
the framework of culture. A number of illness-related factors exist that can affect QoL.
The amount of symptoms distressed experienced by an individual has been related to
QoL in a number of people with cancer. QoL is increasingly being used as a primary
outcome measure in studies to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Patients
generally instead of measuring lipoprotein level, blood pressure, and the
electrocardiogram, make decisions about their health care by means of QoL which
estimates the effects on outcomes important to themselves.
When curative treatments no longer work, or are not an option any more, we have to
shift the focus from prolonging life to optimizing the patients QOL (quality of life). AHCC
has proven to help optimize the quality of life of cancer patients. A small group of
patients with liver cancer reported improved general health after taking AHCC for three
months. This study, which was reported in March 2006 in the “Asian Pacific Journal of
Allergy and Immunology,” noted that AHCC may prolong the survival of
patients with advanced liver cancer.
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