Quality of Life Labs AHCC Rx, 60 Softgels

AHCC Clinical Evidence

 Healthy Adults

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine Takanari, J., et al. Effects of
Active Hexose Correlated Compound on the Seasonal Variations of Immune Competence in Healthy Subjects.
2015 Jan; 20(1): 28–34

Topic: 
What is the effect of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) on immune competence in human subjects?

Background:
The immunocompetent cells include lymphoid cells (B cell, T cell, natural killer cell, etc.), granulocytic cells
(eosinophil, neutrophil, basophil, etc.), and antigenpresenting cells (macrophage, monocyte, dendritic cell, etc.) and are
affected by various factors including aging, stress, malnutrition, and various additional stressors. Seasonal changes can alter
the immune function, especially with decreases during winter, which is evidenced by infectious diseases having greater incidences
in winter correlated with air temperature. The nasal airway is exposed to cold and cools down, reducing the mucociliary clearance
and compromising the immune response of the nasal airway. In addition, the sympathetic nervous activity is stimulated, increasing
the number of granulocytes, and there is an increase in the secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal gland.
The number of natural killer cells decreases by adaptive response to low temperature in winter. This study evaluated the effects
of active hexose correlated compound intake on immune competence in healthy volunteers. 

Study Type:
Human intervention, randomized, double-blind, parallel
group, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Study Design:
Thirty-four subjects were randomized to receive placebo or AHCC for 4 weeks in early winter. All subjects took 4 capsules daily
of active hexose correlated compound (250 mg/capsule) or placebo (250 mg dextrin only/ capsule) for 4 weeks between November
and December. All subjects underwent peripheral blood testing and answered a questionnaire by the visual analog scale method.
Natural killer cell activity was assessed by chromium-51 release assay to measure radioactivity. Immune score was done by lymphocyte
subset analysis by a flow cytometric method for evaluating comprehensive immune strength by scoring various immune indexes,
including the number of T cells, CD8þ CD28þ T cells, naive T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, CD4/CD8 T cell ratio, and naive/memory
T cell ratio. The complete blood count assessed for red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, white blood cells, and differential
counts of white blood cells (neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil).

Subjects:
34 subjects.

Dosage: 
1 gram a day

Results:
Natural killer cell activity significantly increased in both groups during the study period. The natural killer cell number, however,
was not altered in the active hexose correlated compound group, while the placebo group showed remarkable decline. In addition,
the score of immunological vigor, an index of total immune competence, was maintained in the AHCC group, although that of the
placebo group decreased during the test period. 

Conclusion:
The results suggest that continuous use of AHCC maintained immune competence against seasonal changes during winter.