AHCC Symposium Highlights Research Findings

More than 300 doctors and researchers discussed the latest research findigns concerning active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) at the 16th International AHCC Symposium, held July 26–27 in Sapporo, Japan.

AHCC is an immune-enhancing supplement derived from the hybridization of several species of mushrooms cultivated in Japan. Amino Up Chemical Co. (Sapporo, Japan) manufactures the supplement, which is distributed by Maypro Industries Inc. (Purchase, NY) in the United States.

In two keynote presentations, Masuo Hosokawa, professor emeritus of Hokkaido University (Sapporo, Japan), and Yasuo Kamiyama, professor emeritus of Kansai Medical University (Osaka, Japan), discussed research detailing AHCC’s effects on reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and its use as a complementary therapy for postoperative cancer patients, respectively.

In addition, Yale University (New Haven, CT) researchers described the results of a study examining how AHCC affects the production of interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha, two cytokines involved in immune health.

Drexel University researcher Barry Ritz, PhD, also gave an overview of an article on AHCC that will be published in an a future issue of Nutritional Reviews describing the supplement’s effects on several viral organisms.

“AHCC continues to demonstrate its essential role for healthy immune function,” said Fred Pescatore, MD, medical director of the AHCC research association.