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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