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The body’s immune function is enhanced by the effect of AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) in increasing the number of dendritic cells (DCs), according to a study.
DCs are a key part of the immune system, and were the focus of a study by researchers at Kansai Medical University in Osaka, Japan, published in Nutrition and Cancer.
Subjects had received either a placebo or AHCC at 3.0g/day for four weeks, and the number of circulating DCs was measured, including the myeloid DC population (DC1) and the lymphoid DC population (DC2).
Other parameters measured included mixed-leukocyte reaction, natural killer (NK) cell activity, the proliferative response of T lymphocytes toward mitogen (phytohemagglutinin [PHA]) and cytokine production of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon gamma-gamma, and (alpha)-tumour necrosis factor.
The AHCC group had a significantly higher number of standard DCs, DC1s and DC2s, and the mixed-leukocyte reaction was also significantly increased. For PHA, NK cell activity and cytokine production, no significant differences were found.
Said Naoyoshi Terakawa, of the Department of Surgery at Kansai Medical University: “This study shows that AHCC increases production of DCs that are critical for maintaining a healthy and balanced immune system. It also provides insights in understanding how AHCC works by impacting specific immune system cells.”
Copyright Press Association 2009
