The Seven Health Benefits of Fucoidan and AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound)

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.

Before we start reviewing the research behind Fucoidan and AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound), let’s understand what these ingredients are:

What is Fucoidan?

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 Fucoidanhas 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.

What is AHCC?

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-modulatorused in over 700 clinicsas a standard preventative regiment for all incoming patient toreduce the risk of hospital infections. The daily immune supplement oftens of thousands of healthy peoplein Japan and worldwide, seeking to help their bodies tofight the formation of abnormal cells, whose growth can lead to cancer, chronic disease and infections (such as the influenza / flu virus).