AHCC 250 mg [Discontinued] by The Vitamin Shoppe

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Cancer. It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with cancer. Details: Although some small clinical studies in patients with gastric or colon cancer have found that patients taking AHCC 3-6 grams daily have better survival rates and quality of life when compared with historical population data, other observational research has not found a benefit for patients with head, neck, lung, or breast cancer when compared with baseline (30421,30425,30454). The validity of these studies is limited by lack of a comparator group.
• Chemotherapy-induced anemia. It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia. Details: A small clinical study in adults receiving chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer shows that taking AHCC 6 grams daily for 8-12 weeks does not reduce the rate of grade 2 to 3 anemia when compared with placebo (110131).
• Chemotherapy-induced leukopenia. It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with chemotherapy-induced leukopenia. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy shows that taking AHCC significantly reduces chemotherapy-related neutrophil events and lipid abnormalities when compared with standard care (94829).Observational research in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has found that taking AHCC orally 3 grams daily throughout 2 cycles of neoadjuvant gemcitabine improves the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and nutritional scores when compared with standard of care (106783). In contrast, other clinical research in patients with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer receiving gemcitabine chemotherapy shows that taking AHCC 6 grams daily for two months does not seem to affect neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or hepatic dysfunction when compared with standard of care. However, taking AHCC did reduce C-reactive protein and increase hemoglobin and albumin when compared to standard of care (30424).
• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with CINV. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients being treated for head and neck cancers shows that taking AHCC 3 grams daily, beginning 3 days prior to chemotherapy and continuing until one week after chemotherapy, reduces gastric side effects and the need for antiemetic therapy when compared with baseline (30425). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group.
• Chemotherapy-induced taste changes. It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial for the prevention of taste changes due to chemotherapy. Details: A small clinical study in adults receiving chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer shows that taking AHCC 6 grams daily for 8-12 weeks reduces the rate of patient-reported taste disorders by 27% when compared with placebo (110131). Although patients in the AHCC group had modest improvements in some nutritional parameters when compared with the placebo group, it is unclear if any changes would be considered clinically significant.
• Hepatitis C. It is unclear if oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with hepatitis C. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with chronic hepatitis C shows that taking AHCC 6 grams daily for 6 months does not significantly reduce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or hepatitis C virus RNA levels when compared with placebo (30419).
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). It is unclear of oral AHCC is beneficial in patients with HPV. Details: A small clinical study in adult females with persistent high-risk HPV shows that taking AHCC 3 grams daily leads to clearance of HPV RNA and DNA in 64% of patients after 6 months of treatment, compared to 11% of patients taking placebo (110129). The validity of these findings is limited by lack of statistical comparison between groups.
• Liver cancer. Small, low-quality clinical studies suggest that oral AHCC may improve overall survival in patients with liver cancer. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with advanced hepatic cancer shows that taking AHCC orally 6 grams daily for a median of 3.5 months along with supportive care increases the median survival time by 2 months when compared with placebo. Taking AHCC also improved quality of life scores when compared with placebo (30359). Population research in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma has also found that taking AHCC 3 grams daily for up to 9 years after surgical resection reduces tumor recurrence and mortality by 48% and 56%, respectively, when compared with control (30353). In another small, open label clinical study of adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, tumor recurrence occurred in 52% of patients who took AHCC 1 gram three times daily for 2 years after surgical resection (110130). The interpretation of these results is limited by the lack of a control group.
• Prostate cancer. Although there has been interest in using oral AHCC for prostate cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of AHCC for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate AHCC for these uses.

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POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts. AHCC 4.5-6 grams daily has been used with apparent safety in clinical trials lasting up to 6 months (22926,30419). Population research identified no safety concerns with the use of AHCC 3 grams daily for up to 9 years (30353,94830).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, AHCC might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.  Details In vitro studies suggest that AHCC might induce the CYP2D6 enzyme (30369,30420). This effect has not been reported in humans.

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking AHCC might decrease the effects of immunosuppressant drugs.  Details Data from human, animal, and in vitro studies suggests that AHCC stimulates immune function (30351,30358,30360,30361,30366,30367,30368,30371,30376,30379,30381,30382,30416,30418). Theoretically, this may counteract immunosuppressant drug activity.

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General ...Orally, AHCC appears to be well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, foot cramps, headache, nausea.

Dermatologic ...Orally, AHCC 4. 9 grams has been reported to cause mild itching (30375).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, AHCC 4. 5-9 grams daily has been reported to cause nausea, diarrhea, and bloating (30365,30375,30419).

Musculoskeletal ...Orally, AHCC 9 grams daily has been reported to cause foot cramps (30365). Orally, AHCC 6 grams daily has been reported to cause difficulty moving hand joints (30416).

Neurologic/CNS ...Orally, AHCC 9 grams daily for 14 days has been reported to cause mild and transient headache (30365).

(Read more about ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND (AHCC))