Buy AHCC, a fermented shiitake extract rich in polysaccharides

AHCC is a dietary supplement containing shiitake mushroom. It comes in 500mg capsules and is made in Sapporo, Japan, by the excellent Amino Up laboratory, and distributed by SuperSmart.

What benefits do Shiitake supplements offer?

Of the thousands of mushrooms found in nature, twelve have caught the attention of the scientific community because of their unique combination of health benefits. Shiitake, which has featured in certain natural pharmacopoeia for thousands of years, is one of them.

Mushrooms, particularly shiitake, help to normalise several of the body’s functions:

• Intestinal health. Shiitake mushrooms contain a large amount of insoluble fibre which increases the volume and weight of stools, facilitating bowel evacuation and reducing the risk of constipation. They also contain non-digestible sugars which act as food for beneficial bacteria in the gut and colon, helping to improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
• Cardiology. As a result of their high polysaccharide content, shiitake help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, two factors associated with cardiovascular problems.
• Free radical activity. Shiitake have certain antioxidant properties and thus help to fight the oxidative stress that contributes to many age-related health problems. When the body is exposed to high numbers of free radicals, normal detoxification processes cannot function properly, producing a state of imbalance.

These properties are due to shiitake’s exceptionally rich nutritional value. In addition to its high content of lentinan and eritadenine, which act on innate and adaptive immune responses (1), shiitake contains AHCC, rich in partly acetylated alpha-1,4 glucan polysaccharides. AHCC is the subject of intensive research (2-11).

How is AHCC made?

AHCC is produced from the mushroom’s mycelium, cultured in a liquid medium using a proprietary method, under the strictest health controls.

The resulting dietary supplement consists of 10% alpha-1,4 glucans, a type of polysaccharide not normally found in mushrooms, which is derived only through this proprietary manufacturing process.

4 good reasons to try AHCC

1. It’s a convenient and safe way to enjoy the benefits of shiitake mushrooms.
2. Mushrooms represent one of the most promising fields of medicine. With their metabolic complexity, mushrooms offer huge pharmacological potential – the amount of research in this area is significant. The medical fields in which they are being used is increasing all the time: antibiotic treatment, cardiology, haematology, oncology, parasitology …
3. It’s an unbeatable supplement in terms of bioactive compounds.
4. It’s perfectly safe, and contains only natural excipients.
   AHCC capsules are guaranteed free from lactose, gluten, gelatine, soya, flavourings, pesticides, fungicides, colourings, allergens, GMO and animal-origin products. The mushrooms used have been cultured in a liquid medium in a laboratory that is GMP-compliant and certified ISO 9100 & 22000. Their cellular compounds, including polysaccharides, are extracted using a unique enzyme formula which initiates fermentation of the cell walls. The only excipient is natural-source - acacia gum.

Are there any contraindications to taking AHCC?

The effects of shiitake will add to those of cholesterol-lowering drugs. So if you’re taking this kind of medication, you should seek advice from a health professional before supplementing with this product.

Other supplements of interest from Supersmart

As well as supplementing with AHCC, you may find these other nutritional supplements of interest too.

Discover the properties of Lactoferrin, a powerful antioxidant with immune-stimulant properties. See also Resveratrol Synergy a valuable aid with exceptional antioxidant content.

Buy AHCC to support immune health.

Each capsule contains 500 mg of shiitake mushroom mycelium (Lentinus edodes).

Adults. Take two capsules a day. Each capsule contains 500mg of AHCC® (extracted from the mycelia of Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) standardised to 10% alpha glucans).

Caution: do not exceed the recommended daily dose. This product is a nutritional supplement and should not be used to replace a varied, balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. Keep out of young children’s reach. Store away from light, heat and humidity. As with all nutritional supplements, consult a health professional before taking if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from a health problem.

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2. Sato K, Kashimoto M. Profile summary of AHCC: composition. In Clinician’s Guide to AHCC. Kulkarni AD, Calder PC. Ito T. Eds.: 24–33; International Congress on Nutrition and Integrative Medicine; 2017
3. Roman BE, Beli E, Duriancik DM, Gardner EM. Shortterm supplementation with active hexose correlated compound improves the antibody response to influenza B vaccine. Nutr Res 2013;33:12–7.
4. Nogusa S, Gerbino J, Ritz BW. Low-dose supplementation with active hexose correlated compound improves the immune response to acute influenza infection in C57BL/6 mice. Nutr Res 2009;29:139–43
5. Ritz BW, Nogusa S, Ackerman EA, Gardner EM. Supplementation with active hexose correlated compound increases the innate immune response of young mice to primary influenza infection. J Nutr 2006;136:2868–73.
6. Thaiudom S, Piyaniran W, Chutaputthi A. A study of the efficacy of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients at Phramongkutklao Hospital. Med News Thailand 2010;325:13–6
7. Smith JA, Mathew L, Gaikwad A, Rech B, Burney MN, Faro JP, et al. From Bench to Bedside: Evaluation of AHCC Supplementation to Modulate the Host Immunity to Clear High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections. Front Oncol 2019;9:173
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9. Schultz-Cherry S. Role of NK cells in influenza infection. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. 2015;386:109–120. doi: 10.1007/82_2014_403.
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11. Sharma P., Allison J. P. Immune checkpoint targeting in cancer therapy: toward combination strategies with curative potential. Cell. 2015;161(2):205–214. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.03.030.