Research Materials

This page is intended to provide readers with basic information about natural health products (NHPs) and related research. All information is derived from published research and regulatory documents and is provided for educational and reference purposes only.

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1) Phase II Study in Women with Persistent High-Risk HPV

Design: Prospective phase II; oral AHCC 3 g/day.
Key points: Many participants with long-standing high-risk HPV converted to HPV-negative during supplementation; regimen was well tolerated . Authors emphasize that the duration beyond the first negative test needs optimization and larger trials are required.
Why it matters: Provides early clinical evidence that immune modulation with a mushroom-derived extract could support natural clearance in some women. Frontiers +1

2) Bench-to-Bedside Program on AHCC and HPV

Design: Translational program (cell/animal work → pilot human studies).
Key points: AHCC appeared to modulate host immunity (eg, interferon-β dynamics) and was explored as a supportive approach for clearing high-risk HPV from “bench to bedside.”
Why it matters: Lays out the biologic rationale and clinical pathway for testing AHCC in persistent HPV, while calling for controlled trials. Frontiers

3) Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Healthy Adults

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled.
Key points: AHCC increased dendritic cell (DC1/DC2) numbers and mixed-lymphocyte reaction versus placebo; no significant between-group differences in NK activity or cytokines were detected.
Why it matters: Suggests specific antigen-presenting cell changes in humans; mixed results underline the need for larger, targeted endpoints. PubMed

4) Immune Review: NK and T-Cell Modulation

Design: Peer-reviewed narrative review.
Key points: Across preclinical and clinical literature, AHCC has been reported to influence NK cell function and T-cell responses , mechanisms central to host defense.
Why it matters: Summarizes the broader immune-modulating profile that motivates clinical testing in infection-related contexts. PMC

5) Journal of Nutrition: Viral Challenge Model (Animals)

Design: Controlled mouse studies with influenza challenge.
Key points: AHCC supplementation enhanced NK-cell responses and improved survival metrics under viral stress.
Why it matters: Provides mechanistic/functional data that immune surveillance can be augmented in vivo, supporting human exploration. The Journal of Nutrition

6) Nutrition Research: Low-Dose, Respiratory Outcomes (Animals)

Design: Mouse studies with low-dose AHCC.
Key points: Reported improved survival, stronger NK activity, and better lung function under infectious stress.
Why it matters: Reinforces dose-response and respiratory-immune angles seen in preclinical work. ScienceDirect

7) Infection & Immunity: Stress/Genital Infection Model (Animals)

Design: Mouse stress model with genital Chlamydia exposure.
Key points: AHCC feeding restored protective immune function in stressed mice and reduced susceptibility to genital infection.
Why it matters: Highlights immune resilience under stress—relevant to persistent infections where host defenses are taxed. ASM Journals

8) Human Study on Immune & Stress Responses (Healthy Adults)

Design: Human observational/intervention work in healthy volunteers.
Key points: Data suggest maintenance or improvement of NK-cell activity alongside stress-response measures in a wellness context.
Why it matters: Extends immune-support observations into everyday settings; still requires larger controlled trials. ResearchGate