Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) improves immune cell populations after influenza vaccination of healthy subjects.

Abstract

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), an extract of the Basidiomycetes mushroom, has immunomodulatory effects in animal and human studies. We performed a randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial to evaluate the effects of AHCC supplementation on the immune response of healthy adults after immunization with 2009–10 seasonal influenza vaccine. A total of 29 subjects were enrolled in this study: 14 were supplemented with AHCC (total of 3000 mg/day) and 15 were given a placebo on the day of vaccination throughout two weeks post‐vaccination. Blood was drawn at immunization and two weeks later for phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes using flow cytometry. The fold increases in percentages of T cells, CD8+ T (cytotoxic) cells, CD56+ (NK) cells, but not CD4/CD8 ratios, were significantly higher than at vaccination for AHCC‐supplemented subjects. Although AHCC supplementation did not alter NK cell percentages post‐vaccination, CD56 bright cytotoxic NK cells were higher in AHCC than the placebo group. AHCC supplementation had a more dramatic effect on immune cell phenotypes after vaccination of subjects over 60 years old. This suggests that short‐term AHCC supplementation may be a good therapeutic intervention to sustain, or increase, the immune response to influenza vaccination in healthy subjects. Supported by Amino Up Chemical Company, Sapporo, Japan.