What is the Difference Between Beta Glucan and AHCC?

Beta-glucan and the AHCC are popular supplements used for boosting the immune system. These supplements are often used with other medical treatments to enhance the efficiency of therapies in treating disease. Many articles published on beta-glucan and AHCC show its significance in the activation of immune responses. The beta-glucan and AHCC helps in the fight against various bacterial and viral diseases. However, several factors are considered in choosing between beta-glucan and AHCC. For example, which supplement is most studied and has more evidence for its role in boosting immunity. The effectiveness of the supplement is also essential in choosing the best one. It should be economical from a consumer point of view. Another critical factor to consider is using the supplement either for prevention, treatment, or general wellbeing. 

Source of beta-glucan and AHCC

Source of beta-glucan

β-glucan, homopolymers of glucose, are found abundantly in various microorganisms, mushrooms, and plants. They are also used as food additives in the form of salads dressing or frozen desserts. These β-glucan are of the high value of attention because of their bioactivity and medicinal benefits and are available as dietary supplements (Vannucci et al., 2013).

Source of AHCC

The AHCC is a critical nutritional dietary supplement obtained from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula endodes). The shiitake mushroom first needs to be cultivated and grown. Shiitake mushrooms are native to forest regions, and they are found in the dense forest area of East Asia. In Japan, this mushroom is grown in dense forest areas under the supervision of an expert to get delicate mushrooms. Growing mushrooms is a lengthy process that takes several weeks to grow mushrooms and process for AHCC preparation.

Importance of beta-glucan and AHCC

Importance of beta-glucan

Before identifying β-glucans as an immune modulator, shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) in Japan and Ganoderma luciderm in China were used in traditional medicine, boosting the body immune system. The immune-modulating effect of β-glucan was discovered in the last century. Since then, more than 6000 publications have been published investigating the immune-modulation effect of the β-glucans, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory abilities. The β-glucans show immune-modulating effects on various organisms. The results on humans and other animals like fish, rodents, invertebrates, and other farm animals are encouraging. Furthermore, other beneficial effects of β-glucans include healing wounds, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and cholesterol reduction (Novak & Vetvicka, 2008). 

Importance of beta-glucan

Before identifying β-glucans as an immune modulator, shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) in Japan and Ganoderma luciderm in China were used in traditional medicine, boosting the body immune system. The immune-modulating effect of β-glucan was discovered in the last century. Since then, more than 6000 publications have been published investigating the immune-modulation effect of the β-glucans, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory abilities. Yeast β-glucans greatly enhance immune responses in various organisms. The immune-modulating impact on humans and other animals is satisfactory. Furthermore, β-glucans also have other valuable effects like antidiabetic, healing wounds, hepatoprotective, and cholesterol reduction (Novak & Vetvicka, 2008). 

The difference between beta-glucan and AHCC

The beta-glucan have a more extended history of use as an immune-boosting supplement than AHCC. An extensive research database for the use of beta-glucan as a dietary supplement is available, which provides the authenticity of its use. However, in AHCC, it is a less studied dietary supplement than beta-glucan, but it is not criteria to describe beta-glucan more effectively (Matt, 2020). 

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are essential for the comparison of both the supplement and to choose which one is better. In Asian countries, the patients are using AHCC, and a lot of clinical data is available, which provides evidence that AHCC helps boost immune responses against diseases. AHCC is used along with chemotherapy for treating cancer in Japan due to low molecular weight alpha-glucan in high concentration, and it is absorbed better than beta-glucan. However, beta-glucan is more effective than AHCC against allergies, bacterial and viral infections, and asthma (Matt, 2020).

Cost-effectiveness 

Both supplements have proven effective as immune system boosting effects in humans. There is a difference in methodologies studying these two, and it is difficult to conclude which one is better. Still, the general perception is that beta-glucan is more potent than AHCC. However, another essential factor is which one is more economical for the consumer. The AHCC supplement preparation is a lengthy process; therefore, these are more expensive than standard beta-glucan (Matt, 2020). 

Beta-glucan are more effective than AHCC

Based on these factors, it is evident that there is a significant difference in the efficiency of beta-glucan and AHCC. Various studies show that beta-glucan is more effective than alpha glucan obtained from AHCC in enhancing the immune system function. 

Products of Hiyeast

Hiyeast is a China-based company that produces yeast beta-glucan powder for eight years. Hiyeast© yeast beta-glucan is according to international standards and prepared by using highly efficient methods. Their methods are well-known and reliable, providing high-quality non-toxic, non-mutagenic products that will significantly enhance the immune system. The company is committed to delivering high-standard β-glucan products to help people in boosting their immune systems.

References

Matt. (2020, April 20). Beta Glucan vs AHCC: Which Is Better? CR Vitality. https://www.crvitality.com/2019/01/beta-glucan-vs-ahcc/

Novak, M., & Vetvicka, V. (2008). β-Glucans, History, and the Present: Immunomodulatory Aspects and Mechanisms of Action. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 5(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/15476910802019045

Shin, M. S., Park, H.-J., Maeda, T., Nishioka, H., Fujii, H., & Kang, I. (2019). The Effects of AHCC®, a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinura edodes Mycelia, on Natural Killer and T Cells in Health and Disease: Reviews on Human and Animal Studies. Journal of Immunology Research, 2019, 3758576. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3758576

Vannucci, L., Krizan, J., Sima, P., Stakheev, D., Caja, F., Rajsiglova, L., Horak, V., & Saieh, M. (2013). Immunostimulatory properties and antitumor activities of glucans. International Journal of Oncology, 43(2), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1974