Polysaccharides Poly-Benefits

This article is part of the main feature: Nutritional Support for Immune Modulation.

Polysaccharides is a fairly broad term, encompassing a host of relatively complex carbohydrates. Interestingly, many of these molecules offer support to the immune system. Consider, for example, medicinal mushrooms, a good source of not only certain polysaccharides, but also B vitamins and proteins. Used traditionally throughout Asia for their immune-enhancing abilities, research is now substantiating the benefits of many types of fungi on their own or in concert with other compounds.

Researchers from Wageningen University, Netherlands, tested eight mushroom strains for their immunomodulating capabilities, finding extracts of Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) and Volvariella volvacea acted directly on monocytes to modulate T cell activation.¹⁹ Further studies on reishi suggest its polysaccharides cause splenic B cell activation and enhance antibody secretion,²⁰ specifically stimulating TNF-alpha and IL-6 production, and IFN-gamma release.²¹

Another well-known medicinal mushroom is Grifola frondosa or maitake. In vitro work showed a hot water extract of maitake mycelia strongly induced cytokine activity, and up-regulated certain neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner.²² A specific extract from maitake, D-Fraction, appears to activate immune cells and induce angiogenesis in vivo.²³ Further studies using D-Fraction have noted its ability to activate macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells, while also enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells.^24,25

Agaricus blazeii Murill is another Asian medicinal mushroom, which researchers from the University of Oslo, Norway, noted has strong immunomodulating properties.²⁶ Among these, it appears A. blazei can increase sIgG levels and numbers of T cells in the spleen, while also elevating phagocytic capability and enhancing the body’s resistance to bacterial infection.^27,28

In addition, researchers from The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, reported giving A. blazei extract to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy increased natural NK cell activity and improved chemotherapy-associated side effects.²⁹

Japanese researchers noted a special compound, protein-bound polysaccharide-K (PSK), prepared from Coriolus versicolor, has both cellular and humoral immunomodulatory effects, particularly working to enhance IgM production and B cell activity, while also inducing antibody production.³⁰ Further trials have shown its ability to activate CD4+ T cell response in the lymph nodes and modulate T cell receptor induced IL-2 production.³¹

Another proprietary mushroom-based ingredient is Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC®, manufactured by Amino Up Chemical Co., U.S. distribution by Maypro Industries), which is processed from the mycelia of select basidiocymetes into an extract rich in fiber and polysaccharides. A recent review out of Drexel University, Philadelphia, noted AHCC has been shown to modulate immunity and increase survival in response to acute infection, and has been tested against a variety of infectious agents.³² Animal trials have also shown the ability of AHCC to regulate adaptive and innate immune response, enhancing the body’s tumor surveillance and increasing its response rate to pathogenic infection.^33,34

Japanese researchers recently investigated the effect of AHCC in healthy adults (n=21) in a placebo-controlled, double blind trial.³⁵ Over the four-week intervention, subjects received placebo or 3.0 g/d of AHCC, while tracking the number and function of circulating dendritic cells. Active intervention increased the number of dendritic cells, as well as their differentiation. Similar findings were reported at the 16th International AHCC Symposium, held in Sapporo, Japan, in July 2008.³⁶ Yale University researchers found providing AHCC to healthy older adults (age 50+) for 60 days could increase levels of the cytokines INF-gamma and TNF-alpha, enhancing the T cell immune response.

Beneficial polysaccharides are not only found in mushrooms, of course. In fact, clinical studies have shown the benefits of a proprietary 1,3/1,6 gluco polysaccharide derived from the cell walls of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wellmune WGP®, from Biothera. Results of a single blind, crossover study on the effects of Wellmune WGP® on upper respiratory tract infections were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in May 2008.

Researchers administered Wellmune WGP or a placebo to 54 firefighters for 14 days, followed by a three-day washout period and another 14-day treatment period. Thirty-seven percent of the treatment group experienced an upper respiratory tract infection, compared to 48 percent of the placebo group. In another study, reported at the 2008 Experimental Biology annual meeting, healthy subjects (n=40) received 250 mg/d of Wellmune WGP or placebo for 90 days. Subjects on the active intervention had less severe colds and shorter duration, compared to the placebo group, and reported a higher subjective quality of life.

Biothera also supported studies investigating the impact of Wellmune WGP on the immune status of subjects under stress. In one trial, 150 subjects with high lifestyle stress were randomized to receive placebo, 250 mg/d or 500 mg/d of Wellmune WGP for four weeks. Compared to the placebo group, subjects taking Wellmune WGP reported a 42 percent increase in vigor and 38 percent reduction in fatigue, and significantly fewer subjects on active treatment had any type of upper respiratory infection symptoms. The second trial followed the same protocol, but in marathon runners (n=75) experiencing physical stress. Again, Wellmune WGP intervention increased vigor (22 percent), reduced fatigue (48 percent) and significantly reduced the incidence of upper respiratory infection. Results were presented at the 2007 American College of Nutrition annual meeting.

Another proprietary ingredient involving Saccharomyces cerevisiae is EpiCor®, from Embria Health Sciences, a dried, complex fermentation product from the yeast and its medium, yielding a high-metabolite immunogen. Results from human clinical trials show its immune-modulating effects. In two trials conducted in early 2007, researchers examined the impact of EpiCor (500 mg) compared to a placebo on cold and flu incidence and symptoms in adults who had received flu vaccination (n=100)³⁷ or those who had not (n=110). In both trials, active intervention significantly reduced the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and the duration of symptoms in subjects who did get URTIs.

Further clinical work has shown 500 mg/d of EpiCor can also increase levels of secretory immunoglobin A (sIgA), an antibody produced by the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and modulates levels of IgE. In a recent trial conducted by NIS Labs for Embria, researchers examined the impact of 500 mg/d of EpiCor or placebo for five weeks in healthy adults (n=25).³⁸ Subjects taking EpiCor had increased levels of hematocrit and sIgA and decreases in serum IgE and IL-10. The researchers concluded EpiCor supported the health of red blood cells and mucosal immune protection and may exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in situations of chronic inflammation or allergies.

References on the next page...

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29. Ahn WS et al. “Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.” Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2004 Jul-Aug;14(4):589-94.

30. Maruyama S et al. “Protein-bound polysaccharide-K (PSK) directly enhanced IgM production in the human B cell line BALL-1.” Biomed Pharmacother. 2008 Oct 9. [Epub ahead of print]

31. Asai H et al. “Protein-bound polysaccharide K augments IL-2 production from murine mesenteric lymph node CD4+ T cells by modulating T cell receptor signaling.” Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2008 Nov;57(11):1647-55. Epub 2008 Mar 15.

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36. Yin Z, Fujii H, Walshe T. “Determining the Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells Producing IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in Healthy Elderly People Using Flow Cytometry before and after Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) Intake.” Presented at the 16^th International AHCC Symposium, July 26-27, 2008.

37. Moyad MA et al. “Effects of a Modified Yeast Supplement on Cold/Flu Symptoms.” Urol Nurs. 2008;28(1):50-55.

38. Jensen GS et al. “A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study: Consumption of a High-Metabolite Immunogen from Yeast Culture has Beneficial Effects on Erythrocyte Health and Mucosal Immune Protection in Healthy Subjects.” Open Nutr J. 2008;2:68-75.