Objective: Malnutrition is a recurrent problem in cancer patients, which can condition the prognosis and compliance to therapeutic protocols. Therefore, an evaluation of the nutritional status is pivotal before therapeutic interventions, as well as in itinere, to confirm the possible presence of cachexia, evident and subclinical deficiencies. Alpha and β-glucans from the fungi (Lentinan) have been used as therapeutic support for thousands of years in oriental culture. Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is a molecule rich in alpha-glucan derived from the mycelium of the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, as well as antiproliferative. AHCC boasts multiple studies published in specialized international journals suggesting their integration to the diet to support the immune system and promote the reduction of side effects due to chemotherapy.
Patients and Methods: We evaluated fifty patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and malnutrition, during radio-chemotherapy. All patients were given a food therapy and a dose of AHCC of 1.5 g/day. Bioelectrical impedance assessed body composition at time 0 and after 3 - 6 months of nutritional therapy.
Results: There was no progression of cancer malnutrition/cachexia in 80% of the subjects, instead of a concomitant increase in body cell mass (BCM).
Conclusions: The use of AHCC during chemotherapy helps to prevent cases of cachexia and sarcopenia, as evidenced in our study by the BCM analysis. These preliminary results could be related to longevity/environmental issue in order to plan a specific project of nutritional diet upper for people who lived in high environmental risk area.