medicine, medicinal products

Methodological Recommendations of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulation of the Russian Federation No. 2.3.1.1915.-04 of 2004. “Recommended levels of consumption of food and biologically active substances” establishes an adequate and upper permissible level of consumption of arabinogalactan. Arabinogalactan, by the way, appears in two categories – in Water soluble dietary fibres and Polysaccharides. As a prebiotic (Dietary Fibre), human intake rates are prescribed at 2 to 6 g/day, and as Polysaccharides, doses are raised to a corridor of 10-20 g/day. In vivo studies by the largest Swiss manufacturer of AH, carried out on a large sample of people of different ages, proved the effectiveness of AH at the most optimal dosage of 4.5 g/day.

Larch Arabinogalactan (Also known as Galactoarabinan)

Larch arabinogalactan is a polysaccharide powder derived from the wood of the larch tree (Larix species) and comprised of approximately 98 percent arabinogalactan. Arabinogalactans are found in a variety of plants but are more abundant in the Larix genus, primarily Larix Siberica and Larix Dahurica. Larch arabinogalactan is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a source of dietary fiber, but also has potential therapeutic benefits as an immune stimulating agent and cancer protocol adjunct. 

Clinical Indications:

Dietary Fiber
Larch arabinogalactan is an excellent source of dietary fiber that is able to increase short-chain fatty acid production (primarily butyrate) via its vigorous fermentation by intestinal microflora. It is well documented that butyrate is essential for proper colon health as it is the preferred substrate for energy generation by colonic epithelial cells. Butyrate also acts as a protectant for the intestinal mucosa against disease and cancer-promoting agents. Arabinogalactan added to human fecal homogenates has also been shown to decrease ammonia generation, and therefore may be of clinical value in the treatment of portal-systemic encephalopathy, a disease characterized by ammonia build-up in the liver. Larch arabinogalactan given to human subjects increased levels of beneficial intestinal anaerobes, particularly Bifidobacterium longum, via their fermentation specificity for arabinogalactan compared to other complex carbohydrates.

Cancer Protocols
Larch arabinogalactan may be an effective adjunct to cancer therapies due to its ability to stimulate NK cell cytotoxicity, stimulate the immune system, and block metastasis of tumor cells to the liver. Tumor metastasis to the liver is more common than to other organ sites, probably due to tumor cell specificity for lectin-like receptor sites found in liver parenchyma. Animal studies have demonstrated arabinogalactan’s ability to inhibit or block lectin receptor sites, thereby reducing tumor cell colonization of the liver and also increasing survival time of the subjects. Pretreatment with larch arabinogalactan was found to stimulate NK cell cytotoxicity via potentiation of the cytokine network, primarily via an increase in the release of gamma interferon.

Pediatric Otitis Media

Recurrent otitis media is common in pediatric populations and it appears that improving immune system function might lead to a decrease in both frequency and severity of this condition. Research has demonstrated larch and other arabinogalactans to be capable of enhancing the immune response to bacterial infection via stimulation of phagocytosis, competitive binding of bacterial fimbriae, or bacterial opsonization. This was found to be particularly true for infection by gram negative organisms such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. In addition, D’Adamo reports a decrease in occurrence and severity of otitis media in pediatric patients supplemented prophylactically with larch arabinogalactan. Larch arabinogalactan’s mild taste and excellent solubility in water and juice make it a relatively easy therapeutic tool to employ in pediatric populations.

Chronic Disease
A number of chronic diseases are characterized by decreased NK cell activity, including chronic fatigue syndrome, viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Stimulation of NK cell activity by larch arabinogalactan has been associated with recovery in certain cases of chronic fatigue syndrome. Viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C) is also characterized by a decrease in NK cell cytotoxicity and therefore these patients may benefit from its stimulation by larch arabinogalactan. In the case of multiple sclerosis, a small 2-year study of patients with the relapsing/remitting type concluded that disease severity was correlated with NK cell functional activity, supporting the hypothesis that NK cells play a role in the immunopathogenesis of this disease. Consequently, stimulation of NK cell cytotoxicity might be of clinical benefit to these patients. Patients with HIV/AIDS develop low CD4 cell counts and often are plagued by opportunistic infections. By virtue of its immune-stimulating properties, larch arabinogalactan has been shown to effect a slight increase in CD4 cell counts, in addition to decreasing susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens. Hepatic Drug Delivery Hepatic uptake of an injected dose of larch arabinogalactan resulted in 52.5 percent of the dose arriving in the liver. Due to its high hepatic concentration and its ability to increase vascular permeability, larch arabinogalactan has been suggested as a vehicle for administering diagnostic or therapeutic agents to the liver. Platelet Washing Medium Larch arabinogalactan solution has been studied as a medium for use in platelet washing; technique employed to separate platelets from platelet-rich plasma. The washed platelets can then be used in transfusions, bioassays, and research. Platelets washed with larch arabinogalactan solution were free of plasma proteins and retained both normal morphology and function.

Side-Effects and Toxicity

Larch arabinogalactan is a safe and effective immune-stimulating phytochemical. It is FDA-approved for use as a dietary fiber and in food applications. Both acute and long-term toxicity studies in rats and mice reveal no evidence of toxicity. Human consumption is usually without side-effects; however, a small percentage of people (<3%) experienced bloating and flatulence, possibly due to the vigorous fermentation of the arabinogalactan by intestinal microflora. Because of its excellent safety profile and solubility in water and juice, larch arabinogalactan is considered a safe, effective immunestimulating agent for pediatric use.

Dosage

Larch arabinogalactan in powder form is typically dosed in teaspoons or tablespoons at a concentration of approximately 4-5 grams per tablespoon. The typical adult dosage is one to three tablespoons per day in divided doses; the pediatric dose is one to three teaspoons per day. The powder is usually mixed with water or juice but can be added to food if desired.