Larch
arabinogalactan is composed of greater than 98-percent
arabinogalactan, a highly branched
polysaccharide consisting of a
galactan backbone with side-chains of
galactose and
arabinose sugars. Larch
arabinogalactan is an excellent source of
dietary fiber, and has been approved as such by the FDA. It has been shown to increase the production of
short-chain fatty acids, principally
butyrate and
propionate, and has been shown to decrease the generation and absorption of
ammonia. Evidence also indicates human consumption of larch
arabinogalactan has a significant effect on enhancing beneficial gut microflora, specifically increasing anaerobes such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. Larch
arabinogalactan has several interesting properties which appear to make it an ideal adjunctive supplement to consider in
cancer protocols. Experimental studies have indicated larch
arabinogalactan can stimulate natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, enhance other functional aspects of the immune system, and inhibit the
metastasis of
tumor cells to the liver. The immune-enhancing properties also suggest an array of clinical uses, both in preventive medicine, due to its ability to build a more responsive immune system, and in clinical medicine, as a therapeutic agent in conditions associated with lowered immune function, decreased NK activity, or chronic
viral infection.