Hidvegi was born in Budapest, Hungary, on November 9, 1955. He studied, then taught at what is now Budapest University of Technology and Economics. After finishing university, he worked in the cereal industry and was co-developer of a patented feed advisory system based on near infrared ingredient data.

In Hungary Hidvegi was one of the pioneers in the development of technologies of mass-production of instantized herbal extracts for therapeutic use. Between 1988-1990 Hidvegi was Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Grain Research Laboratory of the Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg, Canada.

Returning to Hungary in 1990, Hidvegi started to work for enterprises in the natural medicine industry. His first blockbuster was the anti-cholesterol pill, Esterin, which was soon marketed worldwide. Also during these years, he developed various products (such as butter substitutes, weight-loss products, a line of herbal medicines, and a nasal flu vaccine) for the heath and food industry.

In 1996 Hidvegi was co-founder of Biromedicina (joint stock company), what is now called The First Hungarian Corporation for Cancer Research and Oncology. The company’s mission was to market Hidvegi’s anti-cancer product, Avemar, a fermented wheat germ extract-based nutraceutical with immune regulatory, anticancer and antimetastatic properties.

Hidvegi holds a PhD and a Dr. Habil in chemistry, and a honorary professorship at the Jewish University, Budapest. For his academic works he received the Gold Medal of the President of Hungary (2000), the Scheiber Prize of the Minister of Culture and Education, Hungary (2001), the NutrAward in the USA (2006) and the Jedlik Prize of the Hungarian Patent Office (2007).

Today, Mate Hidvegi continues to be a science-driven researcher dedicated to helping people fight serious illness.

Early academic life

Hidvegi’s first publications were about the theories of origins of life and the elaboration of a plausible mechanism for the biogenesis and evolution of biomembranes. He worked out the metabolic map as well as the reaction kinetics of a theoretical first living cell. These results have been included into advanced text books too.

Work on blood cholesterol lowering

Hidvegi is the inventor of the anti-cholesterol extract called Esterin (Process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition selectively lowering the blood lipid levels. United States Patent 5,277,910 January 11, 1994). The mechanism of action of Esterin has been included into medical textbooks. Clinical studies on Esterin have been published by Technion, the University of Haifa, Israel. Esterin-processed alfalfa may lower serum cholesterol when an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor is contraindicated, or in combination with numerous anti-lipid agents (e.g. statins, fibrates, niacin, resin binders).

Esterin-processed alfalfa studies have demonstrated groundbreaking results: a lowering of total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum LDL cholesterol, an increase in HDL cholesterol, and an improvement in both the atherogen index (CHOL:HDL) and HDL:LDL ratio.

Work on cancer resarch

Hidvegi is the inventor of Avemar, a fermented wheat germ extract-based nutraceutical with immune regulatory, anticancer and antimetastatic properties. (Avemar was patented by Hidvegi and his research team: Immunostimulatory and metastasis-inhibiting fermented vegetal material. Publication Number: WO/1999/008694, United States Patent 6,355,474 March 12, 2002).

Hidvegi’s fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE), also called fermented wheat germ powder (FWGP), or simply the „Hungarian Powder“ has been approved for the supportive therapy of cancer in Hungary and in other nations of the European Union (EU), and in parts of the Middle East and Asia. It is used in the US as a dietary supplement under the brand name AvéULTRA.

In addition to its use in support of treatments for cancer, in which immune system function usually is impaired prior to and/or following cytotoxic treatment, Avemar has also been studied for use in conditions in which the immune system is inappropriately over-active, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The use and study of Avemar in conditions at such widely distant points on the spectrum of abnormal immune system function as cancer -- in which immune system function often is impaired -- and autoimmune conditions -- in which immune system function is inappropriately overactive -- occurs because the extract has been shown to support normal immune system function and normal cell metabolism.

Works on cultural history

Hidvegi’s works on cultural history cover a wide spectrum. Hidvegi wrote the biographies of Rabbis Moshe Teitelbaum, Leopold Loew, Immanuel Loew, Adolf Loewinger, Alexander Scheiber.

Hidvegi was the editor of the biography of Aron Marton (Roman Catholic bishop of Alba Julia, Transylvania, which has been officially included into the canonization files of Aron Marton by the Vatican) and the book The Lord by Romano Guardini, translated by Aron Marton with an introduction by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (the present Pope). Hidvegi was also the editor of the official memorial volume of Blessed Sara Salkahazi, the Catholic nun who saved Jews during the Holocaust in Hungary, and were therefore killed by the Nazis in 1944. He wrote several authoritative essays including the Holy Sepulchre Basilica in Jerusalem, and the Medici Chapel in Florence.

Hidvegi is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem (Vatican).

Most important papers, books

• Bekes F, Hidvegi M, Korpadi M: Computer simulation of the time dependent behaviour of chemotons, chemical supersystems having the criteria of life. Simulation of Systems in Biology and Medicine 2: 93-101, 1979.
• Hidvegi M, El Kady A, Lasztity R, Sarkadi L: Contribution to the nutritional characterization of fenugreek (Trigonella foenun-graecum L. 1753). Acta Alimentaria 13: 315-324, 1984.
• Bekes F, Hidvegi M, Zsigmond A, Lasztity R: Studies on the evaluation of the in vitro biological value of food proteins. Acta Alimentaria 13: 135-158, 1984.
• Hidvegi M, Orsi F, Bekes F: Equations predict BV, TP and NPK from amino acid analysis. In: Cereals - Healthful foods for all. W. Steller, ed., C. Kersting Publ. St. Augustin, 1984, p. 106.
• Kemeny G, Pokorny I, Forizs K, Kos I, Bekes F, Hidvegi M, Lasztity R: Feed advisory system based on NIR ingredient data. In: Progress in cereal science and technology. Vol. 5A, J. Holas and J. Kratochvil, eds., Elsevier Publ., Amsterdam, 1983. pp. 601-606.
• Bekes F, Hidvegi M, Zsigmond A, Lasztity R: A novel mathematical model for determining in vitro biological value of proteins and its application for non-linear optimization of the nutritional quality of feed and food formulas. In: Progress in cereal science and technology. Vol. 5B, J. Holas and J. Kratochvil, eds., Elsevier Publ., Amsterdam, 1983. pp. 1213-1218.
• Hidvegi M, Bekes F, Demeter L (1984): On the memory of modern metabolism. Orig Life. 14: 539-546.
• Hidvegi M, Bekes F: Mathematical modelling of protein nutritional quality from amino acid composition. In: Amino acid composition and biological value of cereal proteins. R. Lasztity and M. Hidvegi, eds., D. Reidel Publ., Boston, 1985, pp. 205-286.
• Sharobeem SF, Lasztity R, Hidvegi M, Salgo A, Simon-Sarkadi L: Amino acid content and in vitro protein quality of different corn varieties. In: Amino acid composition and biological value of cereal proteins. R. Lasztity and M. Hidvegi, eds., D. Reidel Publ., Boston, 1985, pp. 421-438.
• Bekes F, Hidvegi M, Lasztity R, Toth A: Moeglichkeiten der Optimierung von Fuetterungkosten unter der Beruecksichtigung der biologischen Beduerfnisse. Die Muehle und Mischfuttertechnik 122: 628-630, 1985.
• El Kady A, Lasztity R, Hidvegi M. Khalil Mona O, Simon-Sarkadi L: The biological value of maize-fenugreek flour mixtures in some foods. Acta Alimentaria 20: 173-182, 1991.
• Mercer LP, Hijazi H, Dillery S, Hidvegi M: Chronobiological rhythms in the growth rates and food intake rates of rats. FASEB J 5A: 1652, 1991.
• Lasztity R, Lasztity B, Hidvegi M, Simon-Sarkadi L: Effect of fertilizers on yield, protein content and amino acid composition of winter cereals. Periodica Polytechnica Ser.Chem.Eng. 36: 25-42, 1992.
• Mercer LP, Hijazi H, Hidvegi M: Bioperiodicity in the growth rates of rats. FASEB J 7A: 90, 1993.
• Mercer LP, Hijazi H, Hidvegi M: Weanling rats display bioperiodicity of growth rates and food intake rates. J Nutr 123: 1354-1362, 1993.
• Bui Huy Khoi, Hidvégi, M., Lásztity, R., Salgó, A., Sarkadi, L. (1994) Untersuchung der Ernaehrungsbiologischen Qualitaet der Proteine von Vietnamischen Maissorten. Periodica Polytechnica Ser.Chem.Eng. 38(3-4): 209-217.
• Dermely M, Bogenrieder C, Hidvegi M: Effect of microwave drying on protein and chlorophyll contents of blind nettle (Urtica urens). Periodica Polytechnica Ser.Chem.Eng. 39: 77-84, 1995.
• Lasztity R, Hidvegi M, Bata A: Saponins in food. Food Rev Int 14: 371-390, 1998.
• Hidvegi M, Raso E, Tomoskozi-Farkas R, Paku S, Lapis K, Szende B: Effect of Avemar and Avemar + vitamin C on tumor growth and metastasis in experimental animals. Anticancer Res 18: 2353-2358, 1998.
• Hidvegi M, Raso E, Tomoskozi-Farkas R, Lapis K, Szende B: Effect of MSC on the immune response of mice. Immunopharmacology 41: 183-186, 1999.
• Hidvegi M, Raso E, Tomoskozi-Farkas R, Szende B, Paku S, Pronai L, Bocsi J, Lapis K: MSC, a new benzoquinone-containing natural product with anti-metastatic effect. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 14: 277-289, 1999.
• Jakab F, Mayer A, Hoffmann A, Hidvegi M: First clinical data of a natural immunomodulator in colorectal cancer. Hepatogastroenterology 47: 393-395, 2000.
• Boros LG, Lee W-NP, Hidvégi M, Go VLW: Metabolic effects of fermented wheat germ extract with anti-tumor properties in cultured MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Pancreas 21: 434, 2000.
• Boros LG, Lapis K, Szende B, Tomoskozi-Farkas R, Balogh A, Boren J, Marin S, Cascante M, Hidvegi M: Wheat germ extract decreases glucose uptake and RNA ribose formation but increases fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Pancreas 23: 141-147, 2001.
• Zalatnai A, Lapis K, Szende B, Raso E, Telekes A, Restar A, Hidvegi M: Wheat germ extract inhibits experimental colon carcinogenesis in F-344 rats. Carcinogenesis 22: 1649-1652, 2001.
• Ehrenfeld M, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y, Hidvegi M: Avemar (a new benzoquinone-containing natural product) administration interferes with the Th2 response in experimental SLE and promotes amelioration of the disease. Lupus 10: 622-627, 2001.
• Jakab F, Balogh A, Mayer A, Lapis K, Hoffmann A, Szentpetery F, Telekes A, Hidvegi M: Critical analysis of an anticancer supportive product (MSC) in colorectal patients. Hepatogastroenterology Suppl I 48: CL, 2001.
• Hidvegi M, Lasztity R (2002): Phytic acid content of cereals and legumes and interaction with proteins. Periodica Polytechnica Ser. Chem. Eng. 46(1-2): 59-64.
• Fajka-Boja R, Hidvegi M, Shoenfeld Y, Ion G, Demydenko D, Tomoskozi-Farkas R, Vizler Cs, Telekes A, Restar A, Monostori E: Fermented wheat germ extract induces apoptosis and downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I proteins in tumor T and B cell lines. Int J Oncol 20: 563-570, 2002.
• Nichelatti M, Hidvegi M: Experimental and clinical results with Avemar (a dried extract from fermented wheat germ) in animal cancer models and in cancer patients. Nogyogyaszati Onkologia 7: 180-185, 2002.
• Jakab F, Shoenfeld Y, Balogh A, Nichelatti M, Hoffmann A, Kahan Zs, Lapis K, Mayer A, Sapy P, Szentpetery F, Telekes A, Thurzo L, Vagvolgyi A, Hidvegi M: A medical nutriment has supportive value in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 89: 465-469, 2003.
• Tompa A, Kocsis Zs, Marcsek Z, Jakab M, Szende B, Hidvegi M. Chemoprevention with tamoxifen and Avemar by inducing apoptosis on MCF-7 (ER+) breast cancer cells. In: 2nd Congress of the World Society of Breast Health. Monduzzi Editore, Bologna, p. 61–66, 2003.
• Garami M, Schuler D, Babosa M, Borgulya G, Hauser P, Muller J, Paksy A, Szabo E, Hidvegi M, Fekete Gy: Fermented wheat germ extract reduces chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 26: 631-635, 2004.
• Stipkovits L, Lapis K, Hidvegi M, Kosa E, Glavits R, Restar A: Testing the efficacy of fermented wheat germ extract against Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection of chicken. Poultry Sci 11: 1844-1848, 2004.
• Boros LG, Hidvegi M. Fermented wheat germ extract inhibits vast glucose utilization  for nucleic and fatty acid synthesis in inflammatory breast cancer  cells. In: Proceedings 1^st International Conference on Integrative Oncology. New York NY, 2004. p. 31.
• Balint G, Apathy A, Gaal M, Telekes A, Restar A, Blazso G, Falkay Gy, Szende B, Paksy A, Ehrenfeld M, Shoenfeld Y, Hidvegi M: Effect of Avemar – a fermented wheat germ extract – on rheumatoid arthritis. Preliminary data. Clin Exp Rheumatology 24: 325-328, 2006.
• Telekes A, Restar A, Balint G, Blazso G, Falkay Gy, Lapis K, Raso E, Szende B, Ehrenfeld M, Shoenfeld Y, Hidvegi M: Fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) inhibits adjuvant arthritis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1110: 348-361, 2007.
• Lasztity R, Hidvegi M (eds): Amino acid composition and biological value of cereal proteins. D. Reidel Publ., Boston, 1985.
• Hidvegi M, Bakanyi Z: Cholesterol counter. Handbook of healthy nutrition. Uj Mandatum Publisher, Budapest, 1991. (In Hungarian)