On The Shelf
Mickie Cathers
Mushroom extracts are gaining momentum as popular dietary supplements promoted mainly for the enhancement of immune function and energy levels. These mushroom tinctures offer a variety of health benefits such as stress relief, enhanced cognitive performance, and even anti-tumor benefits.
Background
There’s a long history of using mushrooms for a health boost. Ancient Greeks believed mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle, and Romans called mushrooms the “food of the gods.” Cordyceps sinensis has been used in Chinese medicine as an “elixir of life” to treat lung disease and fatigue and is still widely used to promote good health, strength, and longevity.
Mushroom tinctures are liquid extracts created from soaking mushrooms first in alcohol and then in water. Products currently available on the market claim to boost the immune system, support brain and heart health, enhance energy and stamina, prevent and fight cancer, and reduce inflammation. Extracts are made from various fungi but the most popular include chaga, lion’s mane, Cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms.
Is there a benefit?
Research has shown that mushrooms exhibit significant pharmacological activity. In addition to containing nutrients such as selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin D, mushrooms’ polysaccharides provide anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities.
Within mushrooms, the most abundant and most versatile polysaccharides are ß-glucans, which are responsible for the anticancer, anticholesterolemic, antioxidant, immunomodulating, and neuroprotective activities of many edible mushrooms. Fungal ß-glucans stimulate the immune system and protect against infectious diseases, cancer, pathogenic microbes, and harmful effects of environmental toxins and carcinogens that impair immune systems.
Stress relief
Reishi mushrooms may boost the immune system by improving the function of lymphocytes that help fight cancer and infections. Active compounds in reishi such as triterpenoids and polysaccharides regulate cortisol, modulating the body’s stress response.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel design clinical trial published in the November 2024 issue of The International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that daily dosages of 500 mg (0.5 mL) and 1,000 mg (1 mL) of reishi extract for 30 days may improve overall quality of life. Seventy-eight participants were assigned to one of three treatment groups, each receiving placebo, 500 mg reishi supplement, or 1,000 mg reishi supplement. Mitra and colleagues reported significant improvements in anxiety and depression, along with increased vitality, and positive well-being scores in both the 500 mg and the 1,000 mg groups compared with the placebo group.
Cognitive performance
Lion’s mane mushrooms are known as brain boosters and are thought to also aid anxiety and depression along with cognitive function. Bioactive hericenones and erinacines found in lion’s mane have been shown to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor. Because nerve growth factor is crucial for brain cell growth, maintenance, and survival, it’s considered essential for learning and memory.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group pilot study on lion’s mane supplementation was published November 20, 2023, in Nutrients. Researchers investigated the acute and chronic cognitive and mood-enhancing effects of lion’s mane in 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 years. Participants received either placebo or 600 mg of lion’s mane mushroom, equating to a daily dose of 1.8 g.
Results revealed that participants performed significantly better on a cognitive test 60 minutes after the first dose, and the authors witnessed a trend toward reduced subjective stress following 28 days of supplementation. Docherty and colleagues tentatively suggested that lion’s mane may improve speed of performance and reduction of stress in healthy, young adults but cautioned that null and limited negative findings were also observed and admitted that their sample size was small.
Energy levels
The mushroom C. sinensis is believed to increase energy levels and reduce overall inflammation. Cordyceps may also provide antibacterial activity, reduce asthma, lower BP, and grant a sedative effect on the central nervous system. This mushroom contains adenosine and cordycepin, a purine nucleoside antimetabolite and antibiotic that may increase ATP production, oxygen utilization, and stabilization of blood glucose metabolism.
Researchers of a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial published April 22, 2024, in Food & Function examined how pre-exercise C. sinensis supplementation influences muscle recovery after high-intensity interval exercise. Dewi and colleagues found accelerated resolution of exerciseinduced muscle damage in the participants who administered 1 g of C. sinensis before exercise compared with those who administered the placebo (1 g cornstarch). However, this was a very small study with only 14 participants.
For some mushrooms, such as chaga, there are no clinical studies in humans, and for others, including the big three, reishi, lion’s mane, and Cordyceps, there are numerous factors that limit the validity of the results. These clinical studies sometimes involve too small a sample, may lack a control or placebo group, and may have deficient statistical methods or poorly described results, among other issues.
Dosage and availability
Mushroom supplements are available in stores and online in capsules, powders, teas, coffees, and tinctures. There is no recommended serving size, but most products offer 1 mL drops that coincide with dosages administered in clinical trials.
What to tell your patients
While mushroom tinctures are generally safe for most people, caution patients with allergies to fungi that these supplements may trigger reactions such as skin rashes, itching, or respiratory issues. Some individuals may experience adverse effects such as digestive upset, allergic reactions, or interactions with certain medications. It’s always recommended to consult with a health care provider before starting any new supplement regimen.
Mushrooms have the ability to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from their growth medium, so it’s important to advise patients to look for supplements that specify the type of mushroom used and have a clear label indicating the extraction process. Choosing products from reputable brands that provide third-party testing results for quality assurance is also a best practice. Inform patients to look for supplements that are certified USDA organic and are independently lab-tested by an organization such as the National Science Foundation. Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those on immunosuppressive medications should consult with their primary care provider before using mushroom tinctures. ■