Ganoderma lucidum mushroom for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.

What this study found

Ganoderma lucidum did not provide clinically meaningful improvement in cardiovascular risk factors. Pooled HbA1c at 12 to 16 weeks showed no benefit versus placebo, mean difference -0.07 [ -0.57, 0.42 ], and there were no clear improvements in fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or BMI. Post-prandial glucose findings were inconsistent across the small number of available trials. Safety data were limited; adverse events were generally mild, but one trial reported more adverse events with Ganoderma lucidum than placebo, RR 1.67 [0.86, 3.24].

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in adults with cardiovascular risk factors, predominantly type 2 diabetes mellitus, with some studies including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, or dyslipidaemia.

Intervention

Ganoderma lucidum was tested in randomized trials as polysaccharide extract, Lingzhi capsules, or capsule formulations at about 3 to 4 g/day for 12 to 16 weeks, generally compared with placebo.

Key limitation

The evidence base was small, with only a few short-duration randomized trials and several outcomes informed by single studies.

View full study detailsView sourceOpen PDF