Cordyceps militaris Enhances Cell-Mediated Immunity in Healthy Korean Men

Authors: Ho Joon Kang, Hyun Wook Baik, Sang Jung Kim, Seong Gyu Lee, Hong Yup Ahn, Ju Sang Park, Sang Jong Park, Eun Jeong Jang, Sang Woon Park, Jin Young Choi, Ji Hee Sung, and Seung Min Lee

Journal: Journal of Medicinal Food

Study Design: Single-center, randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial

Participants: 79 healthy Korean men aged 19-64

Intervention: The participants were divided into two groups and given the following for 4 weeks:

• Experimental group (n = 39): 1.5 g/day of ethanol-treated Cordyceps militaris in capsules
• Control group (n = 40): The same number of identical placebo capsules filled with microcrystalline cellulose and lactose

Outcome Measures:

• Natural killer (NK) cell activity at effector-to-target (E:T) ratios of 50:1 (NK50), 100:1 (NK100), and 200:1 (NK200)
• Lymphocyte proliferation index (PI)
• T-helper cell 1 (Th1) cytokine cluster (interferon [IFN]-γ, interleukin [IL]-12, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α)
• Safety assessment

Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps militaris on cell-mediated immunity in healthy Korean men. The results showed that Cordyceps militaris supplementation significantly increased NK cell activity (particularly at the NK200 level), lymphocyte proliferation, and the production of certain Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-γ) compared to the placebo group. No significant adverse reactions were reported. The study concluded that Cordyceps militaris is safe and effective in enhancing cell-mediated immunity in healthy male adults.