A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ganoderma Lucidum for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome

Authors: Nerida L. Klupp, Hosen Kiat, Alan Bensoussan, Genevieve Z. Steiner & Dennis H. Chang

Journal: Scientific Reports

Study Design:

• Intervention: 3 g/day of Ganoderma lucidum (GL), with or without Cordyceps sinensis, or placebo
• Participants: 84 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome
• Duration: 16 weeks
• Outcome Measures:
  • Primary: Blood glucose (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] and fasting plasma glucose [FPG])
  • Secondary: Blood pressure, triglycerides, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), SF-36 Health Survey (quality of life), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B

Summary: This study investigated the effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL), a medicinal mushroom, on cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The study found that GL, taken with or without Cordyceps sinensis, did not have a significant effect on blood glucose levels (HbA1c and FPG) or any other cardiovascular risk factors measured in the study. There was also no increased risk of adverse events in the GL groups compared to the placebo group. These results do not support the use of GL for treating cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.