Supplementation with a Soluble Beta-Glucan Exported from Shiitake Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer Mycelium: a Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Elderly

Authors: Jean-Michel Gaullier, Jowita Sleboda, Erik Snorre Ofjord, Elling Ulvestad, Minna Nurminiemi, Cecilie Moe, Tor Albrektsen, Ola Gudmundsen

Journal: International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

Study Design: Double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial

Participants: 42 healthy, elderly subjects (mean age 65.3 years)

Intervention: The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups and received the following interventions in a crossover design:

• Lentinex® group: 2.5 mg/day of Lentinex® (a beta-glucan from L. edodes mycelium) for 6 weeks
• Placebo group: Placebo for 6 weeks

After a 4-week washout period, the groups switched interventions for another 6 weeks.

Outcome Measures:

• The number of B-cells and NK cells
• Other factors of the immune response (immunoglobulins, complement proteins, cytokines)
• Safety blood variables (differential cell count, liver function, kidney function, and other blood chemistry)
• Adverse events

Summary: The study investigated the effect and safety of oral Lentinex® supplementation on the immune response in healthy elderly subjects. The results showed that Lentinex® significantly increased the number of circulating B-cells compared to the placebo. The number of NK cells also increased in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Other immune response factors and safety blood variables were not affected by Lentinex®. The number, nature, and severity of adverse events were similar between Lentinex® and the placebo. The study concluded that Lentinex® is safe and can induce an increase in the number of circulating B-cells in elderly individuals.