Yellow brain culinary-medicinal mushroom, Tremella mesenterica Ritz.:Fr. (higher Basidiomycetes), is subjectively but not objectively effective for eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a prospective controlled trial

Authors:
Jesse Lachter, Yevgeny Yampolsky, Ronit Gafni-Schieber, Solomon P. Wasser

Journal:
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

Study Design:
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial

Participants:
52 patients diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection

Intervention:

• Group 1: Tremella mesenterica (Tm) 2 g, twice daily for 10 days
• Group 2: Tm 2 g plus omeprazole 20 mg, twice daily for 10 days
• Group 3: Standard triple therapy: omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and amoxicillin 1000 mg, twice daily for 10 days

Outcome Measures:

• Primary Outcome: Eradication of H. pylori, assessed via breath testing three weeks post-therapy
• Secondary Outcomes: Symptomatic relief and adverse events

Summary:
This study evaluated the efficacy of Tremella mesenterica (Tm) in eradicating H. pylori infection. The standard triple therapy group achieved a 70% eradication rate. In contrast, only one patient in the Tm groups (with or without omeprazole) showed eradication, indicating a significantly lower efficacy (p < 0.000). However, patients receiving Tm reported fewer adverse events and similar symptomatic relief compared to the standard therapy group. The study concluded that a 10-day course of Tm, with or without omeprazole, is not effective in eradicating H. pylori. Nonetheless, the symptomatic relief observed suggests that further research into Tm’s therapeutic potential is warranted.