People in Asia use these mushrooms for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Health food stores sell lion’s mane extract in supplement form, and both the fungus and its extracts appear to be beneficial to health.
Here we discuss the potential benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms and consider the possible risks and side effects of their use.
What are the potential benefits?
Lion’s mane mushrooms may help with the following:
Inflammation and oxidation
Antioxidants may fight both inflammation and oxidation in the body.
Inflammation contributes to many medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases.
A 2012 study evaluating the medicinal potential of 14 types of mushroom found that lion’s mane had the fourth highest antioxidant activity, which researchers described as “moderate to high.”
Immune function
Lion’s mane mushrooms may enhance the immune system, partly by reducing inflammation and preventing oxidation.
Research on mice suggests that lion’s mane mushrooms may boost the activity of the intestinal immune system.
The results of another study on mice indicate that a protein in lion’s mane mushrooms encourages the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that strengthen immunity.
Anxiety and depression
Extracts from lion’s mane mushrooms may be beneficial in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
In a 2015 study, mice that consumed lion’s mane mushroom extract displayed fewer depressive behaviors and had blood markers that indicated lower depression. The researchers suggest that this is due to the extract’s anti-inflammatory effects.
The findings of a 2018 animal study support this, with the authors concluding that these mushroom extracts may contain agents that are useful for treating depressive disorders.
In a small Japanese study, women with a variety of health complaints, including menopausal symptoms and poor sleep quality, ate cookies containing lion’s mane extracts or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. The participants who ate the extract reported lower levels of irritation and anxiety than those in the placebo group.
Cognitive health
It is possible that lion’s mane mushrooms might boost cognitive function, but the existing research is mainly on animals.
In one study, lion’s mane dietary supplements appeared to give mice better object recognition and recognition memory.
Other researchers have concluded that the mushrooms may have the potential to treat or prevent diseases that cause a decline in cognitive health, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, there is currently a lack of research on the effects of lion’s mane mushrooms in humans with Alzheimer’s disease.
An older Japanese study on adults aged between 50 and 80 years with mild cognitive impairment found that daily consumption of mushroom extract for 16 weeks led to higher scores on cognitive function scales compared with a placebo group. These scores decreased again once the participants stopped taking the extract.
People wishing to incorporate lion’s mane mushrooms into their diet should cook them until the outer layer is crispy as the taste can be bitter otherwise.
Supplements are available in stores and online in the following forms:
- capsule
- liquid
- tablet
- powder
The dosages of these supplements vary, and people should follow the instructions on the label carefully. It is also advisable to discuss the use of any new supplement with a doctor.
People who experience adverse reactions to lion’s mane mushrooms should stop using them and seek immediate medical attention.
Takeaway
Lion’s mane mushrooms and their extracts show promise in animal and in vitro studies. However, there is not yet enough evidence to support their use for the treatment or prevention of any health condition in humans.
It should be safe for most people to enjoy lion’s mane mushrooms for culinary purposes. However, people who wish to take lion’s mane supplements should speak to a doctor first.
We picked linked items based on the quality of products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you. We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline UK and our partners may receive a portion of revenues if you make a purchase using a link(s) above.
Source: Read Full Article