The popularity of mushroom products has soared in recent years, with many claiming that they have various health benefits and curative properties. However, the question remains: is there any scientific evidence to support these claims?
Veteran broadcaster Sheila Dillon recently spoke about her personal experience with mushroom supplements on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme. After being diagnosed with cancer of the bone marrow in 2011, Dillon started taking mushroom supplements upon learning that they were given to patients in Japan undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. While she cannot definitively link the supplements to her successful treatment, she believes there is evidence to support their efficacy.
Dillon is not alone in her belief in the potential of fungi for treating health conditions. Market research suggests that the global functional mushroom market will reach $19.3 billion by 2030, with high-street retailer Holland & Barrett already reporting a 70% increase in mushroom product purchases. The demand for mushroom supplements shows no signs of slowing down.
Numerous claims have been made about the medicinal properties of mushrooms, ranging from anxiety relief to cancer prevention. The Bristol Fungarium, for example, sells extracts of fungi that supposedly alleviate a variety of ailments. However, the scientific evidence to support these claims is limited. Many studies are based on cell cultures or animal trials, making it difficult to extrapolate the effects to humans.
Tom Baxter, founder of the Bristol Fungarium, acknowledges the lack of comprehensive studies but highlights two clinical trials that found benefits associated with mushroom extracts. These trials, however, involved a small number of participants and were conducted by researchers affiliated with mushroom supplement companies.
Despite the limited evidence, mushroom sales continue to rise. Reishi, lion’s mane, turkey tail, chaga, and cordyceps are among the most popular varieties. These mushrooms are marketed for various health benefits, but well-designed clinical trials are lacking to support these claims.
A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK stated that no marketing applications have been received for mushroom products, and retailers have been warned about making health claims without proper authorization. Additionally, food labelling laws prohibit attributing curative properties to any foodstuff.
While medicinal drugs are based on thoroughly tested compounds, mushroom supplements can contain a wide range of chemicals with varying levels of active compounds. The doses and quality of these compounds can also vary, making it challenging to determine their effectiveness. Some tests have even shown that some products do not contain the advertised species of fungi.
Overall, the scientific foundation for the health claims of mushroom supplements is lacking. However, some experts believe that there is potential for fungi to be a source of beneficial compounds for human health. Ongoing advancements in genome sequencing and genetic mining techniques may lead to the discovery of more useful compounds derived from mushrooms.
In the meantime, it is essential for consumers to approach mushroom supplements with caution and skepticism. As Professor Nicholas Money, a mycologist at Miami University, warns, many claims made for medicinal mushrooms are unsupported and may amount to little more than “snake oil.”