Four Weeks of Hericium erinaceus Supplementation Does Not Impact Markers of Metabolic Flexibility or Cognition

Summary & key facts

Researchers tested whether taking 10 g per day of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) for four weeks changes how the body uses fuel during exercise or affects thinking in a college-age group. In a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 24 participants ate muffins with either the mushroom or a placebo and completed a cycling exercise test and two thinking tasks before and after exercise. The study found no significant effects of the mushroom on any metabolic or cognitive measures (all p > 0.05). The authors say more research is needed to find if different doses or longer use might have effects in humans.

Key facts:

• 24 college-age participants completed the study.
• Participants took 10 g of Hericium erinaceus per day for 4 weeks, delivered as two muffins identical in taste and appearance to the placebo.
• The study was single-blind and placebo-controlled with a parallel-longitudinal design (participants were split into two groups and followed over time).
• Metabolic tests included a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to measure substrate oxidation rates and cardiorespiratory fitness.
• Cognitive tests were two dual-task challenges: a Stroop Word Challenge mixed with a Mental Arithmetic Challenge, done before and after the exercise test to assess thinking when fatigued.
• No significant effects of Hericium erinaceus were found on any measured outcomes; reported statistical tests showed all p-values greater than 0.05.
• The paper notes there are only four prior human studies on this mushroom and that more research is needed to determine an effective dose and duration for possible effects in people.

Abstract

Hericium erinaceus (HE), also known as Lion's Mane mushroom, has been found to enhance cognition and metabolic flexibility in various animal models. To date however, only four studies exist in humans and none have evaluated the effects of HE on markers of metabolic flexibility or cognitive performance. A single-blind, placebo controlled, parallel-longitudinal study was used to determine the effects of HE on markers of metabolic flexibility and cognition. Twenty-four participants completed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to analyze substrate oxidation rates and markers of cardiorespiratory fitness. Additionally, two dual-task challenges consisting of a Stroop Word Challenge interspersed with a Mental Arithmetic Challenge were performed, pre-post the graded exercise test, to evaluate markers of cognition in a pre-post fatigued state. Participants were stratified into two groups, receiving either 10 g of HE per day or placebo for 4-weeks in the form of two muffins identical in taste and appearance. Repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted to evaluate potential interactions or main effects. Although group differences were noted at baseline, there were no significant interactions or main effects observed from HE ingestion for any dependent variable (all p > 0.05). Our data suggest that ingesting 10 g of HE per day for 4-weeks had no impact on metabolic flexibility and cognition in a college-age cohort. Due to the limited research on HE supplementation, future research is needed to establish an effective supplement dose and duration for potential physiological changes to be observed in humans.

Topics

Exercise and Physiological Responses Fungal Biology and Applications Muscle metabolism and nutrition

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Alternative medicine Analysis of variance Cardiorespiratory fitness Cognition Cognitive flexibility Cognitive test Computer science Flexibility (engineering) Internal medicine Machine learning Mathematics Medicine Multivariate analysis of variance Neuroscience Pathology Physical therapy Placebo Psychology Statistics Stroop effect