1. Ganoderma lucidum protects the liver
The liver plays a vital role in regulating a variety of metabolic functions and physiological processes, such as the metabolism of nutrients, bile secretion and synthesis of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, and storage of vitamins. Its detoxifying abilities make it especially important in maintaining good health.
Hepatic diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, obesity, alcoholism, unhealthy lifestyle, biological factors (bacteria, viruses and parasites), autoimmune diseases (immune hepatitis and primary Biliary cirrhosis) is a common cause of liver injury.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study (6 months in 42 healthy middle-aged volunteers with mild liver dysfunction (GOT, GPT elevation and fatty liver)) pointed out that consumption of Ganoderma lucidum significantly improved Total antioxidant capacity, plasma total thiols and glutathione content, and significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity.
In addition, the liver function indexes GOT and GPT of the Ganoderma lucidum treatment group continued to decrease, and abdominal ultrasonography showed that the liver status reversed from mild fatty liver to normal.
*Conclusion: Ganoderma lucidum has anti-oxidation and liver protection effects, but limited by the small sample size, more research is still needed to prove it
2. Reishi Mushroom Boosts Immune Function
The immune response includes two stages of innate immunity and adaptive immunity. The first category includes the actions of physical and chemical barriers and cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, neutrophils and molecules such as cytokines, interleukins, nitric oxide and superoxide anion
The second is T lymphocytes (TCD4+ and TCD8+) and B lymphocytes and their products, such as antibodies and cytokines, as the mechanism of action.
In a randomized controlled trial (28 days, 40 male soccer players), Ganoderma lucidum can help improve the decline in CD4+/CD8+ ratio caused by living high-training low.
＊Conclusion: For the decline of immune function caused by high-intensity exercise training, oral administration of Ganoderma lucidum may bring positive help
3. Ganoderma Lucidum Benefits Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with clear pathophysiological mechanisms
Pathological features associated with cytoskeletal changes induced by amyloid peptide accumulation in brain tissue and hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated Tau protein in neurons, mainly affecting medial temporal lobe and associated neocortical structures
The most common cognitive symptoms include short-term memory deficits, executive and visuospatial dysfunction, and motor dyspraxia, predisposing factors and aging, the presence of the APOE4 gene, low educational and occupational levels, family history, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, and heart disease. vascular risk factors.
A preliminary randomized controlled trial (6 weeks in 42 patients with Alzheimer's disease) pointed out that compared with placebo, oral administration of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder capsules had no significant improvement in Alzheimer's disease symptoms and quality of life ( Measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Neuropsychiatric Index).
*Conclusion: Oral ganoderma lucidum has no obvious effect on improving Alzheimer's disease, but limited by the small sample size and short intervention period, more research is still needed for further verification
4. Ganoderma Lucidum Benefits Epilepsy
Epilepsy (epilepsy) is an ancient disorder, documented from the time of the ancient Babylonians to modern times, most commonly occurring in children and old age, a seizure is defined as an abnormal electrical disturbance caused by a network of neurons
There are several known risk factors for epilepsy in adults, including: head trauma, CNS infections such as cerebral cysticercosis, stroke, embolism and hemorrhage, CNS malignancies, especially cortical tumors such as gliomas, and metastatic lesions , Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
A retrospective study (8 weeks in 18 patients with epilepsy) pointed out that compared with before treatment, oral administration of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder can significantly reduce the number of seizures per week, but has no effect on reducing the time of each seizure and improving the quality of life of patients. No apparent help.
*Conclusion: Oral administration of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder may be helpful in reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures, but limited by the lack of a control group, short intervention period, and small sample size, more studies with precise designs are still needed for further verification
5. Ganoderma Lucidum Benefits Cancer Treatment
Cancer is caused by abnormally differentiated cells in the human body. It is characterized by uncontrolled growth and can expand outward through the blood vessels and lymphatic system. Among them, colorectal cancer is the most common cancer
In recent years, although cancer detection, chemotherapy and various biologically based therapies have continued to evolve, the cure rate has not changed much, so various adjuvant therapies have also emerged accordingly
A Cochrane review (Cochrane Review, including 5 randomized controlled trials, 373 participants) pointed out that up to now, there is no clear and objective evidence that Ganoderma lucidum can be used in the first-line cancer treatment and improve long-term survival Rate.
However, if Ganoderma lucidum is used in combination with conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it can improve the treatment response rate and improve the host immunity, and slow down the immunosuppressive effect of treatment
Conclusion: The addition of Ganoderma lucidum in addition to conventional cancer treatment may improve treatment efficiency and immune function, and improve the quality of life of patients