The question of whether mushrooms can fight cancer is a popular one. While many tout their medicinal qualities, scientific evidence is far more nuanced. This article examines the current state of research, separating what works from what doesn’t, and highlighting how both patients and practitioners should approach these claims.
The Allure of Medicinal Mushrooms
Mushrooms, particularly varieties like reishi and shiitake, have been long celebrated in traditional medicine. Advocates suggest they can boost health, extend lifespan, and even treat cancer. However, rigorous human studies are lacking, and many claims are based on preliminary research or anecdotal evidence.
The most promising compound studied so far is lentinan, extracted from shiitake mushrooms. Producing even a small amount requires processing hundreds of pounds of mushrooms – approximately 400 pounds for one ounce, or 2,000 cups. Early clinical trials injecting lentinan into cancer patients showed improved objective response rates when added to chemotherapy for lung cancer. This means tumor shrinkage was observed, but the more critical questions of survival and quality of life remained unanswered.
Limited Human Evidence
While lentinan may reduce chemotherapy-related toxicity in the gut and bone marrow, its impact on long-term survival is less clear. One study indicated that adding lentinan to leukemia treatment increased average survival, reduced muscle wasting, and improved overall health… in rats. Human trials have shown modest improvements in one-year survival for advanced cancer patients, but no significant difference in two-year outcomes. Even statistically significant improvements translate to an average survival boost of just 25 days – a marginal gain that demands critical evaluation.
The Case Against Supplements
The market for mushroom extracts is booming, with some products marketed for prostate cancer treatment at around $300 per month. However, studies suggest these supplements are ineffective on their own. Men who regularly consume mushrooms may have a lower prostate cancer risk, but this isn’t necessarily due to the mushrooms themselves; dietary patterns often include healthier lifestyles overall.
Reishi mushrooms, often called “God’s mushroom,” have shown no significant anticancer effects in clinical trials. Even potent compounds like those found in white button mushrooms kill cancer cells in petri dishes, but these effects haven’t translated reliably to humans.
A Glimmer of Hope with White Button Mushrooms?
One study explored the effects of whole, powdered white button mushrooms on men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer after surgery or radiation. Of 26 patients, four experienced a dramatic drop in PSA levels – a key indicator of cancer progression – after starting a daily dose of a half to one-and-a-half cups of fresh mushrooms. One patient saw his PSA levels plummet to zero and remain suppressed for an extended period.
Caveats and Conclusions
The study lacked a control group, making it impossible to rule out coincidence. However, rising PSA levels in post-prostatectomy patients almost always signal cancer progression. Adding white button mushrooms to the diet poses minimal risk. The most promising results came from whole mushrooms, not proprietary extracts.
While the evidence isn’t definitive, these findings suggest that plain white button mushrooms may offer a low-risk, accessible approach to managing prostate cancer progression. Further research is needed to confirm these effects, but the potential benefits warrant consideration.
