The role of edible mushrooms in health: Evaluation of the evidence

There have been relatively few direct intervention trials of mushroom consumption in humans, although those that have been completed to date indicate that mushrooms and their extracts are generally well-tolerated with few, if any, side-effects. Immunomodulating and anti-tumor effects of mushrooms and their extracts appear to hold potential health benefits. These benefits are primarily due to their polysaccharide content, either in the form of beta-glucans or polysaccharide-protein complexes, which appear to exert their anti-tumorigenic effects by enhancement of cellular immunity via effects on the balance of T helper cell populations and induction of certain interleukins and interferon (IFN)-γ. This review summarizes the current knowledge on edible mushrooms and their components on health outcomes, with a focus on the evaluation of the evidence from human trials. Where information is available from such trials, the active compounds are identified and their proposed mechanisms are discussed.

► There have been relatively few direct intervention trials of mushroom consumption in humans.
► In human trials, mushrooms and their extracts have been generally well-tolerated with few, if any, side-effects.
► Immuno-modulating and anti-tumor effects of mushrooms and their extracts appear to hold potential health benefits.
► The most promising data are those indicating an inverse relationship between mushroom consumption and breast cancer risk.