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Reishi

What does the research say about Reishi?

2 health outcomes synthesised

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been studied for its effects on metabolic health, specifically cardiovascular risk factors. Research syntheses covering 2 outcomes show that the strongest evidence, based on 3 studies, points to a small potential benefit for reducing triglyceride levels in individuals with dyslipidemia. While no specific effective dose range has been established, the most promising results came from a 12-week study using reishi spore oil in 110 participants.

Strongest evidence: The research on Reishi is limited, with no outcomes achieving high or moderate evidence strength. Both syntheses—for reduced triglyceride levels and reduced blood cholesterol—are rated as low evidence, each based on only 3 studies. In both cases, 1 of 3 studies reported a small beneficial effect, while 2 found no significant effect.

Mixed or weaker evidence: Both outcomes show a similar pattern: the majority of studies are neutral, and only single studies reached statistical significance. This makes the evidence for Reishi's effect on triglycerides and cholesterol preliminary and inconsistent. No harmful effects were reported in any study.

Effective dose patterns: Neither synthesis identified a consistent effective dose range. The only study showing benefit for triglycerides used reishi spore oil over 12 weeks, but other studies used shorter durations (median 63 days). No dose convergence across outcomes was observed.

Population insights: All studies focused on clinical populations, specifically people with dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels). No evidence is available for healthy individuals or other populations.

Notable caveats: Both syntheses highlight that the evidence base is very small (only 3 studies per outcome) and should be considered preliminary. The fact that only 1 of 3 studies in each case showed a statistically significant effect suggests that any benefit may be small, inconsistent, or potentially inflated by chance in underpowered studies.

Frequently asked

  • What is Reishi good for according to research?
    According to the available research syntheses, Reishi has been studied for two health outcomes: reducing triglyceride levels and reducing blood cholesterol. In both cases, only 1 out of 3 studies showed a small beneficial effect, while the majority found no significant effect. The evidence is considered preliminary and low strength.
  • What dose of Reishi is typically used in studies?
    The research syntheses did not identify a specific effective dose range for Reishi. The single study that showed a benefit for triglycerides used reishi spore oil over 12 weeks, but other studies used different preparations and durations (median 63 days). No consistent dose pattern emerged across the trials.
  • Who benefits most from Reishi?
    All studies in the syntheses focused on people with dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels). There is no research evidence on Reishi's effects in healthy individuals, elderly populations, or other clinical groups. The limited data suggest any potential benefit is restricted to individuals with dyslipidemia.
  • Does Reishi help reduce triglyceride levels?
    Evidence is low and preliminary. Of 3 studies, only 1 (an 84-day RCT in 110 participants with dyslipidemia using reishi spore oil) reported a small benefit. The other 2 studies found no significant effect, indicating the result may not be consistent.
  • Does Reishi help reduce blood cholesterol?
    Evidence is similarly low and preliminary. Across 3 studies, only 1 reported a small beneficial effect on total cholesterol in participants with dyslipidemia, while 2 found no significant changes. The overall evidence does not support a robust cholesterol-lowering benefit.
  • Are there caveats or limitations in the research on Reishi?
    Yes, significant caveats exist. Both syntheses are based on only 3 studies each, all rated as low evidence strength. Only 1 of 3 studies in each outcome reached statistical significance, and the effect sizes were small. The evidence should be considered preliminary, and no harmful effects were reported.

Safety profile

4 studies reporting safety data

Across 4 clinical studies reporting safety data on reishi, no adverse events showed an increased risk compared to control. One study found no significant difference in renal function parameters between reishi and placebo. Reishi was described as generally well tolerated in several studies, with mentions of minor side effects such as nausea and insomnia in one study, and gastrointestinal reactions or decreased platelet count in another. Overall, reishi was not associated with serious adverse events in the available trials.

Caveats: Evidence is limited to a small number of studies (4), and most safety-related findings were qualitative or unquantified. Studies may have been powered for efficacy rather than safety, so rare or long-term adverse events may not have been detected.

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