The Nutritional Significance of Ganoderma lucidum on Human Health: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

2025-06-12
Food science & nutrition 13(6)
- Ali Jafari
- Helia Mardani
- Zahra Mirzaei Fashtali
- Bahareh Arghavan

PubMed: 40510787
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70423

Study Design

Type: Review
Sample size: n = 971
Population: healthy, at-risk, and chronic disease individuals (971 participants from 17 RCTs)
Methods: systematic review and meta-analysis using data from EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to August 2024

This study aimed to assess the impact of Ganoderma lucidum supplementation (200-11,200 mg/day, 1-24 weeks) on health-related indices in populations including healthy, at-risk, and chronic disease individuals. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using data from EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to August 2024. Pooled analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 971 participants revealed that Ganoderma lucidum supplementation demonstrated significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) (Weighted Mean Difference [WMD] = -0.43; 95% Confidence Interval -0.10; p = 0.011), creatinine (WMD = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.02; p = 0.028), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (WMD = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.92; p < 0.001), and heart rate (HR) (WMD = -3.92; 95% CI: -7.45, -0.40; p = 0.029). No significant effects were observed on body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, or liver enzymes. Subgroup analyses indicated effects varied by health condition, dosage, duration, and age. Subgroup analyses revealed variations in the effects of Ganoderma supplementation based on health conditions, dosage, intervention duration, age at intervention, country, sample size, and publication year. Significant improvements were observed in BMI, TC, creatinine, and MDA in specific subgroups, such as those receiving lower doses (< 1400 mg/day) or those aged < 50 years. The GRADE profile for Ganoderma supplementation evaluated the certainty of the outcomes and indicated that the quality of evidence was very low across all outcomes. Ganoderma lucidum supplementation may have modest effects on certain health indices, but the evidence is limited by very low quality.

Research Insights

Reishi→Improved Glutathione Peroxidase Activity
glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (WMD = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.92; p < 0.001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels
No significant effects were observed on ... lipid profile ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Alanine Aminotransferase Level
No significant effects were observed on ... liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Aspartate Aminotransferase Level
No significant effects were observed on ... liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Blood Cholesterol
No significant effects were observed on ... lipid profile ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Blood Pressure
No significant effects were observed on body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, or liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Body Fat
No significant effects were observed on body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, or liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Body Mass Index
significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) (Weighted Mean Difference [WMD] = -0.43; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.77, -0.10; p = 0.011)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced C-Reactive Protein Levels
No significant effects were observed on ... inflammatory markers ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Creatinine Level
creatinine (WMD = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.02; p = 0.028)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Fasting Glucose
No significant effects were observed on body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, or liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Heart Rate
heart rate (HR) (WMD = -3.92; 95% CI: -7.45, -0.40; p = 0.029)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
No significant effects were observed on ... inflammatory markers ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
No significant effects were observed on ... lipid profile ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Triglyceride Levels
No significant effects were observed on ... lipid profile ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
No significant effects were observed on ... inflammatory markers ...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day
Reishi→Reduced Waist Circumference
No significant effects were observed on body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, or liver enzymes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
200-11,200 mg/day