The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study

doi:10.3390/nu15224842

Paper

The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study

Published Nov 1, 2023 · S. Docherty, Faye L. Doughty, Ellen Smith

Nutrients

Q1 SJR score

6

Citations

1

Influential Citations

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Abstract

Background: Given the bioactive properties and limited work to date, Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s mane) shows promise in improving cognitive function and mood. However, much of the human research has concentrated on chronic supplementation in cognitively compromised cohorts. Objective: The current pilot study investigated the acute and chronic (28-day) cognitive and mood-enhancing effects of Hericium erinaceus in a healthy, young adult cohort. Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups design investigated the acute (60 min post dose) and chronic (28-day intervention) effects of 1.8 g Hericium erinaceus in 41 healthy adults aged 18–45 years. Results: Analysis revealed that following a single dose of Hericium erinaceus, participants performed quicker on the Stroop task (p = 0.005) at 60 min post dose. A trend towards reduced subjective stress was observed following 28-day supplementation (p = 0.051). Conclusions: The findings tentatively suggest that Hericium erinaceus may improve speed of performance and reduce subjective stress in healthy, young adults. However, null and limited negative findings were also observed. Given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further investigation in larger sample sizes is crucial, however the findings of this trial offer a promising avenue of interest.

RCT

Study Snapshot

Lion's mane mushroom supplementation may improve speed of performance and reduce subjective stress in healthy, young adults, but more large-scale research is needed.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Paper

The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study

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Saffron extract supplementation improves subclinical depressive symptoms and may contribute to increased resilience against stress-related psychiatric disorders in healthy individuals.

Citations

The Usage of Lion’s Mane in Sports and Its Metabolic Impact – a literature review

Lion's mane has potential benefits in cognitive function, reducing oxidative stress, and improving glucose metabolism, but its impact on athletic metrics like endurance, strength, or recovery times is limited.

Effects of a Functional Cone Mushroom (Termitomyces fuliginosus) Protein Snack Bar on Cognitive Function in Middle Age: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

A functional cone mushroom protein snack bar can improve cognitive function and memory in middle-aged individuals, potentially due to AChE and MAO suppression activity and antioxidant activity.

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