Evidence synthesis Mixed or uncertain 39 included clinical studies covering 12 mushroom preparations; aggregate participant count not stated in the abstract
Clinical mushroom studies in cancer remain too heterogeneous for routine-use recommendations
This review screened 2,349 records and included 39 human clinical studies published from 2010 through 2020. Many reports were favorable, but the studies tested 12 different preparations across varied cancer settings and were often small or observational. The authors concluded that the evidence was inconclusive for routine mushroom use in cancer care.
- What was studied
- Twelve non-interchangeable preparations; the abstract separately names Huaier (Trametes robiniophila) and PSK
- Setting
- Mixed treatment settings
- Why it ranks here
- A systematic search provides useful breadth, but heterogeneous preparations, weak designs, and overlapping PSK studies prevent a single treatment conclusion.
Limits and cautions
- Many included studies were small and observational rather than randomized controlled trials.
- Twelve different preparations, multiple cancers, and varied outcomes are not suitable for a single pooled efficacy claim.
- The abstract does not report an aggregate participant count, preparation-level risk-of-bias table, or pooled effect with confidence intervals.
- The abstract identifies four gastric-cancer PSK studies, while Sonic Vitality already publishes PSK trials and syntheses plus the NCI mushroom summary. The exact study-by-study overlap cannot be resolved without the review's full inclusion table, so this card must be treated as contextual synthesis rather than independent replication.
- Mostly grade 2 or lower adverse effects were reported, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain, but inconsistent reporting limits comparative safety conclusions.
The FDA has not approved medicinal mushroom supplements as a treatment for cancer in the United States.