(P25-018-25) A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Investigate the Effects of a Reishi Mushroom and Ashwagandha Supplement on Perceived Stress in Healthy Adults

Objectives: Chronic stress has been shown to significantly impair overall quality of life by affecting cognitive function, emotional resilience, and physiological health. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-stress effects of supplement containing a combination of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) fruiting body extract and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract.

Methods: In a virtual, randomized clinical trial, healthy adult participants were randomly assigned to receive either a reishi-mushroom-ashwagandha supplement or placebo for 6 weeks. Participants completed weekly health surveys including NIH Toolbox Perceived Stress Survey, PROMIS® Anxiety, PROMIS® Cognitive Function, and PROMIS® Depression.

Results: In total, 84 participants in the reishi-mushroom-ashwagandha group and 95 participants in the placebo group completed the study and were included in the final analyses. There was a statistically significant improvement in the health survey scores at week 6 in the reishi-mushroom-ashwagandha group compared to placebo; perceived stress [least squares mean difference (LSMD): -2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.47, -0.52; P=0.013], anxiety (LSMD: -0.91, 95% CI: -1.79, -0.03; P=0.042), and depression (LSMD: -0.97, 95% CI: -1.87, -0.08; P=0.033). There was no statistical difference between the groups at week 6 for the cognitive function score. There were no significant differences in adverse events between reishi-mushroom-ashwagandha and placebo.

Conclusions: This is the first clinical trial to evaluate the combination of reishi mushroom extract and ashwagandha extract, and the results suggest that reishi-mushroom-ashwagandha supplementation is effective for reducing perceived stress, anxiety and depression scores in healthy adults.

Funding Sources: MegaFood