Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Of the 80 healthy participating males, those who took 1.5 grams of Cordycepts extract daily for one month significantly increased 3 types of immune system cells: NK50, NK100, NK200 in addition to interleukin-2 ( IL-2) which is a white blood cell regulator.
Aging comes with a number of health risk issues, some of which are brought on by a decrease in immune system strength as we age (1). In the elderly, decreased immune system strength can increase the risk for certain illnesses such as pneumonia, which cost our healthcare system at least $7 billion in 2010 (2). Overall, decreased immunity can lead to a higher incidence of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer (3).
Now a new study (3) suggests that extracts from Cordyceps militaris, an edible mushroom with health-enhancing properties that include increasing metabolism and reducing fatigue (5, 6, 7) may benefit the immune system. The study involved 80 healthy males aged 24 to 48 who had abstained from drinking and smoking for 1 month and had taken no nutritional supplements for 2 weeks. They were given either 1.5 grams per day of Cordyceps extract (given as two capsules twice daily) or a placebo for 4 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after the study.
After 4 weeks, the researchers noted significant increases in three types of immune system cells called natural killer cells: NK50, NK100, NK200, and another protein called IL-2:
| Cordyceps | Placebo | p - value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NK50 | 28.2% increase (14.06 to 18.03%) | 2.4% increase (16.36 to 16.75%) | 0.0071 |
| NK100 | 22% increase (19.45 to 23.75%) | 10.9% increase (17.09 to 18.96%) | 0.0299 |
| NK200 | 46.3% increase (23.09 to 33.78%) | 3.1% increase (23.99 to 24.75%) | 0.001 |
| IL-2 (pg/mL) | 44.1% increase (492.85 to 710.15 pg/mL) | 6.5% decrease (590 to 551.85) | 0.027 |
Despite admitting several limitations in the study including the short duration (4 weeks) and studying only men, the researchers concluded that “C. militaris extract can be used effectively and safely to enhance immunity since no clinically significant adverse effects were found during the experiment.”
Source: Kang, Ho Joon, Hyun Wook Baik, Sang Jung Kim, Seong Gyu Lee, Hong Yup Ahn, Ju Sang Park, Sang Jong Park et al. “Cordyceps militaris enhances cell-mediated immunity in healthy Korean men.” Journal of medicinal food 18, no. 10 (2015): 1164-1172.
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
Posted July 14, 2016.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- Kawakami K. Reduced immune function and malnutrition in the elderly. Tohoku J Exp Med. 1999 Feb;187(2):157-71
- Thomas CP. Incidence and cost of pneumonia in medicare beneficiaries. Chest 2012 Oct;142(4):973-81
- “Immunity and Aging” posted on Medscape
- Cordyceps militaris Enhances Cell-Mediated Immunity in Healthy Korean Men. J Med Food 2015 Oct;18(10):1164-72. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2014.3350. Epub 2015 Aug 18
- Wasser SP, Weis AL: Medicinal properties of substances occurring in higher basidiomycetes mushrooms: Current perspectives. Int J Med Mushroom 1999;1:31–62
- Smith JE, Rowan NJ, Sullivan R: Medicinal mushrooms: A rapidly developing area of biotechnology for cancer therapy and other bioactivities. Biotechnol Lett 2002;24:1839–1845
- Wu ZL, Wang XX, Chen WY: Inhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris on human glomerular mesangial cell proliferation induced by native LDL. Cell Biochem Funct 2000;18:93–97
