Reishi Spore Oil Shown to Reduce Triglyceride Levels

by | May 6, 2025 | 2025, Blood Lipids, Cardiovascular Health, Liver Health, Mushrooms, Recent Articles

Written by Jessica Patella, ND. GLSO extract was shown to improve dyslipidemia in participants with borderline high triglyceride levels, while improving liver functioning.

blood samplesElevated cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States1,2. One type of cholesterol is triglyceride, which is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease1,3. Recent research has shown Ganoderma lucidum spore oil can reduce triglyceride levels, which may slow the progression of cardiovascular disease1.

Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus and the spores have been shown to have multiple effects on the body, including antitumor activity, liver protection, cholesterol regulation and immune support1,4.  Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (GLSO) is a lipid-soluble extract from the Ganoderma lucidum spores. Yet, the mechanism of action of GLSO is not well understood1.

Elevated triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels are typically treated with fenofibrate prescriptions1. Yet, 20% of patients may experience elevated ATL (aminotransferase) which is an indicator of liver damage and can progress to chronic liver injury1,5. Therefore, a safe alternative of Ganoderma lucidum spore oil was researched.

The research included 113 participants (18-65 years of age; TG 1.70-2.25 mmol/L).  The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention GLSO group (n=58) or the placebo group (n=55). Each participant consumed 3 softgel caps in the morning and evening each day, the placebo group took an identical looking softgel, while the GLSO had a daily intake of 3.0 grams of GLSO1. Both groups showed no significant difference in levels at baseline. The results were as follows after 12-weeks of supplementation:

  • The GLSO group had significantly lower levels of TG compared to placebo (1.51 +/- 0.55 mmol/L vs 1.88 +/- 0.16 mmol/L).
  • The GLSO group had significantly lower levels of LDL-C “bad cholesterol” compared to placebo (2.68 +/- 0.67 mmol/L vs 3.20 +/- 0.97 mmol/L).
  • The GLSO group had significantly lower levels of Total Cholesterol compared to placebo (4.87 +/- 0.89 mmol/L vs 5.25 +/- 0.91 mmol/L).
  • The GLSO group had significantly higher levels of HDL “good cholesterol” compared to placebo (1.51 +/- 0.22 mmol/L vs 1.36 +/- 0.30 mmol/L).
    • All results had a p-value of p< 0.05
  • The GLSO group showed lower levels of bilirubin (13.00 +/- 4.0 vs 15.83 +/- 5.35 micromol/L) and increased cholinesterase levels (10.27 +/- 1.45 vs 9.21 +/- 1.29 kU/L; p<0.01) compared to placebo. These results suggest GLSO may improve hepatobiliary function as the mechanism of action1.

In conclusion, GLSO extract was shown to improve dyslipidemia in participants with borderline high triglyceride levels, while improving liver functioning1. Future research with more participants is warranted and with a broader range of triglyceride levels for treatment1.

Source: Wang, Xinyi, Xufeng Wang, Liang Zhao, and Feng Zhou. “Clinical Evaluation of Ganoderma lucidum Spore Oil for Triglyceride Reduction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study.” Nutrients 17, no. 5 (2025): 844.

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/
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Posted May 6, 2025.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.

References:

  1. Wang X, Wang X, Zhao L, Zhou F. Clinical Evaluation of Ganoderma lucidum Spore Oil for Triglyceride Reduction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study. Nutrients. Feb 28 2025;17(5)doi:10.3390/nu17050844
  2. Moradi H, Streja E, Vaziri ND. ESRD-induced dyslipidemia-Should management of lipid disorders differ in dialysis patients? Semin Dial. Jul 2018;31(4):398-405. doi:10.1111/sdi.12706
  3. Gomez-Delgado F, Katsiki N, Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Martinez P. Dietary habits, lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease: From individual foods to dietary patterns. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021;61(10):1651-1669. doi:10.1080/10408398.2020.1764487
  4. Fu Y, Shi L, Ding K. Structure elucidation and anti-tumor activity in vivo of a polysaccharide from spores of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst. Int J Biol Macromol. Dec 1 2019;141:693-699. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.046
  5. He Y, Qin MZ, Chen YW. Liver injury caused by fenofibrate within 48 h after first administration: a case report. BMC Gastroenterol. Jul 29 2021;21(1):298. doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01874-7