BRASILIA, Brazil— Agaricus sylvaticus fungus may help improve the quality of life (QOL) of colorectal cancer patients following surgery, according to new study results published in Nutrición Hospitalaria (2010 Aug;25(4):586-596).
Researchers conducted the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial at the Federal District Base Hospital-Brazil. The six month study featured 56 enrolled colorectal cancer surgery patients (24 men and 32 women) given either 30 mg/kg daily of Agaricus sylvaticus or placebo. The analysis protocol, both qualitative and descriptive, was approved by the Ethics Research Committee-Health Department-Federal District, Brazil.
After six months of treatment, the supplemented group experienced increased adhesion to physical activity and improved disposition and mood, compared to placebo. The Brazilian-cultivated mushroom also appeared to reduce complaints of pains and alterations of sleep—such as insomnia and restless sleep—in addition to improving appetite and decreasing constipation, diarrhea, alternate diarrhea/constipation, flatulence, flatus retention, pyrosis, postprandial fullness, nausea, abdominal distention and abdominal pain, compared to placebo.
