Zhao H., Zhang Q., Zhao L., Huang X., Wang J., Kang X. Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:809614.
Rationale
Cancer-related fatigue on endocrine therapy is common and poorly addressed; reishi spore powder — concentrated in triterpenes — was tested against it.
Methods
A pilot RCT: 48 women with stage I–IIIA breast cancer on ≥6 months of hormonal therapy and reporting treatment-related fatigue received G. lucidum spore powder 1000 mg three times daily (n=25) or placebo (n=23) for 4 weeks. Outcomes: FACT-F well-being/fatigue scales, HADS anxiety/depression, EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life, serum TNF-α and IL-6.
Results
The spore-powder group improved significantly on physical well-being and the FACT-F fatigue subscale, fell on HADS anxiety and depression, improved on QLQ-C30, and showed reduced serum TNF-α and IL-6. No serious adverse events.
Conclusions
Four weeks of reishi spore powder relieved treatment-related fatigue and improved quality-of-life measures, with inflammatory cytokines moving in the matching direction.
Worth noting
A fatigue+QoL trial, not a tumor trial — that framing is its strength (no overreach). n=48, 4 weeks, placebo-controlled: a real pilot signal with a plausible cytokine correlate (TNF-α, IL-6 down). Spore powder ≠ fruiting-body extract — a distinct, more concentrated preparation.