Introducing Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplements

Over the last few months we have been preparing our standalone lion’s mane mushroom products for distribution across the UK. Having included lion’s mane in our vybey powders from the start, we know the importance of including first-rate ingredients within our produce.     

Alongside the essential minerals, vitamins and other organic ingredients that give vybey powders their impressive nutritional kick, our decision to include the lion’s mane mushroom reflects our confidence in its nootropic value and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunostimulating properties.

Glossary:

Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are named after their distinct look: their fruiting body being composed of long flowing strands with a wisp-like colour, resembling a lion’s mane.

Interestingly, lion’s mane mushrooms have a long history of application within East-Asian traditional medicines where its application ranges from folk medicine to medicinal cuisines.

Native to three different continents, the mushroom's poor germination renders it difficult to cultivate. However, growing interest in its health properties, and their potential for pharmaceutical production, has led to increased efforts in propagating the shroom.

Potential benefits of the lion’s mane mushroom

Lion’s Mane mushrooms provide a wide range of health benefits due to the presence of protein, fibre, and antioxidants within its fruiting strands. We have spent a long time researching and handling these mushrooms and wanted to run through some of its most exciting benefits with you:

1. Enhances Brain Health – by aiding in the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) and myelin.
   
   Both NGF and myelin are important in improving brain functions, including cognitive abilities, memory, and concentration. By stimulating nerve growth, lion's mane have also been shown to delay the onset of neurodegeneration in the brain. Regenerating damaged nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system, lion's mane can reverse ageing of the brain and protect essential nerve cells¹.
   
   In addition, lion’s mane mushroom has been discovered to help improve the recovery time of nerve related injuries by aiding in the growth and repair of nerve cells.Some studies found that regular consumption of Lion’s Mane mushroom can help reverse symptoms of early onset neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s).
   
   One study, comparing the results of individuals given lion’s mane capsule against a group given a placebo, found that individuals consuming the mushrooms regularly found an increased improvement in “Mini-Mental State Examination score” leading them to conclude “that [Lion’s Mane] is safe, well-tolerated, and may be important in achieving neurocognitive benefits”².
   
   An alternative study observed that participants who consumed the mushroom extract 2-3 times a day saw the greatest improvements in their memory and cognition ability³. This is backed up from another human study which found that, after 12 weeks of oral mushroom consumption, participants saw improvements within cognitive functions, while neuro-deterioration was prevented or greatly lessened. This study was controlled and, again, contrasted the results of a placebo group to evaluate the effects of the mushroom⁴.
   
   Another human trial conducted on 50- to 80-year-old Japanese men and women with cognitive impairment concluded, after 8 weeks, the scores on a cognitive function scale of those consuming the mushroom were significantly greater than those who did not⁵. While with all things scientific – especially when concerning medical applications – there can be no full certainty, there is very good evidence pointing towards the neuroprotective aspects of lion’s mane in cases similar to Alzheimer’s patients. However, without doubt we know that consumption of the mushroom does greatly aid in everyday cognitive functioning – attested to by scientific literature and thousands of anecdotal experiences.

2. May help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression - an all-female human trial which studied this effect noticed that after 4 weeks of consumption, participants in the placebo group had greater symptoms of anxiety⁶. This study found that participants consuming lion’s mane mushroom displayed lower symptoms of anxiety and depression, indicating that the increased “NGF-enhancing action” of lion’s mane is likely responsible. However, they also noted that further clinical studies into the benefits of consuming lion’s mane may help uncover different properties of the mushroom that may play a role in achieving these results.
   
   Similarly, results from studies with mice has shown that the mushroom helped produce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects^7,8.
   
   By targeting hippocampal functions, the lion’s mane mushroom helps reactions to environmental and emotional information. Through this, the brain may better regulate its reactions to stimuli, inducing calmer, or less laboured, functioning due to increased neurogenesis in the hippocampal region.
   
   

3. Improves the immune and circulatory systems as lion’s mane mushroom helps improve metabolism and reduces triglyceride levels, resulting in a lower risk of heart disease⁹. Furthermore, as the mushrooms calories are dense, it is deemed a complex carbohydrate and therefore results in sustained energy. Furthermore, as with many mushrooms, it holds a host of minerals and vitamins that improve gut and digestive tract performance.
   
   
   
4. Improves quality of sleep as a study based on sleep quality highlighted¹⁰. Lion’s mane mushroom helped improve the sleep quality of those involved in the study by reducing incidences of sleeping disorder, alongside reducing symptoms of an “anxious-depressive nature” ¹¹. This improvement to sleep and mood lasted longer than the participants consumption of lion’s mane, showing its beneficial effects have positive, lasting changes to the consumer. To quote their concluding remarks: “[lion’s mane] promoted an improvement in mood disorders of a depressive-anxious nature and of the quality of nocturnal rest. These effects persisted after eight weeks of [lion’s mane] wash-out, suggesting that [lion’s mane] might affect neuronal plasticity as expected by a NGF¹².”
   
   

5. Protection against cancer as initial studies have shown that the Lion’s Mane mushroom can help protect the body from leukaemia cells¹³. The study, using mice as samples, highlighted greatly increased cancer cell death in the lungs by between 66-69% when the Lion’s Mane mushroom extract was consumed.
   
   

6. Short and long-term effects are produced by consumption of lion’s mane. As shown above, many of the benefits attained through ingesting this mushroom remain in your system for a long period of time after. While many of these effects, like improved gut health, are more short-term, the neuroprotective benefits have been shown to outlast consumption by a matter of weeks or months, depending on the study and area of interest in question.

NB: With the popularity of lion’s mane having increased significantly in recent years, much of this scientific literature comes from new studies. Much of these, as you have noticed, have begun to use human participants, increasing their applicability and consistency in results. However, while we consider ourselves knowledgeable in the fields of nutrition and bodily health, discussing medical applications is best left to the scientists – which is why we have included each of the best (and most recent) studies to date, and ask that you refer to such scientific literature when conducting your research.

How Can I Attain These Benefits

The two most common ways to consume the nootropic lion’s mane mushroom are via:

• Powder
• Capsule

The great news is that we offer both forms of consumption available to purchase on our website here: https://vybey.co.uk/products/lions-mane-mushroom

The most common method of ingesting lion’s mane mushrooms is in liquid form. This is achieved by adding powdered mushroom into hot drinks such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate or soup. Alternatively, others prefer to consume Lion’s Mane mushroom in supplement by way of consuming capsule (which produce the same benefits).

If you’re looking to be more adventurous and, have more time, you can take a stab at cooking lion’s mane. For example, some consumers will prefer to cook their mushrooms into a recipe – the mushroom itself is a delicacy in China, where it is known as Houtougu (猴头菇) one of the famous ‘four delicacies’ of China alongside bear paw, sea cucumber and shark’s fin soup. As such, it can be found in a host of different food recipes, often medicinal soups use the mushroom as a base - cooking it down to infuse its benefits within the dish, or as a tea – purported to have long been used by Buddhist monks to increase concentration over extended periods of meditation.

What do Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Taste Like?

Unlike many other uncommon mushrooms, lion’s mane doesn’t carry heavy flavour notes into meals - they are largely bland, though leave an aftertaste somewhat like seafood. However, in a powdered form the mushrooms tend to taste sweeter, almost like dark chocolate, and is a great supplement to hot (or cold) beverages because of this.

Please let us know your thoughts on our new product and data above. Kindly send an email to hello@vybey.co.uk

All comments welcome!

References

[1] Mori K, Obara Y, Hirota M, et al. Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biol Pharm Bull. 2008;31(9):1727-1732. doi:10.1248/bpb.31.1727

[2] Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, et al. Prevention of Early Alzheimer's Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;12:155. Published 2020 Jun 3. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155   -   quote from page 3

[3] Younis, N. Abd Al Kreem, Y. ‘Online Survey for Patient Outcomes on Hericium Erinaceus Mushroom.’ Pharmacognosy Journal. Volume 12. Issue 3. 2020.

[4] Saitsu, Y., Nishide, A., Kikushima, K., Shimizu, K., & Ohnuki, K. (2019). Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan), 40(4), 125–131. https://doi.org/10.2220/biomedres.40.125

[5] Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy research: PTR, 23(3), 367–372. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2634

[6] Nagano, M., Shimizu, K., Kondo, R., Hayashi, C., Sato, D., Kitagawa, K., & Ohnuki, K. (2010). Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan), 31(4), 231–237. https://doi.org/10.2220/biomedres.31.231    -  (quote from pg.236)

[7] Ryu, Sun, et al. (2018) ‘Hericium erinaceus extract reduces anxiety and depressive behaviors by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult mouse brain.’ Journal of medicinal food. Volume 21. Issue 2. Pp. 174-180.

[8] Yao, Wei, et al. (2015) ‘Effects of amycenone on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, and depression-like behavior in mice after lipopolysaccharide administration.’ Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. Volume 136. Pp. 7-12.

[9] Choi WS, Kim YS, Park BS, Kim JE, Lee SE. Hypolipidaemic Effect of Hericium erinaceum Grown in Artemisia capillaris on Obese Rats. Mycobiology. 2013;41(2):94-99. doi:10.5941/MYCO.2013.41.2.94

[10]Luisella, V. et al. (2019) "Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers?", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Article ID 7861297, 12 pages, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7861297)

[11] Luisella, V. et al. (2019) (pg:2), see above

[12] Luisella, V. et al. (2019), (pg:10), see above

[13] Kim SP, Nam SH, Friedman M. (2013) Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) mushroom extracts inhibit metastasis of cancer cells to the lung in CT-26 colon cancer-tansplanted mice [published correction appears in J Agric Food Chem. Jun 5;61(22):5411]