Effects of Extracts from the Mushroom Keumsa Sangwhang (Phellinus linteus) on Fasting Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Levels in Human
This study demonstrated the effects of extracts from the mushroom Keumsa sangwhang(Phellinus linteus) (KPLE) on fasting glucose and cholesterol levels in human blood. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled human intervention study, healthy volunteers were randomized to receive 3.3 g of KPLE (n=31) or placebo (n=31) per day by oral administration for 8 weeks. The cholesterol and fasting serum glucose levels were evaluated before and after treatment. The fasting serum glucose level was significantly decreased by KPLE administration (p<0.01), but the total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDLcholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations did not change. This study suggests a possibility that KPLE may be useful as a functional food for the prevention of diabetes mellitus.