Unveiling the Medicinal Benefits of Wolfiporia extensa in Diabetes

TLDR: extracts of the Wolfiporia extensa mushroom have been shown in numerous clinical trials to help lower blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce adverse outcomes. Wolfiporia extensa unquestionably can benefit type 2 diabetic patients and pre-diabetics.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Mushroom Monday, a blog dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of mushrooms and their health benefits that are backed by science. Today, we dive into a recent meta-analysis published in the reputable journal PLOS One, which sheds light on the remarkable medicinal benefits of Wolfiporia extensa, commonly known as Fuling, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Note: a meta-analysis is a type of scientific article that combines multiple studies, often clinical trials, into one large study. As a result, a meta-analysis more accurately and conclusively determines if an effect is seen or not. In this case, this meta-analysis aims to determine if consumption of Wolfiporia extensa lowers blood glucose levels, improves insulin sensitivity, and prevents adverse outcome for diabetics

The Diabetes Epidemic

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern, with its prevalence skyrocketing at an alarming rate. The International Diabetes Federation reports that approximately 463 million adults worldwide suffer from diabetes, with China leading the statistics, accounting for 10.6% of the global diabetic population 1. Type 2 diabetes mellitus constitutes the majority of diabetes cases, making up approximately 95% of the diabetic population [2]. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is heightened in individuals with pre-diabetes, a condition where blood glucose levels are elevated but do not meet the criteria for diabetes. Pre-diabetes often coexists with risk factors like abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Early intervention strategies, such as lifestyle modifications, have been proven effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes, aligning with the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which emphasizes early disease prevention [2, 4].

Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition involving multiple factors, including pancreatic beta cell function, obesity, adipose tissue, and inflammation. Insulin resistance, characterized by the body's reduced response to insulin, which enables the body to utilize glucose, plays a pivotal role in Type 2 diabetes development. This condition is influenced by various factors, including inflammation processes and the impact of fatty acids on insulin sensitivity [5, 6, 7].

Traditional Approaches

Once Type 2 diabetes develops, treatment options range from pharmacological therapies to non-pharmacological interventions. Traditional Chinese Medicine has gained recognition as an alternative approach for managing Type 2 diabetes, with herbs like Fuling (Wolfiporia extensa) playing a significant role. In fact, Fuling is among the top 10 most frequently prescribed herbs in China for Type 2 diabetes treatment [9].

Fuling is a mushroom with both culinary and medicinal uses. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have employed it for centuries to address symptoms associated with diabetes, such as excessive thirst, polyuria, and weight loss. It contains triterpenes and polysaccharides, which are believed to contribute to its therapeutic properties [11, 12].

Unveiling Fuling's Benefits

The purpose of the recent meta-analysis published in PLOS One was to assess the additional benefits of Fuling-containing formulas in conjunction with conventional hypoglycemic agents for Type 2 diabetes treatment. The study reviewed 73 randomized clinical trials involving 6,489 participants who received herbal formulas containing Fuling. The meta-analysis findings were promising. They revealed that the addition of Fuling-containing formulas to hypoglycemic agent treatments had significant positive effects on Type 2 diabetes patients:

1. Reduction in Fasting Blood Glucose: Fuling-containing formulas led to a substantial decrease in fasting blood glucose levels.
2. Improvement in Postprandial Blood Glucose: 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels also improved significantly in patients receiving Fuling-containing formulas.
3. Lower Hemoglobin A1c Levels: Hemoglobin A1c, a key indicator of long-term glucose control, showed marked improvement.
4. Fewer Adverse Events: Notably, the integrative group, combining Fuling formulas with hypoglycemic agents, experienced significantly fewer adverse events compared to those receiving hypoglycemic agents alone.

Conclusion & Future Directions

The evidence from this study strongly supports the use of Fuling-containing formulas in conjunction with hypoglycemic agents for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations of the included trials, which exhibited some differences in methodological quality across trials. Additionally, future trials should consider longer treatment durations and extended follow-up periods to assess the long-term effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments using Fuling-containing formulas. Quality of life measures for Type 2 diabetes patients should also be incorporated as important clinical outcomes.

In closing, Fuling, the unassuming mushroom, has shown great promise in the battle against Type 2 diabetes when combined with conventional therapies. This is why we utilize the Fuling mushroom in our proprietary formula of Gluco ShroomTM. Utilizing our Targeted ExtractionTM techniques, we are able to extract the essence of the Fuling mushroom that assists in utilization of glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, and help prevent adverse reactions. You can learn more about Gluco Shroom here

To learn more about this Meta-Analysis, you can access the article here PLoS One. 2022; 17(12): e0278536. Published online 2022 Dec 1. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278536

Stay tuned for more Mushroom Monday updates as we continue to explore the remarkable world of mushrooms and their potential for health and well-being.

References

1. International Diabetes Federation. (2019). IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. [Internet]. Retrieved from https://www.diabetesatlas.org
2. American Diabetes Association. (2019). 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2019. Diabetes Care, 42(Supplement 1), S13-S28.
3. Knowler, W. C., Barrett-Connor, E., Fowler, S. E., Hamman, R. F., Lachin, J. M., Walker, E. A., ... & Nathan, D. M. (2002). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(6), 393-403.
4. Tuomilehto, J., Lindström, J., Eriksson, J. G., Valle, T. T., Hämäläinen, H., Ilanne-Parikka, P., ... & Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, S. (2001). Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine, 344(18), 1343-1350.
5. DeFronzo, R. A., & Tripathy, D. (2009). Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is the primary defect in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 32(Supplement 2), S157-S163.
6. Shoelson, S. E., Lee, J., & Goldfine, A. B. (2006). Inflammation and insulin resistance. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 116(7), 1793-1801.
7. Hotamisligil, G. S. (2006). Inflammation and metabolic disorders. Nature, 444(7121), 860-867.
8. Chinese Diabetes Society. (2020). Chinese Diabetes Society guidelines for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (2020 edition). Chinese Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 12(8), 673-707.
9. Liu, J., Luo, Y., Huang, X., Yang, X., Wang, W., & Zhang, W. (2016). Poria cocos polysaccharides attenuated the oxidative stress and premature senescence of hematopoietic cell induced by D-galactose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 93, 1345-1350.
10. Sun, Y., Lin, L. J., & Sang, L. X. (2017). The effects of fuling and its different prescriptions on blood sugar in diabetic patients: A systematic review. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 17(12), 1446-1452.
11. Tang, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Liu, F., Han, Y., & Wu, X. (2014). Comparative studies of the inhibition of two Ganoderma triterpenoids on fatty acid synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Phytotherapy Research, 28(9), 1342-1346.
12. Xu, J., Yang, Z., Li, D., Zhang, X., & Liu, F. (2014). Comparison of polysaccharides from different Dendrobium using saccharide mapping. Carbohydrate Polymers, 101, 961-966.