Evidence supporting the use of: Lentinan
For the health condition: Wasting

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lentinan is a polysaccharide extracted from the Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) and has been studied for its immunomodulatory and potential anti-tumor properties. The term "wasting" generally refers to the involuntary loss of weight and muscle mass, which can be seen in conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and chronic infections. Lentinan has been used as an adjunctive therapy in cancer treatment, especially in Japan and China, with the intent to support immune function and potentially improve quality of life and outcomes in patients experiencing wasting due to malignancy or its treatment. Several clinical studies have evaluated lentinan as an adjunct to chemotherapy and found modest improvements in survival, immune function, and sometimes maintenance of body weight in cancer patients. However, the direct evidence supporting lentinan specifically for reversing or preventing wasting is limited and not robustly established by large-scale, high-quality trials. Most benefits appear to be associated with its immunomodulatory effects rather than a direct anti-wasting effect. The overall strength of evidence is therefore rated as modest (2 out of 5), supported by some clinical data but lacking large randomized controlled trials directly targeting wasting as the primary endpoint. Lentinan is not a standard therapy for wasting but may be considered as a supportive agent in specific clinical contexts.

More about Lentinan
More about Wasting

Products containing Lentinan

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.