Zhao, H., Zhang, Q., Zhao, L., Huang, X., Wang, J., & Kang, X. (2012). Spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum improves cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy: a pilot clinical trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 809614.
To evaluate whether spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has beneficial effects on fatigue and overall quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy.
Patients in the experimental group received spore powder of G. lucidum 1,000 mg three times a day for four weeks (from Beijing Great Wall Pharmaceutical Factory, batch # B20050008). This is a traditional Chinese medicine that contains polysaccharides, alkaloids, enzymes, and proteins. The control group received placebo for four weeks. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and the end of four weeks.
The study was conducted at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin, China, from June 2009 to September 2010.
The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
No serious adverse effects occurred. No significant changes occurred in the renal and liver function tests. Fatigue scores were improved in the experimental group at four weeks (p < 0.01), but no significant improvement occurred in the control group. At four weeks, anxiety and depression scores had improved significantly from baseline in the experimental group. No significant improvement occurred over time in the control group.
The pilot suggested that spore powder G. lucidum may have beneficial effects on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy with no significant safety concerns.
Additional research should be conducted in a larger randomized, controlled trial.