Common mushrooms like white button (Agaricus bisporus), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), now widely consumed as part of the Western diet, could serve as preventative or complementary treatments for managing insulin resistance, according to a comprehensive review recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
IR occurs when the body’s cells fail to respond properly to insulin, causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to T2DM, a condition that affects an estimated 830 million people worldwide, as data from the World Health Organization shows.
The bioactive components in mushrooms include polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and bioactive proteins, along with essential vitamins and minerals. These compounds interact with key metabolic processes to promote better insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health.
For example, indigestible polysaccharides, a major fibre component of mushrooms, contribute to metabolic balance by feeding beneficial gut bacteria. These bacteria support nutrient absorption, strengthen the intestinal barrier, and lower chronic inflammation – an important factor in insulin resistance. Additionally, polysaccharides reduce sugar and fat absorption, which aids in weight management, crucial for both preventing and managing diabetes.
“Recent research has highlighted the significant impact of gut health on conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr Zsuzsanna Németh, a biologist at Semmelweis University’s Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology and the study’s lead author.
By nurturing gut bacteria through diet, we can improve insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health.
Other ways of how bioactive components in mushrooms could improve IR:
- Modulating glucose absorption: Mushroom compounds regulate intestinal enzymes, slowing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream, thereby preventing sharp blood sugar spikes.
- Enhancing glucose uptake: By improving insulin signaling pathways, bioactive components help transport glucose more efficiently into muscle and fat cells.
- Balancing insulin production: Mushrooms can stimulate insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells and protect them from cell death by increasing the expression of the GLP-1 hormone, helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Optimising lipid metabolism: By promoting the use of free fatty acids as an energy source, mushrooms reduce harmful fat accumulation and support healthier muscle function.
- Improving adipose tissue function: Pathologically enlarged fat tissue produces pro-inflammatory substances, contributing to insulin resistance. Medicinal mushrooms may help restore optimal fat storage and release while promoting the production of anti-inflammatory adiponectin, thereby improving metabolic balance.
“Our study reveals the remarkable potential of natural compounds in mushrooms to address key metabolic pathways,” adds Dr Németh. “As interest grows in non-pharmacological approaches to disease prevention, this opens up exciting possibilities for using edible medicinal mushrooms as complementary agents in diabetes management.”
However, Dr. Németh advises that in cases of illness, supplemental mushrooms should be consumed as part of a balanced diet and under the guidance of healthcare professionals.
Edible mushrooms have been part of diets worldwide and used in medicine for thousands of years, particularly in Asia. Extracts from these mushrooms exhibit numerous health benefits, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and antioxidant properties. They are also known for their high tolerability among cancer patients undergoing treatment. The Semmelweis study highlights the importance of the natural habitat and growing conditions to maximise the nutrient content and minimise environmental contamination in medicinal mushrooms.
Photo: Balint Barta – Semmelweis University; Cover photo (illustration): Envato Elements – Olena Rudo
