Can eating mushrooms help reduce the risk of depression in humans?

Mushrooms have many health benefits. Not only do they reduce the risk of cancer and early death, but according to new research published by Penn State University School of Medicine, mushrooms also have mental health benefits.

Researchers at Penn State University School of Medicine used dietary and mental health data collected from more than 24,000 US adults between 2005 and 2016. They found that those Mushroom consumption has a lower incidence of depression.

Mushroom eaters had lower rates of depression.

According to researchers, mushrooms contain ergothioneine , an antioxidant that helps protect against cell and tissue damage in the body. Studies show that antioxidants help prevent certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.

Lead researcher Djibril Ba and PhD in epidemiology at Penn State University School of Medicine said: ' Mushrooms are the highest source of the amino acid ergothioneine , an anti-inflammatory that is not synthesized by humans. High levels of this substance help reduce the risk of stress and reduce symptoms of depression.

White button mushrooms are the most commonly consumed mushrooms in the United States. They contain potassium, a substance that reduces anxiety. In addition, some other species of mushrooms, especially Hericium erinaceus or Lion's Mane , can help stimulate nerves, prevent mental disorders including depression.

According to the researchers, college-educated non-Hispanic white women ate more mushrooms. The average age of survey participants was 45 and the majority (66%) were non-Hispanic white.

The investigators observed a significant association between mushroom intake and lower rates of depression after taking into account socio-demographics, major risk factors, some self-reported diseases, medications. and other factors in the diet.

"The study adds to the growing list of health benefits of eating mushrooms," said Joshua Muscat, a Penn State Cancer Institute researcher and professor of public health sciences .

The antioxidants in mushrooms help prevent certain mental illnesses.

The team conducted a secondary analysis to see if the risk of depression could be reduced by replacing one serving of red or processed meat with one serving of mushrooms per day. However, the findings suggest that this substitution is not associated with lower rates of depression.

Prior to this study, there were few studies looking at the link between mushroom consumption and depression. Most are clinical trials with fewer than 100 participants. This study highlights the potential clinical and public health importance of eating mushrooms as a way to help reduce depression and prevent other diseases, the researchers said.

The researchers believe that some of the limitations in the study could be addressed in future studies.

The data do not provide details on the fungi. As a result, the researchers were unable to determine the effects of specific mushrooms on depression.

John Richie and Xiang Gao from Penn State Cancer Institute; Laila Al-Shaar and Vernon Chinchilli from the College of Medicine Penn State; Robert Beelman from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences were the participants in this study. The researchers also said there was no specific conflict of interest or funding support for this project.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.