GANODERMA LUCIDUM IMPROVES PHYSICAL FITNESS IN WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA.

Plain Language Summary

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic rheumatic disease of unknown cause which is characterized by generalized pain, stiffness, and tenderness in specific points, and is commonly associated with other symptoms including muscular stiffness, depression, non-refreshing sleep, and cognitive impairments. Ganoderma lucidum (GL, reishi) has been demonstrated to increase vital energy, stimulating the immune system, and promoting health, and to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, neuroprotective, and blood pressure lowering properties. GL is rich in polyphenols and has antioxidant properties, and has been used in many Mediterranean countries. Ceratonia siliqua (CS, carob) is also rich in polyphenols and has antioxidant properties, and was used as a control in this study. The aim of this randomised, double blind, clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of GL and CS to enhance physical fitness in patients with FM. Patients took either 6g GL or 6g CS daily for 6 weeks. 25 participants from the GL and 23 from the CS group completed the study. After the 6-week treatment period, a statistically significant difference in aerobic endurance was observed between both groups, with the patients in the GL group, but not those in the CS group, showing improvements. The GL group also obtained significant improvements in lower body flexibility and velocity compared with the CS group. The authors concluded that GL may be effective in improving endurance, lower body flexibility, and velocity, whilst CS seemed to be ineffective in improving physical fitness in women with FM. They discuss that no mechanism how the GL may help with physical fitness in FM patients is known and that further research is needed.