Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushrooms (Based on Clinical Trials)
Key Nutritional and Health Benefits:
Immune System Support
Turkey tail contains polysaccharopeptides (PSP and PSK), which have been shown to enhance immune response by stimulating the production and activity of natural killer (NK) cells and T-cells.
Clinical evidence: A study by Bastyr University demonstrated improved immune markers in patients undergoing chemotherapy when supplemented with turkey tail extract.
Cancer Therapy Support
PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide, is used as an adjuvant cancer therapy in Japan to boost the immune system and improve survival rates in colorectal and gastric cancer patients.
Clinical evidence: The meta-analysis by Sakamoto et al. found that PSK enhanced survival in patients with colorectal cancer when used alongside traditional therapies.
Gut Health Improvement
Turkey tail is rich in prebiotics, which can help balance gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.
Clinical evidence: Studies on PSP have shown it positively influences gut health and improves digestion, which may also enhance immunity indirectly.
Respiratory Health
Turkey tail extracts have been associated with reduced tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer.
Clinical evidence: Tsang et al.'s study on PSP demonstrated slowed cancer progression in advanced-stage lung cancer patients.
Tsang, K. W., et al. “Coriolus Versicolor Polysaccharide Peptide Slows Progression of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.” Respiratory Medicine, vol. 97, no. 6, 2003, pp. 618–624.
Sakamoto, Junichi, et al. “Efficacy of Adjuvant Immunochemotherapy with Polysaccharide K for Patients with Curatively Resected Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Centrally Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials.” Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, vol. 55, no. 4, 2006, pp. 404–411.
Habtemariam, S. (2020). Trametes versicolor(Coriolus versicolor) polysaccharides in cancer therapy: Targets and efficacy.Biomedicines, 8(5), Article 135.https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8050135
