Ganoderma lucidum on Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects - A Double Blinded Placebo Control Study

Diabetes mellitus has become one of leading causes of death worldwide. Owing to progressive deterioration of current available hypoglycemic agents, Ganoderma lucidum, one of the most widely used herbs, was reported to lower blood glucose level in animal studies. We therefore undertook a clinical study to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on blood glucose control in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 46 patients completed the trial. Subjects were randomized to take dry extract of Ganoderma lucidum 3000 mg or placebo in addition to regular oral hypoglycemic agents for a period of 12 weeks. As a group, no differences were found in values offasting glucose, HbA1c before versus after treatment both in placebo and Ganoderma lucidum groups. However, plasma glucose under the curve during meal tolerance test reduced more significantly in those of taking Ganoderma lucidum than those taking placebo (p <0.01, 2-way ANOVA). In those subjects with poor glycemic control (fasting glucose 180 mg/dl, A1c 8.0%), treatment by Ganoderma lucidum revealed a greater reduction in values of fasting glucose (p <0.05) and glucose area under cruve (p < 0.01). Results of this study suggest that Ganoderma lucidum might play some role in providing postprandial glucose lowering as supplementary therapy in treating subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.