A randomized controlled trial examines the effects of Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (GLSO) on cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and liver health
Slightly elevated triglycerides, which Ganoderma lucidum spore oil can help manage, sit in a grey area of cardiovascular prevention. They don’t yet justify drug therapy, but they signal a risk that tends to grow over time. International guidelines recommend lifestyle changes, which are often difficult to maintain in daily practice. Elevated triglycerides are a recognized cardiovascular risk factor and are also linked to other conditions, such as fat accumulation in the liver. Finding natural supportive solutions to pair with a healthy lifestyle is therefore a topic of growing interest, both for people managing their own levels and for companies in the sector. In this space fits a study published in Nutrients that evaluated Ganoderma lucidum spore oil, GLSO, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving more than 110 adults.
What is Ganoderma lucidum spore oil
Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom that has been used for centuries in Asian herbal tradition and is now increasingly studied in the nutraceutical field. Its spores yield an oil rich in bioactive compounds, including triterpenoids, considered the main contributors to the effects observed in the study. The extract was administered in capsules, at a daily dosage well below the safety thresholds reported in the literature, a feature that makes it easier to include in products intended for everyday use.
How the study on Ganoderma lucidum spore oil was conducted
The research involved adults aged between 18 and 65 with triglycerides slightly above normal, followed for 12 weeks. Half of the participants took the Ganoderma lucidum extract, while the other half received a placebo, with neither group knowing which treatment they were receiving. At the start of the study, the two groups were comparable in age, sex, and blood values, a detail that makes the final results more reliable. None of the participants were allowed to take other fat-control products or medications during the observation period, so as to isolate the extract’s real effect.
What changed in blood values
Why does Ganoderma lucidum spore oil reduce triglycerides? After 12 weeks, those who had taken GLSO showed clear improvements in their lipid profile compared with the placebo group:
- a reduction in triglycerides of over 22%
- a decrease in LDL cholesterol, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol
- an increase in HDL cholesterol, the protective fraction
- a slight reduction in total cholesterol
One possible explanation, still to be fully confirmed, is that the extract acts on certain fat metabolism pathways and on the balance of gut flora.
A possible benefit for the liver too, from Ganoderma lucidum spore oil
Beyond its effect on blood fats, the study also found an improvement in several liver health markers in the group taking GLSO. These are parameters that doctors routinely use to assess how well this organ is functioning. The authors link this result to a possible protective effect on the liver, previously observed in animal models. It’s a finding worth paying attention to, since it brings together two needs that are often addressed separately: controlling blood fats and protecting liver function, both relevant for people living with non-optimal lipid levels.
No negative effects on the kidneys, and good tolerability
An important aspect concerns safety. Kidney function values remained stable in both groups, with no significant differences. No relevant adverse events were reported during the 12 weeks of observation. It should be noted that this is a study of limited duration, conducted on a population with only mildly elevated triglycerides. Longer studies are needed, also involving populations with higher values, to confirm these results over time and better understand their clinical significance.
What this means for the nutraceutical industry
These results open up an interesting opportunity for companies developing dietary supplements aimed at controlling blood fats. Ganoderma lucidum combines a long history of use with a reassuring safety profile, features that make it easier to use in private-label formulations. It can be proposed as a complementary support alongside existing therapies, or as a dedicated option for those with triglyceride levels only slightly above normal. The optimal duration of use and the precise mechanisms of action still need further study, but the direction indicated by these results already offers a solid basis for developing new formulations.
If your company is interested in developing formulations based on Ganoderma lucidum:
Source: Wang, X.; Wang, X.; Zhao, L.; Zhou, F. Clinical Evaluation of Ganoderma lucidum Spore Oil for Triglyceride Reduction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study. Nutrients 2025, 17, 844. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050844
