▷ Which mushrooms are useful for liver cirrhosis?

What is liver cirrhosis?

Liver cirrhosis is a late stage of scar formation (fibrosis) in the liver. It is a serious condition caused mainly by hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. The liver, one of the most vital organs in the body, performs many key functions including detoxifying and eliminating harmful substances from circulation (medication, antibiotics, etc.) cleansing the blood and producing vital nutrients.

Cirrhosis occurs in response to ongoing liver damage; everytime the liver is injured, it tries to repair itself and in the process, scar tissue forms. As the cirrhosis progresses, more and more scar tissue is formed, making it difficult for the liver to function properly.

Decompensated cirrhosis is the expression used to describe the development of specific complications that arise due to changes brought about by cirrhosis. Decompensated cirrhosis is potentially fatal.

In general, damage to the liver caused by cirrhosis can not be repaired. However, if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed early and the cause is treated, additional damage may be limited and, in a few cases, reversed.

Which mushrooms have useful properties in liver cirrhosis?

Cordyceps

Protects liver cells
Several clinical trials demonstrate the benefits of the use of Cordyceps to support liver fibrosis and reduce portal hypertension (portal vein tension, which communicates the organs of the digestive system with the liver).

Cordyceps extracts have been shown to decrease the activation of hepatic stellate cells, thus protecting the hepatocytes and potentially inhibiting hepatic sinusoidal capillarization.

Royal Sun Agaricus

Combats bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms
Its immunomodulatory capabilities have been demonstrated in countless studies. Within these, the role of their beta glucan content stands out. They have shown to normalize certain key immunological functions in the defense of the organism such as the uptake of foreign substances and the awakening of the immune system to combat bacteria, viruses, harmful particles, old cells, etc.

Reishi

The supplements based on Reishi can be an ideal choice to support liver disorder. An inflamed liver cells tend to leak higher amounts of certain chemicals and enzymes. Reishi helps to balance the levels of liver enzymes. Furthermore, it raises levels of glutathione, one of the most powerful antioxidant in your body. As we know, antioxidants are crucial to eliminate free radicals from the body.

Nutritional recommendations and general healthy habits for the maintenance of a good state of health

Follow a varied and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals.
Avoid alcohol (everything and always).
Remove the salt from meals and drink a few liquids (especially if there is ascites or edema).
PROHIBITED FOOD: salt, salted and smoked meat and fish, sausages, charcuterie and cheeses, olives, soups and commercial purées, packaged juices, industrial confectionery, preserves in general, salty condiments and alcohol.
Avoid the consumption of refined oils and saturated fats, avoiding fried foods, refined vegetable oils such as sunflower, margarines, butters …
Avoid the consumption of white sugar found in sweets, desserts, fast food, industrial processed products such as soft drinks, cookies, bread slices … Replace it with natural sweeteners such as cinnamon, stevia, natural honey …
To cook and dress your dishes, always use extra virgin olive oil, prioritizing its raw consumption.
Increases the daily consumption of foods rich in vitamins that are often deficient due to poor liver function: vegetables, fruit, mushrooms …
Do not consume industrial processed products rich in sugars, salt, refined oils and additives harmful to health (cookies, toast, bread, industrial cereals …).
Prioritizes the consumption of whole grains and avoids refined flours (white bread, pasta, biscuits …) that raise blood glucose.
The techniques of preparation of preference are: cooking, steaming or iron. Do not take fried, breaded, barbecued or barbecues.

References

Zhonghua gan Zang Bing za zhi, Zhonghua Ganzangbing Zazhi. Effects of cordyceps acid and cordycepin on the inflammatory and fibrogenic response of hepatic stellate cells. Chinese Journal of Hepatology [01 Apr 2013, 21(4):275-278].
Zhu Jia-xuan, Wang Bao-en,Wang Tai-ling. Beijing Friendship Hospital.Study on therapeutic effect of cordyceps mycelium on experimental hepatic fibrosis of rat. Chinese Journal of digestion;1994-06.
Zhang Ronghua, Zhou Zicheng, Hong Duolun, Ai Jiusong. Effects of Cordyceps Sinensis on CCl_4-induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats. ;Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine on Liver Diseases;1999-06.
In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effect of ganodermanontriol against t-BHP-induced oxidative stress. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Dec 12;150(3):875-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.039. Epub 2013 Oct 17.
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. Cordyceps mycelia extract decreases portal hypertension in rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis: a study on its histological basis.. 2008 Nov;6(11):1136-44. doi: 10.3736/jcim20091107.
Liu Y, Zheng D, Su L, Wang Q, Li Y. Protective effect of polysaccharide from Agaricus bisporus in Tibet area of China against tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 Jun 30. pii: S0141-8130(18)31952-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.06.179.
Li S, Li J, Zhang J, Wang W, Wang X, Jing H, Ren Z, Gao Z, Song X, Gong Z, Jia L. The Antioxidative, Antiaging, and Hepatoprotective Effects of Alkali-Extractable Polysaccharides by Agaricus bisporus. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:7298683. doi: 10.1155/2017/7298683. Epub 2017 Aug 22. PubMed PMID: 29104605.
Huang J, Ou Y, Yew TW, Liu J, Leng B, Lin Z, Su Y, Zhuang Y, Lin J, Li X, Xue Y, Pan Y. Hepatoprotective effects of polysaccharide isolated from Agaricus bisporus industrial wastewater against CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in mice. Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 Jan;82:678-86. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.10.014.
Yamanaka D, Motoi M, Motoi A, Ohno N. Differences in antioxidant activities of outdoor- and indoor-cultivated Agaricus brasiliensis, and protective effects against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic injury in mice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Nov 24;14:454. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-454.
Soares AA, de Oliveira AL, Sá-Nakanishi AB, Comar JF, Rampazzo AP, Vicentini FA, Natali MR, Gomes da Costa SM, Bracht A, Peralta RM. Effects of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol-induced brain and liver injury in rats. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:469180. doi: 10.1155/2013/469180.
Al-Dbass AM, Al-Daihan SK, Bhat RS. Agaricus blazei Murill as an efficient hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2012 Jul;19(3):303-9. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2012.03.004. Epub 2012 Apr 1. PubMed PMID: 23961190.
Zhang C, Han C, Zhao B, Yu H. The protective effects of aqueous extracts of wild-growing and fermented Royal Sun mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (higher basidiomycetes), in CCl4-induced oxidative damage in rats. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(6):557-61.
Chang JB, Wu MF, Yang YY, Leu SJ, Chen YL, Yu CS, Yu CC, Chang SJ, Lu HF, Chung JG. Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and its amelioration by Agaricus blazei Murrill extract in a mouse model. In Vivo. 2011 Nov-Dec;25(6):971-6.
Barbisan LF, Miyamoto M, Scolastici C, Salvadori DM, Ribeiro LR, Eira AF, de Camargo JL. Influence of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei on rat liver toxicity induced by different doses of diethylnitrosamine. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Nov;83(1-2):25-32. PubMed PMID: 12413704.

Cirrhosis