Dietician advises caution as lion’s mane mushrooms health craze grows

Lion’s mane mushrooms are becoming popular in South Africa's wellness market.

However, experts caution that the excitement around them may be ahead of the scientific evidence.

This new health craze promises improved memory, sharper thinking, and cognitive longevity.

But registered dietician Lila Bruk warned that the evidence supporting these claims is limited.

"The key is that there aren't many actual, if any, human trials that have actually shown that positive evidence. A lot of it has been rodent trials or other lab-based trials, but in a sort of actual reality and in the human populations, there hasn't been anything conclusive.

"A lot of it is, of course, based on placebo effect, but there's some potential maybe for some benefit with further research."

Compounds unique to lion’s mane mushrooms (erinacines and hericenones) may stimulate nerve growth factors in the brain, but whether they translate to real benefits for humans remains uncertain.

Bruk said the main risk is financial, though mild digestive upset is possible.

She advised caution for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Instead of relying on supplements, Bruk emphasised lifestyle fundamentals such as sleep, diet, exercise, and stress management as more reliable ways to support cognitive health.

While trying lion’s mane mushrooms isn’t likely to be harmful for most people, their benefits are largely unproven, and results vary individually.

To listen to Lila Bruk in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click the audio below: