A water-soluble extract from a cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (MAK) has been reported to exhibit cancerpreventive effects in animal studies. This study examined the effect of MAK on prevention of colorectal cancer in patients with colorectal adenomas as determined by colonoscopy. A total of 123 patients in the MAK group took MAK (1.5 g/day) for 12 months, and were compared to 102 control subjects receiving no treatment. Follow-up colonoscopy was performed after 12 months, and the colonoscopists recorded the size, site and macroscopic type of all adenomas. The changes in the number of adenomas at 12 months increased to 0.66 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- SE) in the control group, and decreased in the MAK group: -0.42 +/- 0.10 (p < 0.01). Similarly, the total size of adenomas increased to 1.73 +/- 0.28 mm in the control group and decreased to -1.40 +/- 0.64 mm in the MAK group (p < 0.01). The results suggest that MAK suppresses the development of colorectal adenomas. Hiroshima J Med Sci. 2010 Mar;59(1):1-6. PMID: 20518254.
