Could mushroom supplements soothe anxiety in young women?
NCT ID NCT06406946
First seen Jul 15, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether taking lion's mane mushroom or a blend of lion's mane and reishi mushroom for 28 days can improve wellbeing in women aged 18-26 who feel stressed or anxious. Participants are randomly assigned to receive one of the mushroom supplements or a placebo, and their anxiety, stress, fatigue, and self-esteem are measured through questionnaires. The goal is to see if these natural supplements offer a safe way to support mental health.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lion's mane mushroom and a blend of lion's mane and reishi mushroom
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a natural supplement option for easing anxiety and stress in young women.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 84 participants, and the effects may be modest or no better than placebo. Dietary supplements are not regulated as strictly as drugs.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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84 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2024
- Finished
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May 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 26 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Identify as a woman * Are aged 18 to 26 years at the time of giving consent (to be classified as Gen Z participants must have been born 1997-2013) * Rate themselves as stressed and/or anxious * Be a native speaker of English or fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: * Have any pre-existing medical condition/illness which will impact taking part in the study. There may be other, unforeseen, exceptions and these will be considered on a case-by-case basis; i.e. participants may be allowed to progress to screening if they have a condition/illness which would not interact with the active treatments or impede performance NOTE: the explicit exceptions to this is controlled hayfever, asthma, hypo/hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reflux, dyslexia/dyscalculia, ADHD, autism. * Are currently taking prescription medications (NOTE: the explicit exceptions to this are contraceptive treatments for female participants, and those taken 'as needed' in the treatment of asthma and hay fever. There may be other instances of medication use which, where no interaction with the active treatments is likely, and which would not be expected to have any impact on brain function, participants may be able to progress to screening). Within this trial medication for diagnosed neurological conditions (e.g. ADHD) will be allowed as long as medication has been taken for a minimum of 3 months and will be taken consistently throughout the trial period. * Have relevant food allergies/ intolerances/ sensitivities * Excessive caffeine intake (\> 500 mg per day) * Have taken dietary supplements e.g. Vitamins, omega 3 fish oils etc. in the last 4 weeks (Note: participation is possible following a 4 week supplement washout prior to participating and for the duration of the study on the proviso that the supplements they are taken are out of choice and not medically prescribed or advised. NOTE - Vitamin D and iron supplements are allowed for this trial if they have been advised by GP to increase levels to a normal range and have been taken for at least 4 weeks consistently and will be taken consistently throughout the trial. * Are pregnant, seeking to become pregnant or lactating * Have taken antibiotics within the past 4 weeks * Are currently participating in other clinical or nutrition intervention studies, or have done so in the past 4 weeks * Has been diagnosed with/ undergoing treatment for alcohol or drug abuse in the last 12 months * Have been diagnosed with/ undergoing treatment for a psychiatric disorder in the last 12 months (this includes medically diagnosed anxiety and depression) * Suffer from frequent migraines that require medication (more than or equal to 1 per month) * Sleep disorders or are taking sleep aid medication * Have any known active infections * Will be non-compliant with treatment consumption
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
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