With the increase in average life expectancy, male menopause, or andropause, has become a cause of poorer quality of life in older men.
Male menopause refers to a decline in sex hormones, including testosterone, and is characterised by muscle weakness, sleep disorders, erectile dysfunction, and psychological conditions.
In addition, late-onset hypogonadism syndrome (LOH), also known as age-associated testosterone deficiency, is linked to fatigue, insomnia, depressive symptoms, cognitive decline, and non-communicable diseases, which collectively result in male frailty.
Therefore, the development of novel naturally derived, science-backed functional foods and ingredients has become increasingly important for the ageing population.
Enoki mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes), shown to contain a high content of adenosine, have long been recognised for its nutritional value and delicious taste in dishes.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of enoki mushroom extract for menopausal symptoms in middle-aged and elderly men, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in Japan.
The study was funded by the Shizuoka Prefectural Sangyo Shinko Foundation, whose goal is to support local businesses in the prefecture and foster economic growth.
The test food used in this trial was a powdered enoki mushroom extract (125mg per capsule) containing 0.56mg of adenosine, while the placebo included 282mg of resistant dextrin per capsule. These products were provided by TechnoSuruga Laboratory Co Ltd.
Fifty-six participants were randomly assigned to the test food and placebo groups, with each individual taking 10 capsules daily for 12 weeks from June to October 2023.
At baseline, the participants had Aging Males’ Symptoms (AMS) scores of 27 to 49.
As the primary endpoint, the AMS scale comprises a set of 17 questions on areas including psychological, physical, and sexual function, which helps identify testosterone deficiency and assesses the severity of andropause.
Specifically, the participants were asked to rate the seriousness of LOH symptoms from 0 (none) to 5 (severe).
A key finding was that the intake of enoki mushroom extract for 12 weeks attenuated male menopausal symptoms, such as declines in sexual function and testosterone levels, based on AMS scores.
In a stratified analysis based on the change in total testosterone levels of <0.5 ng/mL and ≥0.5 ng/mL after intake of the test food, the number of participants with increased total testosterone levels of ≥0.5 ng/mL was significantly higher in the test food group than the placebo group.
Furthermore, the AMS scores of participants, who scored 4 or 5 in each question at baseline, became significantly lower in the intervention group than in the placebo group after 12 weeks of test food intake.
“The present study demonstrated for the first time that enoki mushroom extract may exert beneficial effects on male menopausal symptoms and LOH in middle-aged and elderly men,” the researchers wrote.
Countermeasure for male ageing
Androgens are a group of sex hormones that play important physiological roles in the body, such as muscle, bone, skin, and sexual function, and are biosynthesised from cholesterol.
In particular, age-related decrease in testosterone levels has been associated with loss of libido, sexual dysfunction and depression, as well as metabolic syndrome, development of dementia, and obesity due to decreased insulin sensitivity.
Diet and exercise are crucial for delaying and preventing the decline in testosterone.
Extensive exploratory research on natural ingredients that increase testosterone secretion has identified enoki mushroom as a food that promotes production of the hormone.
Previous studies on enoki mushrooms have found that the food possesses various properties, including anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities.
Adenosine has also been pinpointed as the pharmacologically active constituent of enoki mushroom extract responsible for alleviating male menopausal symptoms.
“The potential health-promoting effects of enoki mushroom extract and its compounds have been examined. A previous study showed that adenosine enhanced testosterone secretion-promoting activity in a concentration-dependent manner.
“On the whole, the present results indicate that enoki mushroom extract containing high adenosine levels may be useful for [tackling] ageing in humans. Additionally, its testosterone production-increasing effect may effectively support recovery from stress and stress-induced fatigue,” the researchers concluded.
Source: Nutrients
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071208
“Beneficial Effects of Enoki Mushroom Extract on Male Menopausal Symptoms in Japanese Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study”
Authors: Shizuo Yamada, et al