Does Cordyceps reduce inflammation?
This post will be broken down into four main parts (click each part to be taken directly to that section)
What is inflammation?
What are biomarkers associated with inflammation?
What does inflammation feel like?
Cordyceps on Reducing Inflammation
What is inflammation?
Inflammation often gets a bad rap, but it’s not inherently harmful. It's a natural bodily response to protect itself from harm, triggered when the body encounters infections, toxins, or injuries. The immune system responds by initiating inflammation, which involves the expansion of blood vessels in the affected area and the recruitment of various immune cells. This can lead to swelling, redness, and pain—signs that the body is actively healing.
However, it’s crucial to distinguish between acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is temporary and plays a role in healing. Chronic inflammation occurs when inflammatory triggers like infections or toxins persist, leading to an extended inflammatory response. This unintended prolonged inflammation can contribute to diseases such as arthritis, gout, heart disease, and others. Managing inflammation is essential to prevent these chronic conditions.
What are biomarkers associated with inflammation?
When tests are ran to determine if anti-inflammatory effects of a substance are taking place, various biomarkers can be tested and measured*. Here are some key inflammatory biomarkers (source: Scholar AI Copilot):
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP): CRP is produced by the liver in response to inflammation.
- Normal levels:
- Typically less than 10 mg/L
- 10-100 mg/L may indicate mild inflammation
- Over 100 mg/L is typically indicative of severe inflammation
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): ESR measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube. A faster-than-normal rate may indicate inflammation, as inflammatory processes can cause the cells to clump together.
- Normal rates are typically:
- Men under 50: 0-15 mm/hr
- Men over 50: 0-20 mm/hr
- Women under 50: 0-20 mm/hr
- Women over 50: 0-30 mm/hr
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α): TNF-α is a small protein involved in systemic inflammation.
- Normal plasma levels of TNF-α are typically less than 8.1 pg/mL
- Interleukins (ILs): Interleukins are a group of cytokines playing a pivotal role in the immune system. Key interleukins associated with inflammation and their normal levels are:
- IL-1β: Less than 5 pg/mL in plasma is considered normal
- IL-6: Normal serum** levels are generally less than 16 pg/mL
- IL-8: Serum levels are generally less than 62 pg/mL
- IL-10 - notable for its anti-inflammatory properties: Serum levels are generally less than 9.1 pg/mL
- Prostaglandins (PGs): Lipid compounds derived from fatty acids which play a role in mediating inflammation.
- Normal levels are typically not determined in a clinical setting
- Nitric Oxide (NO): Has various biological roles including mediating inflammation. Normal levels are:
- 1-2 micromoles/min in adults
- Measurement techniques vary -- affecting reference range
- Leukotrienes: Inflammatory mediators involved with asthmatic and allergic reactions which may serve as a marker of inflammation
- Baseline levels are not commonly established for clinical use due to the rapid metabolism and complexity of accurately measuring these molecules
- Fibrinogen: A blood plasma protein that helps in blood clot formation. This is elevated in response to inflammation. Heightened fibrinogen levels may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. Normal plasma fibrinogen levels are:
- 200-400 mg/dL
- Neopterin: Serves as an indicator of cellular immune system activation. Chronically heightened levels may indicate an overactive immune system resulting in inflammation. Normal serum levels are typically:
- Below 10 nmol/L
- Adhesion Molecules: Molecules expressed on vascular cells and white blood cells which may increase in inflammatory conditions
- Some of these molecules include:
- E-selectin
- P-selectin
- ICAM-1
- VCAM-1
- Normal ranges not established for routine clinical practice due to a great variance in concentration depending on several factors
- Caspase-1: Biomarker for inflammation in the context of the inflammasome -- a complex protein system playing a role in the body's immune response
- Ranges of Caspase-1 in healthy adults are not commonly measured in clinical settings
*The ranges associated with the biomarkers we mention here are simply a guide. Actual reference ranges may vary between laboratories. As the human is a complex organism, these ranges should also be interpreted within the context of the individual by a healthcare professional. Correlating biomarker levels with other tests, signs, and symptoms is also essential.
**Serum refers to the blood that remains after removal of blood cells and clotting proteins
Collectively, these biomarkers provide valuable information about the state of inflammation in the body. Measuring changes in these biomarkers can help researchers and clinicians assess the efficacy of anti-inflammatory interventions, including treatments derived from Cordyceps militaris or other anti-inflammatory agents.
What does inflammation feel like?
The type and location of inflammation can cause different sensations. Typically, feelings of pain are associated with inflammation. Redness and swelling can also occur in the affected area. These are typically associated with acute and temporary inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can lead to additional symptoms. Persistent joint pain, arthritic symptoms, stomach issues, chronic fatigue, muscle stiffness, or just a general feeling of being unwell can all potentially be a result of chronic inflammation. Prolonged inflammation can lead to more severe health issues such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
There are several ways to fight chronic inflammation. I'd argue that the best way to keep chronic inflammation down is with your lifestyle choices. Getting proper sleep, proper exercise, and eating the right foods is a good start. Live Love Fruit has several resources to assist with overall lifestyle.
There is also research suggesting Cordyceps may assist in reducing inflammation. That is what we'll cover next.
Cordyceps On Reducing Inflammation
In future Cordyceps Chronicles episodes and perhaps in future Bffd Blogs, we will cover individual studies -- how these studies were performed and what the data collected during these studies suggests. In this post, we'll cover some therapeutic components found in Cordyceps and some of the anti-inflammatory properties stemming from these components. Cordyceps militaris contains several bioactive compounds that contribute to it's anti-inflammatory properties.
- Polysaccharides - there are several polysaccharides found in Cordyceps -- some of which are unique to the Cordyceps militaris species known as Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides (CMPs)
- Shown to:
- Suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β)
- Promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10)
- Also has potent antioxidant properties which can contribute to reducing inflammation
- Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) - signature compound of Cordyceps that is known for several health benefits
- Shown to:
- Inhibit the expression of inflammatory genes by suppressing pro-inflammatory pathways
- Pathways include:
- NF-kB
- Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)
- Reduce production of inflammation biomarkers such as:
- CRP
- TNF-α
- IL-6
- Ergosterol and Ergosterol Peroxide - sterols are like building blocks for plant, animal, and fungi cells -- these are precursors to vitamins and hormones. Ergosterol, and its derivative ergosterol peroxide, are fungi sterols.
- Shown to:
- Inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme
- COX is involved in the pathway of pro-inflammatory biomarkers
- Potentially lower pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Beta-glucans - a type of polysaccharide native to many fungi.
- Shown to:
- Enhance the body's immune response against pathogens
- Reduces the need for secretion of additional pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Modulate the activity of white blood cells to prevent unnecessary inflammatory responses
- Cordycepic Acid (D-Mannitol) - mannitol found in Cordyceps militaris is known as cordycepic acid.
- Known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to assist in reducing oxidative stress
- Oxidative stress is often associated with the inflammatory process
- Adenosine - plays a role in energy metabolism.
- Can also act on adenosine receptors leading to reduced inflammatory responses and decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines
These compounds found in Cordyceps militaris work together to modulate the immune system. By inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory responses and promoting anti-inflammatory responses, Cordyceps assists in lowering inflammation biomarkers and potentially alleviating some symptoms associated with chronic inflammation.
Cordyceps militaris shows promise as a natural remedy due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties. While more clinical research is needed to fully unlock its therapeutic potential, ongoing studies continue to reveal promising effects, suggesting significant benefits for human health. This highlights the potential of this remarkable fungus as a source of beneficial natural compounds.
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Does cordyceps reduce inflammation? Hopefully this article provided you some context on what this answer could be. In addition, we provided additional insight into what is happening inside of your body when this increased inflammatory state is taking place.
Thank you to Carly and the great work she does at her company, Live Love Fruit. Some of the resources on inflammation from this article was from her work. Thank you to my AI assistants - Scholar AI Copilot and ChatGPT for finding scholarly articles for me, proofreading everything, and providing explanations for terms I was unfamiliar with.
All mistakes made or missed citations are a fault of mine and mine alone.
Be your Best,
Johnny
References and Further Reading
Cordyceps Chronicles Episode 3 Part 2 (Based on the paper "Cordyceps spp.: A Review on Its Immune-Stimulatory and Other Biological Potentials" referenced below)
Cordyceps Chronicles Episode 4 (Based on the paper "Regulation of human cytokines by Cordyceps militaris")
For those interested in exploring the scientific basis of cordyceps benefits further, reputable sources such as PubMed and Google Scholar offer a wealth of research articles and studies on the topic.
Stay up to date with Bffd Cordyceps Research on our YouTube Channel, Instagram and website.
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