In the competitive world of immune health supplements, clinical studies are the gold standard that separate mere claims from proven efficacy. Many nutraceuticals tout traditional use or lab studies, but few invest in rigorous human trials. Whether you’re a supplement formulator searching for credible ingredients or a health-conscious consumer seeking real results, seeing published human clinical data provides unmatched confidence. This is especially true for immune support products, where robust evidence is key to standing out. Recent events have only heightened awareness of immune health, and brands now recognize that backing ingredients with clinical trials isn’t just good science, it’s smart business.
One prime example is BeyondMushrooms Reishi, our high-potency extract of the famed Reishi mushroom. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has a rich history in traditional medicine as an immune supporter, but modern validation has lagged. That’s why a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on BeyondMushrooms Reishi is a game-changer. This gold-standard study in healthy adults not only confirms Reishi’s immune benefits but does so on the exact ingredient used in products, meaning brands can legitimately claim “clinically proven immune support” for BeyondMushrooms Reishi.
In the sections below, we’ll break down the study design, its remarkable results, and what it means for anyone formulating or taking immune health supplements made with this ingredient.
Creating a credible immune health ingredient starts with rigorous human research. This trial on BeyondMushrooms Reishi was structured to remove bias and ensure results could be confidently attributed to the ingredient. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either BeyondMushrooms Reishi β-glucan or a placebo, with neither they nor the researchers knowing which they got until the study concluded. Over 12 weeks, the team tracked changes in both adaptive and innate immunity, plus overall safety.
| Item | Details |
| Design | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial |
| Publication Date | February, 2023 |
| Location & Ethics | Taipei, Taiwan; IRB-approved |
| Participants | Screened 238 → randomized 157 (Reishi n=80; placebo n=77) → analyzed 135 (Reishi n=70; placebo n=65) |
| Dose & Duration | 200 mg/day BeyondMushrooms Reishi β-glucan for 84 days; placebo 200 mg dextrose |
| Interim Check | Phone safety check around days 43–45 |
| Primary Outcomes | Total lymphocytes; CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T-cells; CD4/CD8 ratio; NK cell count; NK cell cytotoxicity; serum IgA |
| Secondary Outcomes | Safety labs (ALT, AST, creatinine, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets) |
This approach gave the researchers a clear before-and-after picture of immune status and ensured any changes could be compared directly against a matched placebo group.
After 12 weeks, the BeyondMushrooms Reishi group showed significant improvements in every immune parameter measured, each result being statistically significant. These gains reflect both greater numbers of key immune cells and stronger functional activity.
| Outcome | What it Reflects | Reishi % Change | Placebo % Change | P-Value |
| Total Lymphocytes | Overall immune cell availability | +14.1% | +2.8% | 0.002 |
| CD3+ T Cells | Total T-cell pool | +15.0% | +1.0% | 0.002 |
| CD4+ T Cells | "Helper" T-cell coordinators | +13.4% | -8.0% | 0.0001 |
| CD8+ T Cells | "Killer" T-cells that remove infected cells | +14.6% | +2.4% | 0.033 |
| CD4/CD8 Ratio | Balance of helper to killer T-cells | +12.9% | -2.2% | 0.0001 |
| Serum IgA | First-line mucosal antibody | +10.0% | +2.1% | 0.031 |
| NK Cell Count | Innate "first responder" cells | +19.5% | -2.0% | 0.0001 |
| NK Cell Cytotoxicity | NK cells' killing power | +83.1% | -4.5% | 0.0001 |
The numbers tell an impressive story, but what do they actually mean for immune health? Below is a breakdown of each finding, showing how BeyondMushrooms Reishi enhanced specific aspects of both adaptive and innate immunity in ways that matter for real-world defense.
Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that serve as the foot soldiers of your immune system (including T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells). An increase of 14.1% in total lymphocyte count indicates that overall immune cell availability was enhanced. In simple terms, the body had more of these defensive warriors circulating and ready, a foundational boost for immune readiness.
T cells represent all T lymphocytes (helper and killer T cells combined), which are central coordinators of adaptive immunity. A 15% increase in CD3+ T cells means the Reishi group had a broader army of T-cells available to recognize and fight pathogens. T-cells direct immune traffic; more T-cells suggest a stronger capacity to mount targeted immune responses (for example, attacking virus-infected cells or regulating antibody production).
CD4+ cells, often called “helper T cells,” are like generals of the immune system that orchestrate other cells. A 13.4% rise in CD4+ T-cell count reflects a significant increase in these coordinating cells. Why is this important? More helper T cells mean better immune “leadership”, your immune system can initiate and amplify responses to threats more effectively.
CD8+ cells are “killer T cells,” the specialized soldiers that directly destroy virus-infected cells or cancerous cells. A 14.6% increase in CD8 T-cell count means more of these assassin cells were circulating in those taking BeyondMushrooms Reishi. In practical terms, the immune system’s capacity to eliminate infected or abnormal cells was heightened. This boost in frontline attackers can translate to quicker removal of infections and potentially better immune surveillance against early-stage tumors.
This ratio is a key indicator of immune balance. It compares helper T cells (CD4) to killer T cells (CD8). In healthy immune function, a higher ratio (more helpers relative to killers) is often favorable and is associated with robust immune status. BeyondMushrooms Reishi improved the CD4/CD8 ratio by 12.9%, indicating a healthier immune profile in the supplementation group.
NK cells are part of the innate immune defense, think of them as the first responders that can react swiftly to infected cells without prior exposure. The Reishi group’s NK cell count jumped by 19.5%, a substantial rise. More NK cells mean greater immediate immune surveillance and the ability to tackle viral-infected cells or emerging tumor cells early on. In contrast, the placebo group saw a slight decline in NK count, so this near 20% increase is a clear sign that BeyondMushrooms Reishi rallied the body’s innate defenders.
This outcome was perhaps the most dramatic. Cytotoxicity refers to the killing ability of NK cells, how effectively those NK cells destroy targets (like virus-infected cells in a lab test). An 83.1% increase in NK cell cytotoxic activity is an enormous boost in functional immune power. In plain language, not only did Reishi increase the number of NK cells, it made each of those cells much more effective at eliminating threats. This kind of improvement in NK function can translate to better protection against infections; for example, more efficient clearance of a virus at the early stages can prevent it from taking hold. It’s rare to see an immune function jump this high in a nutritional study, highlighting how potent this Reishi extract’s effect is on the innate immune system.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that plays a crucial role in mucosal immunity; it’s found in saliva, gut lining, respiratory tract, as well as in the blood. IgA is like the body’s front-line antibody, neutralizing pathogens at entry points. The Reishi supplement group saw serum IgA increase by 10.0%. A rise in IgA suggests enhanced immune readiness at the mucosal level (think better defense in the areas where cold and flu viruses often first attack, such as the nose and throat). In practical terms, this could mean a stronger barrier against infections; higher IgA often correlates with lower risk or shorter duration of common infections. While a 10% uptick is modest, it is meaningful given that IgA is a broad measure of immune vigilance. The fact that this was significantly higher than the placebo’s change indicates BeyondMushrooms Reishi meaningfully bolstered first-line immune defenses.
With this landmark clinical trial, BeyondMushrooms Reishi has positioned itself as the most clinically validated and potent Reishi extract on the market for immune support. Few, if any, Reishi or mushroom ingredients have demonstrated such a spectrum of immune enhancements in a peer-reviewed human study. For brands and product developers, this data is a game-changer: it provides a compelling evidence-backed story to tell consumers. Instead of relying on anecdotes or test-tube studies, a brand can now confidently say its Reishi ingredient increased key immune cells and improved immune function in a human trial. That credibility gives any immune health product a major competitive edge.
From a marketing perspective, the ability to cite human research on your exact ingredient elevates consumer trust and sets your product apart. In an era where shoppers are increasingly savvy and skeptical of overblown claims, an ingredient like BeyondMushrooms Reishi backed by science allows for stronger yet truthful claims (e.g. “clinically shown to boost immune markers”). Brands formulating with BeyondMushrooms Reishi can leverage phrases like “clinically studied immune support,” knowing they refer to robust outcomes, not just borrowed reference studies. This not only strengthens the product’s positioning in the immune health category, but also ensures that consumers actually feel the difference, leading to better satisfaction and loyalty.
In summary, the BeyondMushrooms Reishi clinical study has raised the bar for what immune supplements can achieve. It marries ancient wisdom with cutting-edge validation. The result is an ingredient that delivers proven immune modulation, from increasing T-cell counts to supercharging NK cell activity, all at a modest 200mg daily dose. For immune health brands intent on offering effective, credible products, partnering with ingredients backed by human trials isn’t just an option; it’s the new standard. BeyondMushrooms Reishi exemplifies this standard, empowering formulators to create supplements that are both rooted in nature and proven by science. By choosing clinically validated ingredients, brands can confidently step into the market with a product that not only talks the talk of immune support, but walks the walk, supported every step by hard data.