Effect of Supplementary Treatment With Agaricus Blazei Based Mushroom Extract, Andosan, on Patients With Asthma and Allergy

Asthma and allergy are increasing in Norway and Western countries. Treatment is still mostly symptomatic. Extracts of the immunomodulatory and edible mushroom Agaricus blazei, such as Andosan™, have been shown to protect against asthma and allergy in murine models by changing the T helper cell 1(upregulation)-T helper cell 2 (downregulation) balance in the immune system. Positive effects on allergy were also shown in a RCT on blood donors with selfreported allergy. Andosan™ is produced in Japan and approved as food (mushroom juice) in Norway.

The aim of this study is to examine whether Andosan™ i) has similar clinical effects against allergy and asthma in patients as it has in mice, and as earlier shown in a study on blood donors with allergy ii) wether patients taking Andosan has any clinical impact on asthma while taken as supplementary treatment in addition to other medication compared to a placebo group while going through allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT).

If the extract shows effect on these patients it support the hypotheses that Andosan helps against atopic diseases and facilitate the shift from Th-2 to Th-1 responses at a cellular level.