Recent Advances in the Role of Edible Fungi in Sarcopenia: A Review
Abstract: Sarcopenia, a degenerative skeletal muscle disease closely related to aging, has become a major threat to the health and quality of life of older adults. With the global trend of population aging, the social and economic problems caused by sarcopenia are becoming increasingly prominent. Currently, pharmacological treatments for sarcopenia are somewhat limited, whereas nutritional interventions have shown potential advantages in combating the condition. This review comprehensively discusses the bioactive components and functional properties of edible fungi and provides a thorough understanding of the severe health issues faced by sarcopenia patients, such as muscle degeneration and functional loss. Although animal experiments and early human studies support the positive effects of edible fungi, large-scale nutritional epidemiology studies in humans are still insufficient, which limits their application in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Therefore, future research, such as randomized controlled trials, is needed to fully understand their effects on muscle health and to provide a solid scientific basis for the prevention and management of sarcopenia.
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