Clinical Trial to Analyze the Effect of Oral Intake of Phellinus Linteus(Sanghuang) Extract on Immune Function: A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Double-blind Controlled Trial
Abstract Background: As Korea becomes an aging society, interest in health care has increased. In particular, there is an increasing demand for immune function improvement to prevent infectious diseases. Phellinus linteus (PL) has previously been shown to have immune-enhancing and anticancer effects. We aim to evaluate whether PL mycelium extract, cultured using the PL KCTC0399BP strain, has an increase in immune function using blood test indicators. This clinical trial is designed based on the results of a pilot study as the main trial.Methods: This clinical trial will be a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Ninety-eight participants will be enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (PL 1000 mg) and control group (placebo). Participants will be administered experimental food or placebo for 8 weeks. Blood tests will be performed before food intake and at 8 weeks after the start of the experiment. Laboratory evaluation items are as follows: natural killer cell activity, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2, and IgM. We will mainly use the full analysis set to statistically analyze the effectiveness of treatment.Discussion: This study includes inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention. This study evaluates the effect of PL extract on immune function and will contribute to knowledge on the value of PL as an immune function health functional food.Clinical research registration: This study has been registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of Korea: CRIS-KCT0005460. Registered , 12 October 2020, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp?seq=17761<ype=&rtype=Trial status: This clinical trial is in the recruitment stage. Recruitment began in October 21, 2020 and will be completed in March 2021. This trial was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service of South Korea on October 12, 2020. (CRIS-KCT0005460)