Agaricus Bisporus for Testosterone

Agaricus bisporus mushroom may suppress an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, but more research is needed.

Agaricus bisporus is an edible mushroom species. It is used by some testosterone booster products given its ability to:

• Inhibit aromatase, an enzyme needed to convert testosterone to estrogen.

Overview

Agaricus bisporus, also known as common or white button mushroom, is the most widely consumed mushroom in the world. Agaricus bisporus can be white or brown-colored, and is harvested either when young, resulting in small mushrooms called button mushrooms, or when it’s mature, resulting in larger mushrooms called portobello.

Agaricus bisporus has seen little clinical research, but two studies in animals and isolated cells do suggest that this mushroom may contain compounds capable of inhibiting aromatase, an enzyme which converts testosterone to estrogen. This has led to its inclusion in some testosterone booster formulas.

How Agaricus Bisporus Might Help With Testosterone

Inhibition of aromatase

Agaricus bisporus extract contains unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and conjugated linoleic acid, which may be capable of suppressing the action of aromatase, an enzyme required to convert testosterone into estrogen. This could theoretically reduce estrogen levels and increase testosterone at the same time.

Indeed, this mechanism of action is used by a whole class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AIs). AIs are mostly used to treat hormone disorders in men, and may be effective at raising testosterone in older men particularly.

Agaricus Bisporus Potential Testosterone Uses

Agaricus bisporus is usually consumed in its whole form as part of a normal diet rather than as a supplement. However, it is also used by some multi-ingredient testosterone boosters such as Cellucor’s P6 Xtreme.

Agaricus bisporus is not currently associated with any specific health benefits. Indeed, the claim that it can increase testosterone is based on two studies done on animals and isolated cells, which is far too little evidence.

Having said that, a group of researchers did suggest that a diet high in agaricus bisporus may be able to affect aromatase. In turn, this may theoretically have some benefit for testosterone.

Research

Animal & Petri Dish Research

Agaricus bisporus mushrooms have seen very little clinical research, and it is mostly the results of two studies that have led some people to claim they can raise testosterone.

Agaricus bisporus extract may have aromatic-inhibitting activity

This study examined the efficacy of agaricus bisporus mushroom extract as an anti-cancer agent. Researchers administered the extract to isolated human and animal cells, as well as mice. They found that one of its activities  included the inhibition of aromatase, an enzyme required to convert testosterone into the female sex hormone estrogen.

• The researchers concluded that “white button mushrooms contain phytochemicals with anti-aromatase and anti-proliferative activities“¹

Agaricus bisporus extract may be able to supress aromatase

This study examined the aromatic-inhibitting effect of agaricus bisporus extract in isolated cells. The extract resulted in a dose-dependant suppression of aromatase activity.

• The researchers concluded that “diets high in mushrooms may modulate the aromatase activity and function in chemoprevention in postmenopausal women by reducing the in situ production of estrogen“²

Dosage for Testosterone

• Researchers suggest that eating 100 g of agaricus bisporus mushrooms daily may be effective for influencing aromatase
• Agaricus bisporus does not appear to be sold as a standalone supplement at this time