Mood and Sleep Benefits of Mushroom Supplementation in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Mood disturbances and poor sleep are increasingly prevalent in young adults, with limited access to care fueling interest in natural alternatives. Background: This trial evaluated the effects of an organic mushroom extract blend on mood, sleep quality, and salivary cortisol levels. Methods: This was a 25-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm parallel-group trial. Eighty adults (aged 18–40) with self-reported poor sleep and mood symptoms were randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive either capsules or snack bars, with or without 125 mg of mushroom blend, taken twice daily. The primary outcomes were changes in Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. Secondary outcomes included salivary cortisol levels. Safety was assessed via vital signs and hematological markers. Analyses were conducted under an intention-to-treat framework using nonparametric statistics. Trial registration: CTRI/2024/02/063100. Results: Seventy-eight participants completed the trial. Both mushroom blend groups showed significant reductions in DASS-21 and PSQI scores at Days 13 and 25 versus placebo (p<0.05); greater than any change in the placebo groups. Salivary cortisol was also significantly reduced at Day 25 in mushroom groups compared to placebo (p<0.001). No treatment-related adverse events or significant changes in safety markers were observed. Conclusions: Supplementation with an organic mushroom extract blend improved psychological and physiological markers of stress, with no safety concerns. These findings suggest that the observed benefits may be mediated, at least in part, through modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, supporting the blend’s potential as a natural option for stress and sleep support. Both capsule and snack bar formats were effective and well tolerated.