Can Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides help with complications like diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye) caused by long-term high blood sugar. It is one of the most common complications of diabetes. The question is whether a specific natural compound, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS, extracted from the reishi mushroom), can help with this complication. The short answer from the available evidence is: there is no research showing Gl-PS helps diabetic retinopathy, and one review actually found it stimulates new blood vessel growth, which is the opposite of what you want in this condition 9.
What the research says
A 2023 review of macronutrients and angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels) in diabetes looked at 16 studies of plant, fungal, and bacterial compounds 9. It found that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (Gl-PS) was among the carbohydrates that induced angiogenesis during wound healing 9. That is helpful for healing wounds, but in diabetic retinopathy the problem is abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, so a compound that promotes angiogenesis is not obviously beneficial and could theoretically be harmful 9. The same review noted that other carbohydrates, such as Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), suppressed retinal angiogenesis, but Gl-PS was not listed among those 9.
What to ask your doctor
- Ask your doctor whether any supplement, including reishi mushroom or Ganoderma lucidum, could interact with your diabetes or eye medications.
- Ask what treatments are proven to slow diabetic retinopathy, such as blood sugar control and specific diabetes drugs.
- Ask whether SGLT2 inhibitors (a class of diabetes drugs) might be appropriate for you, since they have been linked to lower retinopathy progression in some studies 3.
- Ask about the role of anti-VEGF eye injections or other eye treatments for diabetic retinopathy 4.
- Tell your doctor about any supplements you are considering, so they can help you weigh the lack of evidence and possible risks 9.
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Diabetes & Endocrinology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.