@article{jfnr20261471,
author={{Bukhari, Shazia Anwer and Rehman, Asim and Ihsan, Ali and Tahir, Farrukh and Ramzan, Rehana},
title={Mushroom (<i>Agaricus bisporus</i>) as a Dietary Adjunct Ameliorated Metabolic Perturbation Markers in a Hypercholesterolemic Rat Model},
journal={Journal of Food and Nutrition Research},
volume={14},
number={7},
pages={149--161},
year={2026},
url={https://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/14/7/1},
issn={2333-1240},
abstract={Hypercholesterolemia is a major metabolic disorder associated with cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress, and impaired immune function, yet effective dietary interventions with mechanistic evidence remain limited. <i>Agaricus bisporus</i>, a member of the Basidiomycota, is recognized for its dietary and medicinal properties. This study assessed its phytochemical composition and its effects on metabolic biomarkers in a hypercholesterolemic rat model. A total of 36 rats were used. Twelve rats were assigned to a control group receiving a chow maintenance diet (CMD), while 24 rats were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. After induction, these were divided into HC and HCAB groups (n=12 each). The hypercholesterolemia was confirmed through blood samples analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL. One hypercholesterolemic group continued the same diet, while the other group received dried <i>A. bisporus </i>powder incorporated into the diet at 5% w/w concentration for an additional 21 days. <i>A. bisporus </i>supplementation significantly reduced total oxidant status and improved HDL cholesterol levels (p&lt;0.05). Additionally, the cell-mediated immune response increased significantly in the <i>A. bisporus</i>-treated group, and the fungus positively influenced key enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and inflammatory markers. A significant improvement was also observed in the expression of metabolic and insulin regulatory genes, indicating the potential of <i>A. bisporus</i> as a therapeutic dietary intervention for hypercholesterolemia, metabolic impairments, and related cardiovascular diseases.},
doi={10.12691/jfnr-14-7-1}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}