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RCT of Mushroom Based Natural Product to Enhance Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination

Multicenter Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled RCT of Fomitopsis Officinalis/Trametes Versicolor for COVID-19

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04951336
Acronym
MACH19
Enrollment
90
Registered
2021-07-06
Start date
2021-06-10
Completion date
2022-07-06
Last updated
2025-08-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

COVID-19 Vaccination

Brief summary

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of two polypore mushrooms, Fomitopsis officinalis and Trametes versicolor (FoTv), for use as an adjunct to vaccination for COVID-19 in a general population at the time of COVID-19 vaccination.

Detailed description

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of two polypore mushrooms, Fomitopsis officinalis and Trametes versicolor (FoTv), for use as an adjunct to vaccination for COVID-19 in a general population at the time of COVID-19 vaccination. Fo and Tv have immunomodulatory properties which may increase antibody titers in response to vaccination more than vaccination alone. However, because they are also immunomodulatory - not purely immune-stimulating - they may have the added benefit of simultaneously decreasing vaccine-related side effects following COVID-19 vaccination. The study aims to establish the safety and feasibility of the use of FoTv vs placebo; evaluate the effect on post-vaccination clinical symptoms and immune response in 45 total subjects.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTFoTv

Fomitopsis Officinalis and Trametes Versicolor

Sponsors

University of California, San Diego
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Intervention model description

Mix model involving two groups and multiple measurements across study time-points

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Scheduled for or planning on scheduling COVID-19 vaccination * Age 18 years and older * Willing to avoid alcohol, cannabis, and dairy products during the study product in-take period. * Capable of documenting vitals, symptoms, and study product intake daily and communicating this information to the study team

Exclusion criteria

* Known liver disease (or diagnosis of cirrhosis) * Known renal disease or acute nephritis. * Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
eGFR Normal to Abnormal Transition14 daysThe Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.
AST Normal to Abnormal Transition14 daysThe Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that transitioned to abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.
ALT Normal to Abnormal Transition14 daysThe Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.
ALP Normal to Abnormal Transition14 daysThe Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Single-dose vaccine (J&J): days 1, 14, and 28, and 6-months post-vaccination; two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna): days 1, 14, and 42 (two weeks after second dose), and 6-months post-vaccination; and vaccine booster: days 1, 3, and 14, and 6-months.higher scores indicate higher levels of RBD levels
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Single-dose vaccine (J&J): days 1, 14, and 28, and 6-months post-vaccination; two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna): days 1, 14, and 42 (two weeks after second dose), and 6-months post-vaccination; and vaccine booster: days 1, 3, and 14, and 6-months.higher scores indicate higher levels of Spike levels
Side-Effect NumberDays, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5count of the number of CDC side effects associated with vaccine. higher scores indicate higher number of endorsed side effects. Count of: feeling feverish, low fever in the afternoon, alternating fever and chills, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, redness/swelling at injection site, and pain at injection site. The range was from zero to 10.
Side-Effect SeverityDays, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Sum of the side effect severities for the CDC side effects associated with vaccine. higher scores indicate higher severity. The side effects included: feeling feverish, low fever in the afternoon, alternating fever and chills, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, redness/swelling at injection site, and pain at injection site. The scale for each side effect ranged from zero to 4. The total possible scale was zero to 40.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Mushrooms
Drug: FoTv The dosage of FoTv is 8 capsules three times a day for 4 consecutive days. It does not need to be consumed with food. It is best taken at least 30 minutes before OR at least 60 minutes after meals, in the morning, noon and evening. Accidentally missed doses will not need to be taken at a later time but will be recorded in a daily diary. Should swallowing capsules be an issue, they can be opened and dispensed into water or juice for easy ingestion. FoTv: Fomitopsis Officinalis and Trametes Versicolor
52
Placebo
Placebo: organic brown rice The dosage of Placebo is 8 capsules three times a day for 4 consecutive days. It does not need to be consumed with food. It is best taken at least 30 minutes before OR at least 60 minutes after meals, in the morning, noon and evening. Accidentally missed doses will not need to be taken at a later time but will be recorded in a daily diary. Should swallowing capsules be an issue, they can be opened and dispensed into water or juice for easy ingestion. FoTv: Fomitopsis Officinalis and Trametes Versicolor
38
Total90

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTotalPlaceboMushrooms
Adjusted glomerular filtration rate (Adj. eGFR) Normal73 Participants35 Participants38 Participants
Age, Continuous39.03 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.6
33.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.9
43.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.6
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Normal77 Participants34 Participants43 Participants
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Normal88 Participants36 Participants52 Participants
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Normal88 participants38 participants50 participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
17 Participants8 Participants9 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
67 Participants26 Participants41 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
90 participants38 participants52 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
52 Participants21 Participants31 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
38 Participants17 Participants21 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 520 / 38
other
Total, other adverse events
8 / 524 / 38
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 520 / 38

Outcome results

Primary

ALP Normal to Abnormal Transition

The Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.

Time frame: 14 days

Population: Number of participants who were normal at baseline. Participants who were abnormal at baseline were excluded, therefore the number of participants in this analysis is different from the total number of participants in the Mushrooms or Placebo groups described in the study arms/groups.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
MushroomsALP Normal to Abnormal Transition1.9 % of participants who transitioned
PlaceboALP Normal to Abnormal Transition0 % of participants who transitioned
p-value: 1Chi-squared, Corrected
Primary

ALT Normal to Abnormal Transition

The Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.

Time frame: 14 days

Population: Number of participants who were normal at baseline. Participants who were abnormal at baseline were excluded.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
MushroomsALT Normal to Abnormal Transition4.7 % of participants who transitioned
PlaceboALT Normal to Abnormal Transition5.9 % of participants who transitioned
p-value: 1Chi-squared, Corrected
Primary

AST Normal to Abnormal Transition

The Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that transitioned to abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.

Time frame: 14 days

Population: Number of participants who were normal at baseline. Participants who were abnormal at baseline were excluded, therefore the number of participants in this analysis is different from the total number of participants in the Mushrooms or Placebo groups described in the study arms/groups.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
MushroomsAST Normal to Abnormal Transition2.0 % of participants who transitioned
PlaceboAST Normal to Abnormal Transition2.6 % of participants who transitioned
p-value: 1Chi-squared, Corrected
Primary

eGFR Normal to Abnormal Transition

The Normal to Abnormal percentage reflects the percentage of participants with normal values at Day 1 that became abnormal at Day 14 relative to all participants with normal values at baseline.

Time frame: 14 days

Population: Number of participants who were normal at baseline. Participants who were abnormal at baseline were excluded, therefore the number of participants in this analysis is different from the total number of participants in the Mushrooms or Placebo groups described in the study arms/groups.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
MushroomseGFR Normal to Abnormal Transition10.5 % of participants who transitioned
PlaceboeGFR Normal to Abnormal Transition2.9 % of participants who transitioned
p-value: 0.359Chi-squared, Corrected
Secondary

SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)

higher scores indicate higher levels of RBD levels

Time frame: Single-dose vaccine (J&J): days 1, 14, and 28, and 6-months post-vaccination; two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna): days 1, 14, and 42 (two weeks after second dose), and 6-months post-vaccination; and vaccine booster: days 1, 3, and 14, and 6-months.

Population: Five participants (3 in the Active group and 2 in the Placebo group) had 1 or more antibody test results that were considered outliers, and these participants were excluded from further antibody and side-effect analyses.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)6month3209.48933 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 3720.168648
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day1355.02881 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 358.066647
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day3541.90950 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 456.766094
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day1410116.05971 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 6190.370668
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day289674.97316 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 5860.432037
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)6month6178.44885 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 8273.702523
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day14700.61000 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 2530.473761
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day283953.50332 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 3460.118026
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day11.29801 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1.93767
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day1206.22357 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 188.893233
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day1410052.95574 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 4834.742085
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day3289.80001 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 217.354133
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day2810469.33030 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 3844.263396
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)6month3398.50612 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 4093.456937
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)6month3359.28725 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 5108.022295
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day11.35671 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 2.474966
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day14168.23960 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 161.993614
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)Day285129.00732 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 5704.361365
Comparison: The LME analysis compared antibodies between two grouping factors, (1) Treatment Group (FoTv vs. Placebo) and (2) Exposure Stratum (previously exposed vs. unexposed), across four time points (days 3, 14, 28, and 6 months). At baseline, participants with detectable anti-CoV-2 antibodies were deemed previously exposed and those with no or very low anti-CoV-2 Abs previously unexposed. Accordingly, all longitudinal analyses excluded baseline antibody data.p-value: 0.002Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).

higher scores indicate higher levels of Spike levels

Time frame: Single-dose vaccine (J&J): days 1, 14, and 28, and 6-months post-vaccination; two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna): days 1, 14, and 42 (two weeks after second dose), and 6-months post-vaccination; and vaccine booster: days 1, 3, and 14, and 6-months.

Population: Five participants (3 in the Active group and 2 in the Placebo group) had 1 or more antibody test results that were considered outliers, and these participants were excluded from further antibody and side-effect analyses.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day283981.34227 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1366.702076
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day144488.11297 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1542.14135
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).6month1544.40689 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1341.873844
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day1247.56807 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 258.452559
MushroomsSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day3380.70020 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 307.487759
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day10.47756 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 0.400992
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).6month2107.24372 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 2696.389743
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day14392.53283 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1047.729456
PlaceboSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day281958.70983 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1542.192284
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day1149.40025 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 119.995872
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day3205.36409 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 143.3426
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).6month1546.52328 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1347.920386
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day284719.52003 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1192.604423
Placebo-ExposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day144877.87445 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1549.01448
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).6month1400.07776 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1673.265928
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day10.78453 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 1.023236
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day14224.88593 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 242.109014
Placebo-UnexposedSARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (Spike).Day282383.29307 binding antibody units/mLStandard Deviation 2275.359574
Comparison: LME analysis compared antibodies between two grouping factors, (1) Treatment Group (FoTv vs. Placebo) and (2) Exposure Stratum (previously exposed vs. unexposed), across four time points (days 3, 14, 28, and 6 months). At baseline, participants with detectable anti-CoV-2 antibodies were deemed previously exposed and those with no or very low anti-CoV-2 Abs previously unexposed. Accordingly, all longitudinal analyses excluded baseline antibody data.p-value: 0.002Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Side-Effect Number

count of the number of CDC side effects associated with vaccine. higher scores indicate higher number of endorsed side effects. Count of: feeling feverish, low fever in the afternoon, alternating fever and chills, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, redness/swelling at injection site, and pain at injection site. The range was from zero to 10.

Time frame: Days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Population: Five participants (3 in the Active group and 2 in the Placebo group) had 1 or more antibody test results that were considered outliers, and these participants were excluded from further antibody and side-effect analyses.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
MushroomsSide-Effect NumberDay41.5000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.17747
MushroomsSide-Effect NumberDay22.9333 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.36254
MushroomsSide-Effect NumberDay51.0333 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.62912
MushroomsSide-Effect NumberDay33.2000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.70886
MushroomsSide-Effect NumberDay10.6333 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.73172
PlaceboSide-Effect NumberDay32.0526 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.14667
PlaceboSide-Effect NumberDay41.0526 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.71509
PlaceboSide-Effect NumberDay50.0526 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.22942
PlaceboSide-Effect NumberDay21.4737 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.4737
PlaceboSide-Effect NumberDay10.2632 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.56195
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect NumberDay33.3200 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.62552
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect NumberDay10.5200 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.77028
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect NumberDay23.2000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.92973
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect NumberDay42.2000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.5658
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect NumberDay50.9200 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.55242
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect NumberDay41.9091 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.70027
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect NumberDay21.2727 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.68667
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect NumberDay10.4545 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.52223
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect NumberDay34.5455 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.20511
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect NumberDay50.6364 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.6742
Comparison: LME analysis compared symptoms between two grouping factors, (1) Treatment Group (FoTv vs. Placebo) and (2) Exposure Stratum (previously exposed vs. unexposed), across 5 time points (days 1-5)p-value: 0.06Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Side-Effect Severity

Sum of the side effect severities for the CDC side effects associated with vaccine. higher scores indicate higher severity. The side effects included: feeling feverish, low fever in the afternoon, alternating fever and chills, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, redness/swelling at injection site, and pain at injection site. The scale for each side effect ranged from zero to 4. The total possible scale was zero to 40.

Time frame: Days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Population: Five participants (3 in the Active group and 2 in the Placebo group) had 1 or more antibody test results that were considered outliers, and these participants were excluded from further antibody and side-effect analyses.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
MushroomsSide-Effect SeverityDay41.5667 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.16972
MushroomsSide-Effect SeverityDay34.6667 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.93257
MushroomsSide-Effect SeverityDay11.0333 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.068
MushroomsSide-Effect SeverityDay50.9333 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.70057
MushroomsSide-Effect SeverityDay23.7600 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.53883
PlaceboSide-Effect SeverityDay22.4000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.34255
PlaceboSide-Effect SeverityDay40.7895 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.43678
PlaceboSide-Effect SeverityDay32.0000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.01386
PlaceboSide-Effect SeverityDay50.0526 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.22942
PlaceboSide-Effect SeverityDay10.2632 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.56195
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect SeverityDay51.2400 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.61852
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect SeverityDay10.6800 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.14455
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect SeverityDay27.0000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.0852
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect SeverityDay35.6400 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.38424
Placebo-ExposedSide-Effect SeverityDay43.5600 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.49303
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect SeverityDay24.0000 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.12741
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect SeverityDay10.4545 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.52223
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect SeverityDay50.9091 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.22103
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect SeverityDay42.5455 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.84125
Placebo-UnexposedSide-Effect SeverityDay38.3636 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.88001
p-value: 0.326Mixed Models Analysis

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026