Please note: This trial has finished recruiting and is not accepting new participants.

Research Center: Purdue University
Location: Stone Hall, Purdue University, 700 W State St, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Lead Researcher: Professor Wayne W. Campbell, Ph.D.
IRB: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Purdue Human Research Protection Program and Institutional Review Board

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. The skin naturally produces vitamin D with sun exposure, but with the lack of sun exposure during the winter, individuals can become deficient in vitamin D and may need to increase dietary vitamin D intake.

Recent research suggests that mushrooms and vitamin D boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. To further explore this intriguing question, researchers at Purdue University need healthy adult volunteers. Volunteers will help investigate whether eating vitamin D-enriched mushrooms daily boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, and maintains overall vitamin D levels in the blood. As a secondary outcome, this study assesses the effects of vitamin D-enriched mushroom consumption on measures of depression, anxiety, and overall well being. The findings of this study will add to the growing body of evidence about the health benefits of daily mushroom consumption and may help experts develop dietary recommendations to help individuals maintain optimal vitamin D status.

• Participants will potentially see health improvements associated with increased vitamin D levels.
• Participants will be compensated up to $200 for participating in this study.
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may help experts to improve dietary recommendations for those with low vitamin D levels in the future.
• Participants will be helping to advance preventative medical research.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

• Men and women aged 30-69 years old who are generally healthy
• Must have a BMI of 25-34.9 kg/m²
• Must have a body weight that has been stable within the last 3 months. This means the participant’s weight has not increased or decreased by 3kg.
• Physical activity must have been stable within the last 3 months
• Must not have changed the dosages of any medications being taken within the last 6 months
• Must be willing to refrain from traveling to sunny locations during the study period
• Must be willing to refrain from any tanning procedures during the study period
• Must be willing to refrain from taking vitamin D supplements during the study period
• Must not have high blood pressure
• Must not have undergone bariatric surgery
• Must not have been diagnosed with severe depression
• Must not be following a restricted diet (such as keto, gluten-free, high protein, low carb, etc.)
• Must not be an active smoker
• Must not be diabetic
• Must not have any acute illnesses
• Must not be allergic to mushrooms
• Must not have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or allergies to wheat, rye, or barley
• Must be able to attend 7 study visits at the research site over approximately 12 weeks

The study team will explain the research in its entirety but some details are:

• Participants will attend 1 in-person screening visit and 6 in-person study visits at the research site over 12 weeks where they will complete well-being questionnaires, get weighed and height measured,, and provide a blood sample.
• During the study period, participants will consume mushrooms or powder twice daily. They will also monitor food intake and have weekly body weight checks and frequent online and in-person contact.
• Participants will refrain from eating or drinking any foods or caloric beverages after 10 pm the night before each of the 7 visits. They will also be expected to refrain from donating blood during the study, as well as 1 month before and after the study period.

Purdue University
Purdue University’s Department of Nutrition Science is nationally recognized for its work in nutrition health and disease prevention. The department provides its students with interdisciplinary training using a hands-on approach. Its research is concentrated on four main areas. These include metabolism and obesity; minerals, vitamin D, and bone health; food, ingestive behavior, and population nutrition; and carcinogenesis and cancer prevention. The research in these fields aims to further understand how food choices impact long-term health.

Please note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers would like to assure the participants that ensuring their and the study staff’s safety is of utmost importance.