Replacing meat and fish with this fungal food lowers blood cholesterol, flattens the insulin rise after a meal, curbs intake at the next meal, and builds muscle after strength training as well as milk protein. Fungal cells raise uric acid; digestive upset and mould-linked allergic reactions occur. Trials are small and short, with no illness or lifespan data. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LDL cholesterol | < 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL); < 1.8 mmol/L with existing artery disease | Primary benefit endpoint |
| Total cholesterol | < 5.0 mmol/L (193 mg/dL) | The endpoint pooled in meta-analysis |
| Apolipoprotein B | < 0.80 g/L; < 0.65 g/L for aggressive targets | Particle count tracks risk better than cholesterol mass |
| Serum uric acid | 210–330 µmol/L (3.5–5.5 mg/dL) | Primary risk endpoint from the nucleotide load |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate | > 90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Sets urate clearance capacity and the safe nucleotide ceiling |
| HbA1c | < 5.4% (36 mmol/mol) | Tracks whether the postprandial insulin benefit translates |
| Fasting insulin | < 36 pmol/L (5 µIU/mL) | The marker mycoprotein moves most consistently |
| Vitamin B12 | > 400 pmol/L (540 pg/mL) | Mycoprotein supplies none; deficiency is the main displacement risk |
| Ferritin | 50–150 µg/L | Detects falling iron stores when haem iron is displaced |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | < 1.0 mg/L | General inflammation marker; the speculative anti-inflammatory claim would show here |
Cadence: Serum uric acid at 4 weeks; lipid panel and apolipoprotein B at 8–12 weeks; then both every 6–12 months once stable. Vitamin B12 and ferritin at 6 months, then annually.