The research

What the science says about our ingredients.

Every ingredient we use has a long history of traditional use. Some also have published research behind them. Here's what has been studied, how it was studied, and where the evidence is still early.

Lion's Mane

Lion's Mane

Hericium erinaceus

The brain mushroom

In our gummies
Starshroooms · 2:1 extract
Traditional use
East Asian cooking and traditional practice, prized for a clear head
Evidence so far
Small human trials

What the research says

Lion's Mane is one of the most studied functional mushrooms. Most of the research is in the lab and in animals, with a handful of small human trials looking at memory, focus and mood.

Human trialMori et al., Phytotherapy Research, 2009

Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment

Who took part
30 Japanese adults aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive impairment.
How it worked
Double blind and placebo controlled. Lion's Mane powder tablets taken daily for 16 weeks.
What they found
The Lion's Mane group scored significantly higher on a cognitive function scale than the placebo group at weeks 8, 12 and 16.
Worth knowing
A small trial in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Scores fell again four weeks after people stopped taking it, and the amount used may differ from a gummy.
Read on PubMed(opens in a new window)
Human trialDocherty et al., Nutrients, 2023

The acute and chronic effects of Lion's Mane on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults

Who took part
41 healthy adults aged 18 to 45.
How it worked
Double blind and placebo controlled. 1.8g of Lion's Mane a day, tested after a single dose and after 28 days.
What they found
People were faster on a focus task (the Stroop test) 60 minutes after a single dose, and there was a trend towards lower stress scores after 28 days.
Worth knowing
A small pilot study. Most of the other memory and attention tests showed no difference from placebo.
Read on PubMed(opens in a new window)
Human trialNagano et al., Biomedical Research, 2010

Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks of Lion's Mane intake

Who took part
30 women.
How it worked
Randomised and placebo controlled. Cookies made with Lion's Mane, or placebo cookies, eaten daily for 4 weeks.
What they found
Depression scores and general complaint scores improved in the Lion's Mane group. Concentration and anxiety moved in the right direction but did not reach significance.
Worth knowing
A small study, and the Lion's Mane was eaten in cookies, so amounts differ from a gummy.
Read on PubMed(opens in a new window)

How we put this page together.

  1. We link to the original Every study links to its published source, so you can read it for yourself.
  2. We say what kind of study it was A trial in people counts for more than a result in mice or a test tube, so we label every one.
  3. We tell you where it stops Small groups, different doses, early results. If a study has limits, you'll see them.

Please note

The studies on this page looked at individual ingredients, often in different forms and amounts to those in our products. None of them tested Starshroooms or any other Innooova product. This page is for general information only and is not medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, speak to your doctor before taking any supplement.