Beckman Research Institute's Department of Surgical Research Dr. Shiuan Chen has concluded the white button mushrooms offer both breast cancer and prostate cancer protection, and may be a significant nutritional resource as a cancer prevention food. Compounds found in white button mushrooms are capable of suppressing aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of estrogen. For estrogen positive breast cancers, the suppression of estrogen is important, as estrogen fuels the spread of estrogen-positive breast cancer. Dr. Chen suggests postmenopausal women may benefit from a daily diet of white button mushrooms for cancer prevention.

In addition, Dr. Chen found that the phytochemicals in white button mushrooms suppressed steroid 5alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, DHT, which, if allowed to rise, can lead to the development of prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate. In cell culture experiments mushroom extracts suppressed the growth of both hormone dependent and hormone independent prostate cancer cell lines, and can decrease the size of a tumor. The research indicates that men may benefit from a daily diet that includes mushrooms as a means of prostate cancer prevention. As an interesting side note, the mushroom extracts tested seem to have the ability to slow hair loss, because over production of DHT can lead to hair loss. For more information, download Mushroom Council Nutrition Research Update 2005, available as a PDF document, found in the drop down menu.