# Preventing metabolic-associated fatty liver disease with fermented cordyceps preparation: an electronic medical record based study

**Authors:** Xiaozhou Zhou, Zijian Tian, Shaoyun Li, Ruifeng Jing, Ziqing Liu, Peng Wu, Jian Shao, Jie Bai, Rong Huang, Ying Pan, Kaixin Zhou

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1576029 · Frontiers in Medicine · 2025-05-14

## TL;DR

This study suggests that fermented Cordyceps Preparation may help reduce the risk of developing fatty liver disease in people with metabolic syndrome.

## Contribution

The study provides large-scale clinical evidence on the preventive efficacy and safety of FCP for MAFLD.

## Key findings

- FCP users had a 26% lower risk of developing MAFLD compared to non-users.
- There was no significant difference in ALT and AST levels between FCP users and non-users.
- The study supports further clinical validation of FCP for MAFLD prevention.

## Abstract

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition with significant health implications. Fermented Cordyceps Preparation (FCP) has shown promise in managing metabolic disorders, prompting interest in its potential for MAFLD prevention. There is, however, a lack of large-scale clinical evidence regarding its preventive efficacy and long-term safety.

We aimed to assess the preventive efficacy and safety of FCP, as regards combatting MAFLD.

Propensity score matching was used to select 343 FCP users and 1372 non-users with metabolic syndrome, (MS) as recorded in EMR. These two groups were followed for 750 days, to track the incidence of MAFLD. The Kaplan Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative risk of MAFLD events in each subgroup. A Multiple linear regression model was used to compare the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as between the two groups.

Compared with non-users, FCP users were associated with a 26% decreased risk of MAFLD (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.56–0.97). During the follow-up, the changes in both ALT and AST, were insignificantly different between the two groups.

These findings highlight the potential of FCP in MAFLD prevention and offer insight into its safety profile, suggesting avenues for further clinical validation and drug repurposing efforts.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** metabolic syndrome (MONDO:0000816)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SLC17A5 (solute carrier family 17 member 5) [NCBI Gene 26503] {aka AST, ISSD, NSD, SD, SIALIN, SIASD}, GPT (glutamic--pyruvic transaminase) [NCBI Gene 2875] {aka AAT1, ALT, ALT1, GPT1, SGPT}
- **Diseases:** liver condition (MESH:D017093), MAFLD (MESH:D005234), metabolic disorders (MESH:D008659), metabolic syndrome (MESH:D024821)
- **Species:** Cordyceps (genus) [taxon 45234]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12116537/full.md

## References

31 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12116537/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12116537