Gut Fungus Could Shield the Body from Radiation, Study Finds
A PNAS study shows the gut-dwelling fungus Mucor racemosus can reduce radiation-related damage in mice by producing protective amino acids (L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, DL-lysine) and by MTA-mediated changes in gut bacteria that raise methionine. The radioprotective effect persists in germ-free mice and is enhanced when the fungus is preadapted to the gut’s low-oxygen environment; feeding irradiated mice cheese fermented with the fungus also reduced inflammation and improved gut barriers. While promising, more research is needed before humans can rely on this, and immunocompromised individuals should be cautious—even though the fungus occurs in some fermented foods and is FDA-approved for dietary use.