Can fungi cause cancer?

More evidence points to fungi’s ability to be both friend and foe.

I recently told you about an interesting study that found links between certain fungi and severe and long COVID. 

Fungi are really fascinating. As I discussed with Merlin Sheldrake on a recent ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast episode, they play a crucial role in the health of our planet by forming symbiotic relationships with plants. Edible mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of some fungi, are also stuffed full of nutrients and increasingly, we’re seeing them being investigated for their use in medicine.

In our guts, fungi – which make up the so-called gut mycobiome – carry out important functions, such as supporting healthy immune responses by interacting with cells in the gut lining and reducing inflammation. However, it’s all about balance. A friend can turn into a foe, as we’ve already heard and seems to be the case with some COVID patients.

Can fungi also cause cancer? 

Photo by Logan Moreno Gutierrez