Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) powder providing 3 g of daily β-glucans lowered several markers tied to how much cholesterol the body absorbs, especially in women after 4 weeks. In the 46-person trial, adults took 8.4 g of mushroom powder daily and showed drops in compounds linked to cholesterol uptake in the gut, even though LDL cholesterol itself did not significantly change. Every participant taking the mushroom powder also showed measurable ergosterol in their blood averaging 21 µg/mL, confirming the mushroom compounds were actively absorbed by the body.