Increased plasma creatine kinase activities triggered by edible wild mushrooms

The consumption of wild mushrooms is mostly based on tradition and not scientific evidence. Recently the widely consumed Tricholoma flavovirens caused delayed rhabdomyolysis in humans. In this study, 42 mice and 4 humans consumed T. flavovirens mixed with regular food items. In mice, the plasma creatine kinase activity increased at 9 g kg(-1)day(-1). However, the same was observed with the well-known and commercially important Boletus edulis. The observed effect is probably not species-specific but represents an unspecific response and requires individual sensitivity and a great amount of ingested mushroom to manifest itself. A screening program of wild mushrooms is recommended to clarify how widespread this effect is.