Edible Mushrooms as Emerging Prebiotic Sources: Gut Microbiota Modulation and SCFA-Mediated Health Effects

Background: Edible and medicinal mushrooms have attracted growing attention as functional foods due to their rich content of bioactive compounds and their potential to modulate host physiology through microbiota-mediated mechanisms. Methods: This narrative review was conducted through a comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, selecting studies focused on mushroom-derived compounds, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the gut-brain axis (GBA). Results: Current evidence indicates that mushroom-derived polysaccharides, particularly β-glucans, along with polyphenols, trehalose, and chitin, resist digestion and are fermented by intestinal microorganisms, promoting SCFA production. These metabolites contribute to intestinal barrier integrity, immune regulation, and metabolic homeostasis and may also influence neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter pathways via the GBA. However, significant variability in mushroom preparations and the limited availability of well-designed human clinical trials remain important limitations. Conclusions: Edible and medicinal mushrooms represent a promising source of novel prebiotic compounds with potential systemic health benefits, although further standardized studies and robust clinical trials are needed to confirm their efficacy and mechanisms of action.