People seek a greater quality of life and healthy aging that culminates in improved self-esteem and vitality in the performance of daily activities; this is generating a growing number of people enrolled in gyms in search of quick results. However, this training can result in physical and metabolic damage. During physical exercise, under conditions of oxidative stress, changes take place that lead to the onset of fatigue. The Agaricus brasiliensis mushroom is native to Brazil and has therapeutic potential, with widely studied antioxidant and immunomodulatory capabilities. However, little is known about its potential benefits regarding muscular strength. Therefore, this study evaluated the possible effects of supplementation with this mushroom with respect to strength performance before and after a resistance training session. A blinded randomized trial was performed with male volunteers (n = 5) randomly divided into 2 groups (placebo and treatment with A. brasiliensis). Perceptions of muscle soreness and performance were assessed before and after high-intensity resistance training sessions. The study was executed over a 24-day period. Promising results were found related to intrasession rapid strength, most likely a result of antioxidant action and redox balance. The bioactive compounds in A. brasiliensis revealed the potential to improve conditions of muscle fatigue without altering other parameters. Thus, this mushroom has become a target of great expectations in the fields of fitness and athletics.

Currently, in fi sh farming, Nile tilapia farming is one of the most widespread types worldwide and is present on all continents. However, stressors are normal in intensive rearing systems, which triggers immune suppression leading to a higher chance of infection, with Aeromonas hydrophila being one of the main responsible for the frequent diseases. Inhibition of reproductive and growth performance are also frequently observed in these situations. Thus, it is more than necessary to develop effi cient treatments not only against the immune damage generated by stress in fi sh but also to prevent oxidative stress itself as well as against its side effects related to physiology and infections. The mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis is widely recognized in the literature for its immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects, which makes it a potential supplement to counteract the effects of stress on intensive fi sh farming. In this study, we evaluated the effects of supplementation with the mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis through a randomized clinical trial regarding the immunological hematological variables in face of a normal situation and an induced stress situation as well as in the face of an immunological challenge by Aeromonas hydrophila. The mushroom proved to have a positive effect under the tested conditions, however, further studies will be necessary to determine its defi nitive effects.