Shiitake Mushroom
Also known as: Lentinula edodes, Lentinus edodes, Lentinan, Shiitake Extract
Effective Dosage
No established dose from provided studies
What the Science Says
Shiitake is an edible mushroom that contains bioactive compounds including beta-glucans (notably lentinan), ergothioneine, and eritadenine. In human studies, shiitake extract showed some antioxidant activity — improving thiol redox status and nitric oxide levels after intense exercise — but did not meaningfully reduce inflammation markers. A small clinical trial found a shiitake-based mouthrinse reduced dental plaque and gingival inflammation better than placebo. Its key compound lentinan, given intravenously, showed a trend toward immune cell improvement in HIV patients, though results were not statistically significant in small trials.
What It Doesn't Do
Won't treat prostate cancer — a clinical trial showed zero complete or partial responses. Not proven to reduce inflammation after exercise. No solid human evidence it boosts immunity in healthy people. The cognitive and gut microbiota benefits seen in aged mice have not been tested in humans. Oral lentinan supplements are not the same as the IV lentinan studied in cancer and HIV research — don't assume the same effects.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Shiitake mushrooms are known for their potential immune-boosting properties, attributed to their rich content of polysaccharides, particularly lentinans. Some clinical trials suggest they may help enhance immune function and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects.
Moderate EvidenceEffective at: No established dose
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown for most active compounds in oral supplement form. Beta-glucans like lentinan resist digestion in the upper GI tract, which may allow gut fermentation. IV lentinan bypasses absorption entirely. No human pharmacokinetic data provided in the reviewed studies.
Red Flags to Watch For
- IV lentinan caused serious side effects including anaphylactoid reactions, fever, and elevated liver enzymes when infused rapidly — oral supplements are different but consumers may conflate the two
- Prostate cancer trial showed no benefit and significant disease progression in many patients — do not use as a cancer treatment
- Most promising findings (cognitive function, lung protection, cancer cell inhibition) come from animal or cell studies only — not proven in humans
- No standardized dose established across human studies, making product comparisons unreliable
- Paper 10 in the dataset is unrelated to shiitake health effects (pesticide residue analysis) — reflects the noise in supplement research databases
Products Containing Shiitake Mushroom
See how Shiitake Mushroom is used in these analyzed products:
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-06