Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Also known as: Lentinula edodes, Lentinus edodes, shiitake mushroom, lentinan, AHCC (mycelium extract)
Shiitake is the world's second most cultivated edible mushroom and a source of the beta-glucan lentinan, eritadenine, and ergothioneine. A 2015 randomized trial in healthy young adults had participants eat 5 or 10 grams of dried shiitake daily for four weeks and tracked immune cell markers. Supplements use a hot-water extract of the fruiting body standardized to beta-glucans, or the mycelium-derived extract AHCC. It fits immune, general-wellness, and mushroom-blend products, and its mild flavor makes it easier to formulate than reishi or chaga.
Research summary
Lentinan and related beta-glucans are studied for activation of innate immune cells; eritadenine is studied for effects on lipid metabolism.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of extract.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mg | 1,000–2,000 mg | — | — |
Range reflects a concentrated fruiting-body extract taken once daily with food. The 2015 trial used 5–10 g of whole dried mushroom rather than an extract, so extract doses are inferred from typical extract ratios rather than measured directly.
Standardization: ≥20% beta-glucans
Source material: fruiting body
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Mild, savory (umami) taste; blends easily into mushroom complexes.
Formulation notes
Raw or undercooked whole shiitake can cause a flagellate skin rash (shiitake dermatitis) in sensitive people; this has not been reported with extracts but is worth noting for whole-powder products.
Sources
Related ingredients
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
VitaminThe form of vitamin D the body makes from sunlight and the most effective supplemental form for raising blood levels.
Typical: 1,000–2,000 IU
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
VitaminAscorbic acid is the reference form of vitamin C and the most common form in supplements; NIH ODS notes its bioavailability equals that of vitamin C naturally present in food.
Typical: 250–1,000 mg
Probiotic Blend (Multi-Strain)
ProbioticA generic placeholder for a multi-strain probiotic blend, typically combining several Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and sometimes Streptococcus thermophilus or a Bacillus spore.
Typical: 10–50 B CFU
Zinc Gluconate
MineralThe most common zinc salt in multivitamins, lozenges, and immune products, containing about 14.3% elemental zinc.
Typical: 10–25 mg
Greens Blend (Generic)
OtherA generic greens blend is a placeholder for the dried plant powders typical of greens products: cereal grasses such as wheatgrass and barley grass, spirulina and chlorella, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, and often fruit or vegetable extracts.
Typical: 3–10 g