Shiitake mushroom
Scientific names: Lentinus edodes, Lenticus edodes, Lentinan edodes, Lentinula edodes, Tricholomopsis edodes
Family: Polyporaceae
Alternate names: Active hexose correlated compound, AHCC, Champignon Noir, Champignon Parfumé, Champignon Shiitake, Champignons Shiitake, Composé Corrélé d'Hexose Actif, Compuestos Activos Correlacionados Hexosa, Forest Mushroom, Hongos Shiitake, Hua Gu, Lentin, Lentin des Chênes, Lentin du Chêne, Lentinula, Mushroom, Pasania Fungus, Shiitake, Shitake, Snake Butter, Xiang-Gu
Actions: Antihyperlipidemic, Antimicrobial, Antineoplastic, Antiviral, Immunomodulating
Background
Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is a type of edible fungus. It's native to Japan and China, and contains a chemical called lentinan.
Shiitake mushrooms are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. Lentinan and other chemicals in shiitake mushrooms might stimulate the immune system.
People use shiitake mushroom or an extract called AHCC for HIV/AIDS, common cold, flu, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using shiitake mushroom for COVID-19.
Shiitake mushrooms are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. Lentinan and other chemicals in shiitake mushrooms might stimulate the immune system.
People use shiitake mushroom or an extract called AHCC for HIV/AIDS, common cold, flu, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using shiitake mushroom for COVID-19.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Shiitake mushroom is likely safe when cooked and eaten in food amounts. A specific extract called AHCC is possibly safe in doses ranging from 4.5 to 6 grams daily for up to 6 months or doses of 3 grams daily for up to 9 years. Shiitake mushroom is possibly unsafe when used in larger amounts as medicine, or when the uncooked mushroom is eaten. It can cause stomach discomfort, blood abnormalities, and skin swelling. It might also make the skin more sensitive to the sun and can cause allergic skin reactions and breathing problems in some people.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Shiitake mushroom might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using shiitake mushroom.
A blood disorder called hypereosinophilic syndrome: Don't use shiitake mushroom if you have this condition. It might make it worse.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if shiitake mushroom is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts."Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Shiitake mushroom might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using shiitake mushroom.
A blood disorder called hypereosinophilic syndrome: Don't use shiitake mushroom if you have this condition. It might make it worse.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Tooth plaque. Rinsing the mouth with a liquid containing shiitake mushroom doesn't seem to reduce tooth plaque.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of shiitake mushroom might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Shiitake mushroom might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Shiitake mushroom can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking shiitake mushroom along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all productsPer 7.2 g:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) ext. 375 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 353 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 300 mg
- Perilla frutescens ext. 208 mg
- L-glutamine 3.5 g
- Choline bitartrate 1.5 g
- Retinol palmitate 1.4 mg equiv. vitamin A 750 μg RE
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D 500 IU
- Silybum marianum ext. 86 mg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 30 mg equiv. zinc 6 mg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
RRP: $59.10$47.28Save: 20%
Create account
RRP: $37.15$29.72Save: 20%
Create account
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
RRP: $54.51$38.15Save: 30%
Create account
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) ext. 150 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 37.5 mg
- Trametes versicolor ext. 65 mg
- Curcuma longa 23.43 mg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 124 mg equiv. vitamin E 150 IU
- Selenomethionine 187.5 μg equiv. selenium 75 μg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 23.44 mg equiv. zinc 7.5 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 166.7 mg
- Retinol palmitate (Vitamin A) 2.34 mg equiv. vitamin A 4250 IU equiv. vitamin A 1.28 μg RE
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) ext. 76.8 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 76.8 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis ext. 76.8 mg
- Grifola frondosa ext. 76.8 mg
- Trametes versicolor ext. 76.8 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus ext. 38.4 mg
- Tremella fuciformis ext. 38.4 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 38.4 mg
RRP: $75.00$69.38Save: 7%
Create account
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) ext. 50 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 100 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 50 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 125 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 23.36 mg equiv. zinc 7.5 mg
- Selenomethionine 31 µg equiv. selenium 12.5 µg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 50 mg
- Trametes versicolor ext. 25 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 14.3 mg
RRP: $45.80$38.02Save: 17%
Create account
Per capsule:
RRP: $29.95$19.47Save: 35%
Create account
Practitioner product
Per 8 g:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) powder 160 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 1.68 g
- Wheatgrass powder 1.12 g
- Medicago sativa powder 160 mg
- Hordeum vulgare powder 160 mg
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 80 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale) 80 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (sprout) powder
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Pea (fibre) sprouted
- Lepidium meyenii (root) powder
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 200 mg
- Tremella fuciformis powder 200 mg
- Pouteria lucuma (fruit) powder
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein)
- Quinoa (sprout) powder
- Malpighia glabra powder 120 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 80 mg
- Schisandra chinensis powder 80 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Daucus carota juice dry
- Davidson plum powder
- Backhousia citriodora (leaf) powder
- Kakadu plum powder 80 mg
- Banana resistant starch powder
- Tasmannia lanceolata powder
- Citrus australasica
RRP: $69.95$62.95Save: 10%
Create account
Per 5 g (Cucumber Lime):
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) 100 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 250 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis 105 mg
- Trametes versicolor 70 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus 100 mg
- Camellia sinensis 500 mg
- Grifola frondosa 125 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 175 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale) 175 mg
- Nasturtium officinale 160 mg
- Apium graveolens powder 110 mg
- Pleurotus eryngii 100 mg
- Lipase 750 LipU
- Protease 1000 DU
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 350 GDU
- Carica papaya (Papain) 40 mg
- L-glutamine 500 mg
- Bacillus coagulans 4 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 750 million CFU
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 500 million CFU
- Quercetin 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale 100 mg
- Coriandrum sativum 80 mg
- Zingiber officinale 50 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis 50 mg
- Origanum vulgare powder 50 mg
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana ext.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 175 mg
150 g Cucumber Lime
RRP: $59.95$53.96Save: 10%
Create account
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) powder 66.67 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 8.33 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast) 8.33 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 11.9 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 59.5 mg
- Bifidobacterium longum 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus brevis 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus helveticus 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 0.67 billion CFU
- Streptococcus thermophilus 0.73 billion CFU
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 66.67 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 66.67 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 66.67 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 16.67 mg
- Tremella fuciformis powder 50 mg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. chromium 16.67 µg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. molybdenum 16.67 µg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. selenium 16.67 µg
- Apple pectin 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 33.33 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) powder 55 mg
- Lactobacillus gasseri 0.75 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus plantarum 0.75 billion CFU
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 50 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 250 mg
- L-glutamic acid 15 mg
- Glutamic acid hydrochloride 15 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 17 mg
- Yeast 8.33 mg equiv. chromium 16.66 µg
- Yeast 10.42 mg equiv. molybdenum 20.8 µg
- Cichorium intybus powder 40 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 92.5 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 16.67 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 66.67 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 55 mg
- Iberis amara ext. 36.6 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 30 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) powder 50 mg
- Lactobacillus gasseri 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus plantarum 0.67 billion CFU
- L-glutamic acid 16.67 mg
- Glutamic acid hydrochloride 16.67 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 47.62 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 232 mg
- Cichorium intybus powder 44.44 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 83.33 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 16.67 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 66.67 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 50 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 33.33 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 16.67 mg
- Yeast 8.33 mg equiv. chromium 16.66 µg
- Yeast 10.42 mg equiv. molybdenum 20.83 µg
- Iberis amara ext. 33.3 mg
Practitioner product
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 08/03/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 07/07/2020 01:26:52. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.