Do Mushroom Species Work Better When Combined?

Anyone well versed in the dietary supplement industry knows mushrooms are a trending topic in today’s market. They have been used for medicinal purposes for over two thousand years, and the proof lies in the 5300-year-old mummy found in September 1991. His medicinal kit contained?Piptoporus betulinus, a type of mushroom that was used as a natural laxative and worm killer. Although this mummy had just one kind of mushroom in his kit, the trend today is to combine several species in a single dietary supplement. This trend spawns the question of whether there is a real value in combining mushroom species in a single formula or if it is just a marketing science.?

Read my recently published article in Nutritional Outlook to learn about my thoughts on this—and after 43 years as a professional in the dietary supplement industry, I definitely have some thoughts on this. So, did you know that the following are some of the most commonly used mushrooms?

Reishi?

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) primarily contains polysaccharides, including beta-glucans and triterpenes. These constituents have various effects, mainly antioxidant, cardiovascular benefits, and immune-modulating effects. Recent research showed that patients who took 1.8 g of reishi polysaccharides three times a day before meals showed an enhanced immune response.?

Shiitake?

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is known for promoting healthy immune and liver function; it is also believed to help modulate the unwanted growth of mutated pancreatic and stomach cells. Active hexose correlated compounds (AHCC) are extracted from shiitake mushrooms; this compound displays antioxidant effects and acts like a biological response modifier. Like reishi, this compound also promotes the activity of natural killer cells in patients with unwanted growth of mutated cells.?

[Read the complete article here…]

Maitake?

Like other mushrooms, maitake contains beta-glucan. The D-fraction of this compound is the most active and potent form. It displays immunostimulant properties that aid in activating natural killer cells, interleukin-1, and cytotoxic T-cells. This compound has been studied for over 50 years, and high concentrations have effectively promoted immune function.?

What Happens When You Combine Reishi, Shiitake, And Maitake??

Intensive research has been conducted using the commercially available combinations of the three known mushroom species. Out of these combinations, three extracts were combined into a single formula and evaluated to study their impact on the expression of cytokines IL-6, IL-1α, IL-10, and TNF-α in the human macrophages. The results show that combining these three mushroom species is beneficial as it has a synergistic immunostimulatory effect.?

How can NutraScience Labs Help?

With over 120 years of dietary supplement manufacturing industry experience, the team at NutraScience Labs has helped over 2,300 new and existing supplement brands formulate, manufacture, package, label, and distribute high-quality nutritional supplements. Take the first step towards entering the mushroom supplement market by requesting a free manufacturing price quote today.

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About the Author:

Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, RH(AHG) is the Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for?NutraScience Labs, an award-winning provider of dietary supplement manufacturing services headquartered in Farmingdale, NY. Professor Bruno has a Master’s degree in nutrition and a second Master’s degree in herbal medicine. Throughout his 43-year nutraceutical industry career, he has earned a reputation among his peers for formulating innovative and evidence-based dietary supplements. In addition to his duties at NutraScience Labs, Bruno also serves as a Professor of Nutraceutical Science at Huntington University of Health Sciences.