Lentinula edodes · supplement
Evidence tier: weak
Shiitake is Lentinula edodes, the brown edible mushroom grown on hardwood logs and eaten cooked across East Asia. It is also sold dried, as a powder or in capsules.
Lentinan, a beta glucan, acts as a biological response modifier recognised by immune cells (MSK). The eritadenine cholesterol idea is unproven in people.
Weak for immune support and not supported for cholesterol. In 52 healthy young adults, eating 5 to 10 g of dried shiitake daily for 4 weeks improved immune cell markers measured in the lab (PMID 25866155); no trial shows fewer infections. A beta glucan enriched extract trial was null for blood lipids (PMID 33580297), and MSK notes cholesterol evidence is lab only. The stronger lentinan data is injected lentinan in cancer patients (PMID 19596954), which cannot support a consumer claim.
No agreed supplement dose. The healthy volunteer trial used 5 to 10 g of dried whole shiitake a day for 4 weeks (PMID 25866155). Always cook it well.
Cook it thoroughly; raw shiitake can cause a whip like itchy rash that appears 12 hours to 5 days later and lasts 3 to 21 days [PMID 24940644]. Stop supplements if rash or stomach upset appears.
Pregnancy: caution
Breastfeeding: caution
Active compounds: lentinan (a 1,3 beta-D-glucan polysaccharide), eritadenine
Remedies using Shiitake · Browse by body system · Check it against what you take
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.