Shiitake

10:1 Extract
A highly concentrated extract where approximately 10 kg of raw Shiitake is reduced to 1 kg of extract. This offers higher levels of key active compounds at a lower dose than standard dried powder.

Fungal name: Lentinula edodes (fruiting body / cultivated mycelium)
Family name: Omphalotaceae (Shiitake family group)
Other names: Shiitake, Black Forest Mushroom, Golden Oak Mushroom, Xiang Gu (China), Donko (Japan)
Origin: East Asia (especially Japan, China, Korea); now cultivated worldwide on hardwood substrates
Parts used: Fruiting body and/or cultivated mycelium

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Short Description

Shiitake is traditionally used to boost vitality, support circulation, and strengthen resistance to illness. It contains a unique set of bioactive compounds, notably β-glucans (particularly lentinan), the cholesterol-modulating amino acid derivative eritadenine, and the antioxidant ergothioneine. Collectively, these support immune preparedness, inflammatory balance, cardiovascular health, metabolic function, and gut-immune resilience. Modern research consistently affirms Shiitake as a key mushroom for long-term immune and cardiometabolic support, with substantial human clinical evidence for immune enhancement and lipid/antioxidant improvements. (ScienceDirect)

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Body Systems Affected

• Immune system – Enhances balanced innate and adaptive immune responsiveness
• Cardiovascular system – Supports healthy cholesterol patterns and vascular resilience
• Endocrine/metabolic system – Encourages steady glucose and lipid handling
• Digestive system (gut lining & microbiome) – Supports gut-immune axis and barrier integrity
• Liver/detox pathways – Helps regulate hepatic fat metabolism and antioxidant defence
• Respiratory system – Traditional tonic for winter weakness and recurrent infections

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Summary of Health Benefits

Shiitake is best known as a daily immune and heart-metabolic tonic. Traditional East-Asian medicine valued it as a strengthening food for those who were depleted, prone to winter illnesses, or ageing into weaker circulation and digestion. Modern science aligns closely with this tradition. Human clinical trials show that daily Shiitake consumption can measurably enhance immune function, including improved γδ-T cell and NK-T cell activity and increased secretory IgA at mucosal surfaces—key for everyday infection resistance. (PubMed) A second major area is cardiometabolic support. In a double-blind, randomised clinical trial, Shiitake intake improved antioxidant status and supported healthier lipid profiles in individuals with borderline-high cholesterol. These outcomes reflect Shiitake’s unique chemistry: eritadenine helps regulate cholesterol synthesis, β-glucans reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption, and ergothioneine lowers oxidative stress that accelerates vascular ageing. (PubMed) While larger diabetes-specific RCTs are still emerging, the overall evidence suggests that Shiitake is a slow-building resilience mushroom that supports immune readiness, systemic inflammation control, and metabolic balance over weeks to months. In clinical practice, it is suitable for long-term wellness, seasonal immune reinforcement, recovery phases, and cardiometabolic lifestyle programmes. (ScienceDirect)

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Traditional & Historical Uses

On misty mountain slopes in ancient China and Japan, Shiitake was gathered from fallen oaks like a prize the forest offered only to patient eyes. It was dried in the sun, simmered into broths for the weak, and shared as both food and medicine during the cold months when illness spread easily through villages. Healers valued it for strengthening “life energy,” especially when lungs were tired, digestion sluggish, or the body felt worn thin by age and hardship. Over centuries, it became more than a mushroom; it was a dependable companion of winter resilience, a symbol of quiet strength drawn from hardwood and humus, nourishing the body while teaching it to endure.

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Benefits Breakdown

★★★★★ High-Quality Human Clinical Evidence

• Immune enhancement & mucosal defence (healthy adults)
How it helps: Daily Shiitake consumption improves frontline immune readiness and mucosal protection, reducing susceptibility to everyday infections.
How it works: β-glucans (lentinan) stimulate innate immune receptors, increasing γδ-T cell/NK-T activation and secretory IgA output.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25866155/ (PubMed)

• Lipid support & antioxidant improvement (borderline high cholesterol)
How it helps: Improves lipid-oxidation markers and supports healthier cholesterol/antioxidant profiles in people with mildly elevated cholesterol.
How it works: Eritadenine modulates cholesterol synthesis; β-glucans reduce absorption; ergothioneine lowers oxidative lipid injury.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34375514/ (PubMed)

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★★★★ Emerging Human Clinical Evidence

• Exercise-related oxidative stress reduction
How it helps: Short-term use of Shiitake extract improves redox/antioxidant status during heavy exercise.
How it works: Ergothioneine and polyphenols support glutathione cycling and nitric-oxide related recovery signalling.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23756400/ (PubMed)

• Adjunct immune support in chronic illness contexts (lentinan)
How it helps: Clinical use of purified lentinan alongside chemotherapy improves immune tone, treatment tolerance, and some survival outcomes in gastric cancer care.
How it works: Lentinan acts as a biological response modifier, normalising cytokine output and enhancing immune surveillance.
https://eurjmedres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40001-023-01585-7 (BioMed Central)

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★★★ Preclinical & Experimental Evidence

• Blood-sugar balance & insulin sensitivity
How it helps: Improves glucose tolerance and reduces markers of insulin resistance in metabolic stress models.
How it works: Polysaccharides support AMPK/PI3K-Akt signalling and reduce inflammatory insulin resistance.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6302894/ (PMC)

• Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant mechanisms (systemic)
How it helps: Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative injury across models of metabolic and immune stress.
How it works: β-glucans and ergothioneine down-regulate NF-κB/COX pathways and boost antioxidant enzymes.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050475925004993 (ScienceDirect)

• Antimicrobial / oral-biofilm regulation
How it helps: Demonstrates selective suppression of pathogenic oral and gut microbes in laboratory models.
How it works: Polysaccharides and phenolics disrupt pathogen adhesion while sparing beneficial species.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21966183/ (PubMed)

• Anti-tumour activity (preclinical-dominant)
How it helps: Shows growth-inhibition and apoptosis support in cancer cell and animal studies.
How it works: Lentinan and sterols enhance immune-mediated tumour surveillance and promote apoptosis pathways.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3664515/ (PMC)

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★★★ Traditional & Nutritional Evidence

• Winter immune tonic & vitality builder
How it helps: Long used to reduce illness frequency and strengthen recovery in cold seasons.
How it works: Slow-building polysaccharide nourishment supports defence readiness and resilience.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6302894/ (PMC)

• Circulatory and “heart-strengthening” food medicine
How it helps: Traditionally taken to support circulation, digestion, and age-related weakness.
How it works: Eritadenine and β-glucans support lipid balance, while nutrition supports long-term vitality.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34375514/ (PubMed)

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Skin & Topical Care

Therapeutic

• Inflammatory or immune-linked skin flare patterns (indirect support)
How it helps: By improving gut-immune balance and lowering systemic inflammation, Shiitake may indirectly support skin flare-ups tied to immune stress or oxidative load.
How it works: β-glucans and ergothioneine reduce inflammatory mediators and support healthier repair cycles.

Personal Care / Anti-Ageing

• Skin resilience and tone from within
How it helps: Long-term antioxidant and lipid support may improve dullness, elasticity, and stress-aged skin patterns.
How it works: Ergothioneine and polyphenols protect collagen structures from oxidative breakdown and stabilise inflammation-linked ageing signals.

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Research & Modern Findings

Immune Enhancement & Mucosal Defence
How it helps: Human trials show stronger frontline immune readiness, improved γδ-T/NK-T activity, and higher sIgA.
How it works: Lentinan β-glucans prime innate immune receptors and reinforce adaptive signalling.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25866155/

Lipid / Cholesterol Support
How it helps: Improves antioxidant status and supports healthier lipid profiles in adults with borderline-high cholesterol.
How it works: Eritadenine modulates cholesterol synthesis; β-glucans reduce absorption; ergothioneine reduces lipid oxidation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34375514/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6302894/

Exercise Oxidative-Stress Protection
How it helps: Enhances antioxidant capacity during heavy exercise load.
How it works: Supports glutathione and nitric-oxide redox pathways via ergothioneine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23756400/

Lentinan as Oncology Adjunct (Clinical-use literature)
How it helps: Improves treatment tolerance and immune tone when used with chemotherapy, especially in gastric cancer protocols.
How it works: Acts as a biological response modifier, enhancing immune surveillance and balanced cytokines.
https://eurjmedres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40001-023-01585-7

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Emotional, Mental & Spiritual Influences

• Emotional: Builds calm resilience where frequent illness or depletion creates worry.
• Mental: Supports steady clarity through improved immune-metabolic tone.
• Spiritual: A symbol of quiet endurance—strength rooted in old forests.

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Properties

• Adaptogenic tonic – Builds long-term resilience to stress and depletion.
• Immunomodulating – Balances immune over- and under-activity.
• Anti-inflammatory – Calms chronic low-grade inflammatory signalling.
• Antioxidant – Protects tissues from oxidative damage and ageing stress.
• Cardiometabolic support – Encourages healthier cholesterol and lipid handling.

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Actions

• Strengthens immune resilience – Supports defence readiness and balanced cytokines.
• Enhances mucosal protection – Supports sIgA and respiratory-gut barrier tone.
• Improves lipid metabolism – Helps reduce lipid overload and oxidative fat stress.
• Reduces oxidative load – Protects tissues and improves recovery tone.
• Supports metabolic balance – Encourages steadier glucose handling.

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Active Constituents

• Lentinan (β-1,3/1,6-glucan complex) – Primary immune-active polysaccharide.
• Eritadenine – Unique compound supporting cholesterol regulation.
• Ergothioneine – Potent antioxidant amino acid protecting cells and vessels.
• Sterols (ergosterol derivatives) – Inflammation and immune-supportive actions.
• Polyphenols & peptides – Additional antioxidant and antimicrobial support.

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Nutritional Profile

• Moderate protein and essential amino acids
• B-vitamins and vitamin D precursors (ergosterol)
• Trace minerals supporting immune and metabolic enzymes
• Polysaccharide fibre contributing to gut-immune balance

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Herbs / Mushrooms It Pairs With

• Reishi – Stress-immune synergy and deeper immunomodulation.
• Maitake / Turkey Tail – β-glucan partners for gut-immune axis strength.
• Lion’s Mane – Cognitive-immune-gut support pairing.
• Garlic / Hawthorn / Berberine-type herbs – Traditional cardiometabolic combinations.

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How to Use

Take with water, preferably with food:

• Daily wellness: 1 capsule once daily with breakfast
• Ongoing support: 1 capsule twice daily (morning & late afternoon)
• Intensive support: 2 capsules twice daily for 6–12 weeks, then reduce to Ongoing support

Do not exceed the recommended dose unless advised by a healthcare professional.

Tips for best results
Shiitake works best as a consistent daily tonic, with benefits building over several weeks. For immune goals, start before winter or high-exposure seasons and continue through recovery phases. For lipid/metabolic support, pairing Shiitake with a lower-sugar, high-fibre diet and regular movement significantly amplifies results. If you notice any skin sensitivity, reduce the dose or pause and restart more gradually.

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Contra-Indications & Cautions

Shiitake is generally well tolerated, but some people experience mild digestive upset, especially at higher doses. A distinctive “shiitake dermatitis” (itchy, linear rash) has been reported in a small minority, usually linked to high intake or sensitivity; discontinue if this occurs. Avoid use if allergic to mushrooms. Because shiitake may affect immune activity and platelet function, caution is advised for individuals with autoimmune disease, those taking immunosuppressive medication, or those on anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy; professional guidance is recommended in these cases. The safety of high-strength extracts during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in young children is not well established, so use in these groups should be guided by a practitioner. (RxList)

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Disclaimer

This product is a natural mushroom-based health supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided is educational and reflects traditional and holistic use. Under the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, this product may be classified as a complementary medicine/health supplement and has not been evaluated by SAHPRA for quality, safety, or intended use. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.

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Cultivation Snapshot

• Traditionally grown on hardwood logs (oak, beech, chestnut); modern cultivation also uses compressed sawdust blocks.
• Fruiting bodies mature over several weeks under cool temperatures and high humidity.
• Quality depends on hardwood substrate, lengthy maturation, and full cap development before harvest.
• Sustainable cultivation protects wild forest stands where Shiitake grows naturally.

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