Shiitake
Also called shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, Lentinus edodes, lentinan, Lentinex.
Best grade C across 5 graded outcomes Mushroom Last checked
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The short answer
From 9 sourcesShiitake is an edible mushroom that Health Canada accepts as an herbal immune support at 1.6 to 6 g of dried mushroom a day. Human trials are small and use different products: shiitake bars lowered triglycerides by 10%, a beta-glucan extract did not change cholesterol, and immune-cell changes were seen without consistent clinical outcomes.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
Nutricost Organic Shiitake Mushroom Capsules, 180 count
from HerbsPro
Its name matches dried mushroom powder or capsules, one of the forms compared in our Forms table.
Label: 2 capsules: 1,000 mg organic shiitake mushroom powder (Lentinula edodes fruiting body).
Best for trying one bottle: $15.95 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
5 rows · line = participants- CGrade CTumour response, survival and quality of life alongside cancer treatmentCancer treatment (adjunct)n 1,723
- CGrade CTriglycerides and antioxidant markers in borderline high cholesterolBlood fatsn 68
- CGrade CImmune markers in healthy older adultsImmune markersn 42
- DGrade DImmune-cell activity in healthy adultsImmune markersn 52
- ∅No effectCholesterol in mild hypercholesterolaemiaBlood fatsn 52
- 2 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- Dried fruiting body or mycelium of Lentinula edodes; extracts such as Lentinex concentrate the beta-glucan lentinan15
- Health Canada use
- Used in herbal medicine to support the immune system, at 1.6 to 6 g of dried powder a day1
- Blood fats
- Triglycerides fell 10% with shiitake bars (68 people); a beta-glucan extract did not change cholesterol (52 people)34
- Immune markers
- More active gamma-delta T and NK-T cells after 4 weeks of 5 to 10 g whole mushroom a day, but with no comparison group2
- Alongside cancer treatment
- A 2026 meta-analysis of 22 trials (1,723 patients) found better tumour response but no survival or quality-of-life difference, with low-certainty evidence8
What it is
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is an edible mushroom; supplements use the dried fruiting body or mycelium, and some extracts concentrate its beta-glucan, lentinan.
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Shiitake forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Dried mushroom powder or capsules | Beta-glucan extracts (for example Lentinex) |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | No human absorption data in our sources.1 | No human absorption data in our sources.5 |
| GI tolerance | Health Canada: stop use if hypersensitivity or allergy occurs. In the shiitake bar trial, dermatitis was triggered in 10% of individuals sensitive to the mushroom.13 | Adverse events were similar to placebo with 2.5 mg/day Lentinex; the 10.4 g/day enriched extract was reported as safe.54 |
| Studied for | Immune markers (5 to 10 g/day of whole mushroom); triglycerides (bars) | Immune markers (2.5 mg/day); cholesterol (10.4 g/day) |
- Dried mushroom powder or capsules
- Absorption in people
- No human absorption data in our sources.1
- GI tolerance
- Health Canada: stop use if hypersensitivity or allergy occurs. In the shiitake bar trial, dermatitis was triggered in 10% of individuals sensitive to the mushroom.13
- Studied for
- Immune markers (5 to 10 g/day of whole mushroom); triglycerides (bars)
- Beta-glucan extracts (for example Lentinex)
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
5 graded outcomes, largest study first5 graded outcomes: 2 improved, 2 mixed, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2026 meta-analysis of 1,723 people on tumour response, survival and quality of life alongside cancer treatment, found mixed results.
1Tumour response, survival and quality of life alongside cancer treatment
Mixed · Grade C · Meta-analysis, 1,723 people, 2026
People with cancer receiving standard treatment, in 22 trials (13 randomised)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tumour response, survival and quality of life alongside cancer treatment | Mixed | 1,723 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2026 | People with cancer receiving standard treatment, in 22 trials (13 randomised) |
| Triglycerides and antioxidant markers in borderline high cholesterol | Improved | 68 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Individuals with borderline high cholesterol, LDL or triglycerides (36 shiitake, 32 placebo) |
| Immune-cell activity in healthy adults | Improved | 52 | Grade D · Open-label trial, 2015 | Healthy men and women aged 21 to 41 |
| Cholesterol in mild hypercholesterolaemia | No effect | 52 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2021 | Adults aged 18 to 65 with untreated mild hypercholesterolaemia |
| Immune markers in healthy older adults | Mixed | 42 | Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2011 | 42 healthy elderly people |
Every graded row
5 rowsShowing 5 of 5 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CTumour response, survival and quality of life alongside cancer treatmentCancer treatment (adjunct)Better response; no survival differenceMeta-analysis · 22 studies
n 1,723 · 2026
Mixed In the 13 randomised trials, tumour response was better than standard treatment alone (odds ratio 1.45, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.07), but overall survival (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.28), quality of life and adverse events did not differ.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 22 studies, n = 1,723, 2026
- Population
- People with cancer receiving standard treatment, in 22 trials (13 randomised)
- Form
- Shiitake extracts: injected or oral lentinan, mycelium extract (LEM) and AHCC
- Dose
- Varied
- Duration
- Varied
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 42648714 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CTriglycerides and antioxidant markers in borderline high cholesterolBlood fatsTriglycerides −10%RCT
n 68 · 2021
Improved Triglycerides fell 10% after 66 days in the shiitake group (p = 0.0352); glutathione rose and lipid peroxidation fell. Dermatitis was triggered in 10% of individuals sensitive to the mushroom.
- Design
- RCT, n = 68, 2021
- Population
- Individuals with borderline high cholesterol, LDL or triglycerides (36 shiitake, 32 placebo)
- Form
- Shiitake bars
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 66 days
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 34375514 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CImmune markers in healthy older adultsImmune markersB cells changed; other markers did notCrossover RCT
n 42 · 2011
Mixed Changes in B-cell numbers differed from placebo; NK cells rose in both groups; immunoglobulins, complement and cytokines did not change. Adverse events were similar to placebo.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 42, 2011
- Population
- 42 healthy elderly people
- Form
- Lentinex (soluble beta-glucan from shiitake mycelium)
- Dose
- 2.5 mg/day
- Duration
- 6 weeks per arm, 4-week washout
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 22164761 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DImmune-cell activity in healthy adultsImmune markersMore active immune cells; no control groupOpen-label trial
n 52 · 2015
Improved Ex vivo proliferation of gamma-delta T cells rose 60% and of NK-T cells 2-fold (p < 0.0001); salivary sIgA rose and CRP fell.
- Design
- Open-label trial, n = 52, 2015
- Population
- Healthy men and women aged 21 to 41
- Form
- Whole dried shiitake mushrooms
- Dose
- 5 or 10 g/day
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 25866155 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectCholesterol in mild hypercholesterolaemiaBlood fatsNo cholesterol effectRCT
n 52 · 2021
No effect No differences vs placebo in lipid or cholesterol measures, and no change in IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α or oxidised LDL; gut bacteria shifted differently from placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 52, 2021
- Population
- Adults aged 18 to 65 with untreated mild hypercholesterolaemia
- Form
- Beta-glucan-enriched shiitake extract mixed into commercial creams
- Dose
- 10.4 g/day (3.5 g fungal beta-glucans)
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 33580297 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Immune markers, not illness
AHCC is a separate product
AHCC is a standardised extract of cultured shiitake mycelium tested in its own trials, such as one in 98 people with pancreatic cancer on chemotherapy; those results do not transfer to whole shiitake powder.7
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Shiitake meets
1 cited rowMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Drug label or FDA notice
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
Drug labelDrug label or FDA notice
Blood thinners (anticoagulants): Health Canada's mushroom monograph directs people taking blood thinners to ask a health care practitioner before using shiitake products.
Source 1, Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2025)
Interactions
1 agent| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Blood thinners (anticoagulants) | Health Canada's mushroom monograph directs people taking blood thinners to ask a health care practitioner before using shiitake products.1 | Drug label |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Shiitake and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Shiitake.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Blood thinners
- Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you are taking blood thinners.1
- Mushroom allergy
- Health Canada: stop use if hypersensitivity or allergy occurs.1
- Raw or undercooked shiitake
- French poison centres recorded 59 cases of shiitake dermatitis in 2014–2019: streaky, red, raised lines on the trunk and limbs appearing a median 48 hours after eating raw or undercooked shiitake and lasting a median 10 days. Larger amounts meant longer rashes, and all patients recovered.9
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.6
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksPowder vs water extract
Health Canada's immune-support range is 1.6 to 6 g of dried powder a day, or 6 to 16 g of dried mushroom when prepared as a water extract.1
Alcohol extracts
Health Canada does not allow immune-polysaccharide claims for ethanol extracts, because the polysaccharides dissolve poorly in alcohol.1
Where to buy Shiitake
Products from brands we partner with that contain Shiitake. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Shiitake products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProNutricost Organic Shiitake Mushroom Capsules, 180 count
2 capsules: 1,000 mg organic shiitake mushroom powder (Lentinula edodes fruiting body)
$15.95one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
7 answersWhat is shiitake good for?
Does shiitake lower cholesterol?
Can shiitake cause a rash?
How much shiitake was used in studies?
Is shiitake safe with blood thinners?
Health Canada advises asking a health care practitioner before use if you take blood thinners.1
Is shiitake safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Supplement doses have not been studied in these groups; NCCIH notes many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.6
Has shiitake been studied alongside cancer treatment?
Yes, mostly as injected lentinan or mycelium extracts given with standard treatment. A 2026 meta-analysis found better tumour response but no difference in survival or quality of life, with low-certainty evidence.8
Sources
9 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
9 sources- 1Mushrooms (Natural Health Product monograph, October 31, 2025)Guideline Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, 2025 · webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca
- 2Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults.Open-label trial J Am Coll Nutr, 2015 · PMID 25866155
- 3Effects of Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes), Bars on Lipid and Antioxidant Profiles in Individuals with Borderline High Cholesterol: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.RCT Int J Med Mushrooms, 2021 · PMID 34375514
- 4Modulation of human intestinal microbiota in a clinical trial by consumption of a β-D-glucan-enriched extract obtained from Lentinula edodes.RCT Eur J Nutr, 2021 · PMID 33580297
- 5Supplementation with a soluble β-glucan exported from Shiitake medicinal mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Berk.) singer mycelium: a crossover, placebo-controlled study in healthy elderly.Crossover RCT Int J Med Mushrooms, 2011 · PMID 22164761
- 6Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 7Efficacy of Lentinula edodes Mycelia Extract on Chemotherapy-Related Tasted Disorders in Pancreatic Cancer Patients.RCT Nutr Cancer, 2023 · PMID 35950537
- 8Lentinula edodes in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Meta-analysis Integr Cancer Ther, 2026 · PMID 42648714
- 9Shiitake dermatitis: experience of the Poison Control Centre Network in France from 2014 to 2019.Observational Clin Toxicol (Phila), 2022 · PMID 35404185
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| key facts, evidence, who should be careful, related, FAQ | Added the 2026 meta-analysis of shiitake extracts alongside cancer treatment (PMID 42648714) as a clinical-use row, and the 2022 French poison-centre series on shiitake dermatitis (35404185) to safety and the FAQ. PubMed search for 2022–2026 trials of whole shiitake or oral extracts found no newer randomised trial for blood fats or immune outcomes. Checked LiverTox (no shiitake entry) and LactMed (no entry). Added two FAQs and a related link. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text used only where noted for participant counts, duration or funding). Funding: the beta-glucan extract trial was publicly funded (Spain, Madrid, Netherlands); the other trial abstracts name no funder (disclosed as not stated). Safety and dosing from Health Canada's Mushrooms monograph (October 31, 2025; Lentinula edodes risk statements: blood thinners, allergy) and NCCIH's general supplement guidance. Where to buy: Nutricost Organic Shiitake capsules (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.