Given the recent interest in mushrooms as a functional food, it’s no surprise that mushroom extract supplements have been popping up all over the place — including in coffee. These products claim to do everything from staving off anxiety to fighting cancer. So, is a mushroom capsule or coffee just what the doctor ordered? Here’s what the research, and leading experts, have to say.
What Are Mushroom Extract Supplements?
Mushroom extract supplements are extracts or powders produced from various types of mushrooms. According to Today’s Dietitian, people try mushroom extracts as remedies for a range of conditions, including seasonal allergies, insomnia, cancer, colds, and inflammation. You can find them in capsules, powders, liquid extracts, mouth sprays, teas, coffees, gummies, and sometimes in combination with other products such as CBD. Some supplements contain extracts from a single type of mushroom, while others combine extracts from several different types of mushrooms.
ReishiShiitakeLion’s maneCordycepsChagaTurkey TailMaitakeAgaricus blazeiEnokiPolyporus umbellatus
Medicinal mushrooms have been credited with at least 130 different therapeutic applications, according to a report published in Frontiers in Pharmacology in July 2022. But solid research on humans that ties mushrooms to specific health benefits is hard to come by. “The potential benefits are being studied, and there is some promise, but oftentimes the studies are small, or in animals or cells, and they’re usually short term,” says Samantha Cassetty, RD, a registered dietitian based in New York City and the coauthor of Sugar Shock. “So it’s really hard to say anything definitively in terms of long-term safety and efficacy.” More research is needed, according to a review published in February 2022 in Drug Discovery Today. That said, mushroom extract supplements show promise in the following areas:
Support for the immune system The Drug Discovery Today review found that medicinal mushrooms may help modulate the immune system and have cancer-fighting properties.Protection against diabetes and heart disease The Frontiers in Pharmacology study reported that mushroom extracts might help fight these two common chronic conditions.Anti-inflammatory effects A review published in Nutrients in May 2020 found that some mushrooms fight inflammation, though randomized clinical trials are needed.Protection against cancer The Nutrients review also found that certain mushrooms and extracts have tumor-fighting properties.Fighting infections and toxins The Frontiers in Pharmacology report stated that components found in mushrooms might help the body resist infections and toxins.Help with anxiety and depression The Frontiers in Pharmacology report also found that some types of mushrooms treat these mental health conditions.Anti-aging effects on skin Mushroom extracts show promise as ingredients in anti-wrinkle products, according to a report published in the journal of the Korean Society of Mushroom Science in September 2021.Wound healing Research done on mice that was published in the Journal of Fungi in March 2021 found that medicinal mushrooms had some ability to speed wound healing.Fatigue reduction A study on mice published in May 2019 in the Royal Society of Chemistry found that certain mushroom extracts may fight fatigue.Enhanced athletic performance A small study of long-distance runners published in the Journal of Exercise Physiology Online in June 2021 found that certain medicinal mushrooms could boost endurance.Mental health assistance Psilocybin is a mushroom extract that’s used as a psychedelic. Researchers are studying whether psilocybin helps mediate emotions and moods and treat depression, migraines, and other health conditions, according to research published in Molecules in May 2021. Psilocybin is a Schedule 1 substance, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, which means it’s currently illegal to sell, purchase, or possess it in most states.
“If you want to try [a mushroom supplement], you can add it to your wellness toolbox, but it doesn’t replace more proven methods,” Cassetty says. Taub-Dix concurs and points out that you need to focus on your overall diet if you want to lose weight. “Mushroom supplements are a drop in the ocean compared to what else you have to do to lose weight,” she says. “It depends on what else you’re eating.” It’s unclear which types of mushroom extract supplements you might want to take, what the dosage should be, or how long you should take them. “We don’t really know how much you need. The research is unclear, so it’s a good idea to check with your healthcare provider or dietitian,” Taub-Dix says. And, as with any supplement, you need to be cautious about interactions. “There’s always a potential for a supplement to interact with a medication you’re taking or a condition you have,” Cassetty says. She doesn’t recommend extracts that contain adaptogens for people with autoimmune conditions, for example, since they could stimulate your immune system. For example, one type of mushroom, called reishi, could interact with medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood clotting, according to MedlinePlus. Chaga extract may also trigger interactions. It may improve your blood flow, which could be dangerous if you’re taking blood-thinning medication or have a bleeding disorder. While more research is needed, a report in the ASCO Post in July 2019 noted that chaga extract can boost the effects of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. “I tell people with any supplements, if you’re taking medication or you have a chronic condition, check with your doctor,” Cassetty says. Mushroom extracts come in a range of forms, from pills to gummies to extracts to coffee and more. But no matter what type you come across, like all supplements, they aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the National Institutes of Health. Supplement manufacturers are expected to follow practices that prevent the wrong ingredients or the wrong amounts of ingredients from getting into the product, reduce contamination, and ensure labels are accurate. You can choose supplements that meet independent quality standards from ConsumerLab.com, NSF, or USP. But testing doesn’t prove that a product is safe or effective. “Supplements are not regulated the same way food is, so a bottle of lion’s mane could be very inconsistent, with one pill containing more than another,” Taub-Dix says.
