Shiitake supplements are sold for immune, heart and everyday wellness, and the human research behind them is small. The two human studies covered here tested dried shiitake and shiitake bars, not capsules or extracts. A 2021 randomized, double-blind trial of 68 people reported a 10% reduction in triglycerides in the shiitake bar group after 66 days (P = 0.0352), and the immune results come from a 2015 study of dried shiitake that a seller’s article describes.
The side effect documented in the studies and reviews below is shiitake dermatitis, a skin reaction. Interaction cautions come from a seller’s article. No single shiitake product is the best choice for everyone, so use the sections below to decide what fits you, then take the open questions to your clinician.
Disclosure: MushroomHealthBenefits.com earns commissions on some product links across this site. This page names one seller’s product for comparison, and statements from sellers are marked as the seller’s.
Why are shiitake supplement rankings everywhere right now?
A “best” list is one site’s pick. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is the mushroom used in cooking.
Is shiitake psychedelic?
Shiitake is not described as psychedelic in the studies above. The 2021 bar trial calls it a culinary-medicinal mushroom. The psychedelic products the FDA has warned about are made from Amanita muscaria, a different mushroom. The FDA’s December 18, 2024 notice concerns A. muscaria products “sometimes marketed as ‘psychedelic edibles’, ‘legal psychedelics’ or ‘mushroom edibles'”, and says: “We also recommend that people avoid eating foods with these ingredients.”
What does a mushroom trip feel like?
The FDA notice describes these products as foods “intended to have hallucinogenic effects,” and the FDA recommends that people avoid eating them. Those are A. muscaria products, not shiitake. If a product promises a trip, read the FDA notice before you consider it.
What are the benefits of shiitake mushroom?
Most of the human work is on the whole mushroom or on bars, not on extracts. Here is what the studies in this research found.
| Study | Form and part | How long | Who took part | What it found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 shiitake bar trial, double-blind randomized, International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms | Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) bars | 66 days, with blood tests at days 0, 33 and 66 | 68 individuals with borderline high cholesterol, LDL or triglycerides; 32 on placebo and 36 on the bars | A 10% reduction in triglycerides was reported in the bar group after 66 days (P = 0.0352). Reduced glutathione, an antioxidant, rose. Dermatitis appeared in 10% of individuals sensitive to the mushroom. |
| 2015 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, as described in Eversio Wellness’s article | Dried whole shiitake mushrooms, not extract | Four weeks | Healthy adults | The article reports better immune cell function, higher secretory IgA and lower inflammatory markers. |
The 2015 study is described only through Eversio Wellness’s article, which gives two different amounts for it: 5 or 10 grams of dried shiitake daily in one place, and two dried mushrooms daily in another. The 2021 trial was run on bars, so its results describe that food and not a capsule.
Evidence grade: limited. The human data here is one small trial of bars and one 2015 study reported in a seller’s article. NCCIH’s guide to using supplements wisely says that, as of October 2026, strong evidence to back up supplement claims “is often lacking.”
Eversio’s article also describes lab and animal work on immune cells, cholesterol pathways and cancer-related cells, and says more human clinical trials are needed. Rice bran arabinoxylan, a rice bran ingredient made with a shiitake mycelial enzyme, is a different product; a 2021 narrative review says research on it has mostly focused on its immunomodulatory action and use as a complementary therapy for cancer. For a fuller look at shiitake, see shiitake benefits and shiitake mushroom.
What are the potential side effects of taking shiitake extract?
The clearest side effect in the research is a skin reaction. The rest comes from a seller’s article and from general supplement guidance.
| Effect or caution | Where it comes from | Who it is named for |
|---|---|---|
| Shiitake dermatitis: linear red eruptions, papules and severe itching | A 2016 review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology says it is likely caused by lentinan, a heat-inactivated beta-glucan | People who eat raw or undercooked shiitake; it may also follow handling of the mushroom |
| Skin reaction in 10% of sensitive people | The 2021 bar trial | Individuals sensitive to the mushroom |
| Digestive discomfort such as gas or an upset stomach | Eversio Wellness’s article | People starting with large doses |
| Photosensitivity, mild changes in white blood cell counts, allergic reactions | Eversio Wellness’s article says these are rare at high doses and that allergic reactions are uncommon | People using high doses |
| Possible mild blood-thinning effect | Eversio Wellness’s article | People on blood thinners or with a bleeding risk |
| Medicine interactions with immunosuppressants, warfarin, CYP2D6-processed medicines and cholesterol medicines | Eversio Wellness’s article, which sells its own product; these points are not drawn from a study or agency page on shiitake | People taking these medicines |
| Label may not match contents | NCCIH says “What’s on the label may not be what’s in the product.” | Everyone buying a supplement |
NCCIH also says a manufacturer’s use of “standardized” (or “verified” or “certified”) “does not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency.” Read the quality standards for mushroom supplements before you trust a label term.
When not to eat shiitake?
Raw or undercooked shiitake is the clearest caution in the research, because the 2016 review ties the skin reaction to it. Eversio Wellness’s article names other situations that call for asking first:
- Immunosuppressant drugs, such as those used after an organ transplant or for certain autoimmune disorders. Read mushroom supplements and autoimmune conditions before you decide.
- Blood thinners such as warfarin, or a bleeding disorder.
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines. The article warns the combination could push cholesterol too low; that is the seller’s own warning, not a finding from a study.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding, where the article says there is limited data.
NCCIH adds that supplements can raise bleeding risk or affect anesthesia, so tell your care team about every supplement well before surgery. NCCIH also notes that many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children, and a separate guide covers mushroom supplements for children and adolescents. If any of these apply to you, ask your clinician before you start.
Is it okay to drink mushroom powder every day?
The studies in this research lasted four weeks (2015, as a seller describes it) and 66 days (2021); neither establishes long-term daily safety. Whether a daily routine suits you depends on the medicines, conditions and pregnancy status listed above, so ask your clinician before you start.
How do you use shiitake mushroom powder?
Three forms appear in this research: whole dried shiitake, shiitake bars, and powders or extracts sold as supplements. Eversio Wellness’s article suggests stirring its powder into coffee, tea, smoothies or soups, and adding it near the end of cooking to protect heat-sensitive compounds.
For whole mushrooms, cooking matters because the 2016 review ties shiitake dermatitis to raw or undercooked shiitake. For powders, check the label for the species name, the part used and the amount per serving, and ask your clinician how any product fits your situation.
What is the best mushroom supplement for health?
There is no single best mushroom supplement for everyone. NCCIH’s guide says, as of October 2026, that “Some dietary supplements can be good for your health, while others haven’t been proven to work.” Memorial Sloan Kettering’s herb pages for lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps and turkey tail list the following.
| Mushroom | Uses MSKCC lists | Side effects or cautions MSKCC names |
|---|---|---|
| Lion’s mane | Improve memory, improve mood, reduce stress | Talk with providers before taking supplements; can interact with some medications |
| Reishi | Boost the immune system; increase strength and stamina | Nausea, insomnia, liver injury; may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners |
| Cordyceps | Boost the immune system; boost strength and stamina | No major side effects reported; can lower blood sugar; talk with a provider if you take blood-sugar medicines or blood thinners |
| Turkey tail (Coriolus versicolor) | Improve general health; boost the immune system | Dark stool and darkening of fingernails; MSKCC says it is not known if it is safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding |
For more on reishi’s human studies, see reishi mushroom benefits (our research library). NCI’s patient summary on medicinal mushrooms says the FDA has not approved reishi or turkey tail for cancer or any other medical condition. NCCIH’s guide, as of October 2026, says the FDA is not authorized to review supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, except for ingredients covered by its pre-1994 safety-data requirement; the FDA can act against adulterated or misbranded supplements only after the product is on the market; and the FTC requires advertising to be truthful and not misleading.
What are the benefits of mushroom powder for dogs?
This page covers people. For a dog, ask your veterinarian before offering any mushroom powder, and bring the exact product label with you.
What are my options, side by side?
| Option | What the sources say | Who it may suit | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinician-directed care for a condition | NCI’s summary says the FDA has not approved reishi or turkey tail for cancer or any other medical condition | Anyone with a diagnosed condition | A mushroom supplement is not a substitute for that care |
| Whole shiitake as food | The 2015 study of dried shiitake, as Eversio Wellness’s article describes it | People who already cook with shiitake | Raw or undercooked shiitake is linked to skin reactions |
| Shiitake bars | The 2021 randomized trial of 68 individuals | People who want a food-style product | One small trial; dermatitis in 10% of sensitive individuals |
| Shiitake extract or powder supplement | The seller describes whole fruiting bodies, dual extraction and lab-verified beta-glucan content | People who want a concentrated form and will check the label | NCCIH says the label may not match the contents |
| Multi-mushroom blend | Eversio Wellness’s Balance Blend is described as four mushrooms including shiitake | Buyers who want several species in one product | The blend’s effects are not the same as shiitake alone |
What do shiitake supplements cost, and how do you buy one?
Eversio Wellness’s May 5, 2025 article says its Balance Blend, a four-mushroom blend that includes shiitake, is $64.99. Confirm the current price on the seller’s page, since prices and bundles change. The same article says its boxed set of three products comes with 10% off, and the seller’s site offers 10% off a first order to people who join its email list.
| Product (seller) | Price shown | What the seller says about it |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Blend, 4 Mushroom Blend Organic Extracts (Eversio Wellness) | $64.99 (May 5, 2025 article) | Made from whole fruiting bodies, dual-extracted, USDA Organic; the article says the lab-verified beta-glucan content is what is listed |
Before you pay, check the seller’s refund and cancellation terms on its checkout or policy pages and read them in full.
Before you order
- Read the label for the species name (Lentinula edodes) and the part used, fruiting body or mycelium. Match it to the seller’s claim of whole fruiting bodies.
- Ask the seller for the lot’s test report for beta-glucan content, since its article says its content is lab-verified.
- Ask which body certified any USDA Organic claim and for what scope. The quality standards for mushroom supplements guide explains what to ask.
- Find the refund window and cancellation terms on the checkout page before you pay.
- Take the medicine list and any conditions from the sections above to your clinician before you start a daily routine.
By MushroomHealthBenefits.com Research & Editorial Team