Maitake Mushroom
Maitake is studied for immune and metabolic outcomes. Human evidence remains limited.
Overview
What is maitake mushroom?
Maitake is a mushroom with a unique appearance that resembles the tail feathers of a hen. Supplementation with maitake may have unique immunomodulatory effects, particularly in bladder cancer patients.
Dosage
A typical dose of maitake mushroom is 1–10 mg/kg body weight per day. Higher doses of up to 1.5 grams per day have been used in studies.
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SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most maitake mushroom research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Bladder cancer accounts for 1 of 4 studies (25%).
- Laryngeal cancer accounts for 1 of 4 studies (25%).
- Pharyngeal cancer accounts for 1 of 4 studies (25%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Bladder cancer, Laryngeal cancer, Pharyngeal cancer.
Safety
Oral maitake mushroom extracts are possibly safe at doses of up to 5 mg/kg per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources3 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Bladder cancer
1 reference1.SupplementDEX Database: Bladder cancer — Possible disease remission in patient with invasive bladder cancer with D-fraction regimen2009
A case report described apparent disease remission in a patient with invasive bladder cancer treated with Maitake D-fraction alongside conventional therapy, though controlled trials are needed.
SupplementDEX Database · Laryngeal cancer
1 reference2.SupplementDEX Database: Laryngeal cancer — Effect of Maitake D-fraction in advanced laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers during concurrent chemoradiotherapy: A randomized clinical trial2022
An RCT of 141 advanced laryngeal/pharyngeal cancer patients found Maitake D-fraction during chemoradiotherapy reduced treatment-related adverse events and improved quality of life vs placebo.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) extract induces ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a possible monotherapy and a combination therapy after failure with first-line clomiphene citrate2010
An open-label RCT of 80 PCOS patients found Maitake mushroom extract induced ovulation in 76.9% as monotherapy and restored ovulation in most clomiphene non-responders when combined.