Maitake Mushroom: The Japanese mushroom for the immune system and more!

Wild mushrooms have drawn many people’s attention since ancient times! Their beneficial properties for health, give them a special place that goes beyond their choice only for food preparation. In fact, they are of great importance in Asian medicine, as they have been used for thousands of years to improve or prevent various diseases. Maitake mushroom stands out among them!

What is it

It is a wild mushroom found in parts of Japan, China and North America. “Maitake” means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese. Others say it got its name from the people who danced from happiness when they found it in the wild, for its wonderful taste and health benefits, while others say it looks like dancing butterflies. Its Latin name is Grifola frondosa, and it refers to Grypas, a mythological monster with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

All these striking names reveal the feelings this kind of mushroom had caused to the people who used it and had realized its special properties. In fact, many years ago, Maitake had monetary value in Japan, and was worth its weight in silver!

But what are the properties of Maitake mushroom?

Immune boosting

The main reason Maitake deserves attention is the positive effect it seems to have on the immune system. In the late 1980s, Japanese scientists recognized Maitake as more powerful than Lentinan, Shiitake, Suehirotake, and Kawaratake mushrooms, which are used in traditional Asian medicine to boost the immune system (1).

More specifically, Dr. Hiroaki Nanba of Kobe Pharmaceutical Hospital in Japan started with his team to study the properties and benefits of medicinal mushrooms. This research led to a major breakthrough in the late 1990s, when the team identified a Maitake extract that could stimulate white blood cells, thanks to its beta-glucan polysaccharide content (1.6 & 1.3). It is known as MD-Fraction or MaitakeGold 404Ⓡ.

Although other medicinal mushrooms also contain beta-glucans, here they seem to have a unique and complex structure, with the main difference being the larger number of branched side chains. In general, it is believed that the greater the degree of branching, the greater the chance that beta-glucan will reach and activate a large number of immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes (2). In addition, proteins important for the immune system, such as interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and lymphokines, are stimulated, which strengthen body’s defenses. (3)

In addition to beta-glucans, Maitake mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, vitamins B and C, copper, potassium, trace elements and amino acids, as well as fiber. Their beneficial effect, however, does not stop at strengthening the immune system. Recent research shows that it can be useful in people with high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, polycystic ovaries, etc.

High Cholesterol

Maitake appears to be able to alter lipid metabolism, as in animal research its consumption inhibits fat accumulation in the liver, as well as serum lipids’ increase (4). In another study, total cholesterol and LDL (also known as bad cholesterol) were reduced in mice given Maitake mushroom powder preparations (5). However, further research is needed in humans.

Hypertension

Recent research has also shown that consuming maitake powder (5%) also leads to a reduction in blood pressure (5), while in another study maitake extract dropped blood pressure in mice from 200 mmHg to 115 mmHg in 4 hours (6) .

Diabetes

There are several animal studies that show that maitake mushroom can have a positive effect on type 2 diabetes, as it lowers blood glucose levels (7), and improves insulin resistance (8).

Polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovaries are a common phenomenon in women of reproductive age. Early research has shown that taking a diet supplement with maitake mushroom can improve ovulation in women whose periods have been interrupted due to polycystic ovaries. Although it is not as effective as the corresponding drug, the combination of the two is considered better than the choice of only one, to improve ovulation (9). However, further research is needed to get a better picture.

Allergies

In a study based on research by Professor Hirasawa of Tohoku University in Japan, it was found that Maitake mushrooms may have the ability to reduce allergic symptoms. In the study, mast cells that received Maitake extract in advance significantly reduced histamine secretion after antigen stimulation, while anti-inflammatory activity was also observed (9).

Side effects

Maitake mushroom is safe to take for most, although there is not enough information about any side effects. For this reason it is considered better to avoid it during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, there are some reports of people experiencing nausea after taking it.

In case of scheduled surgery, it is advisable to avoid taking it at least 2 weeks before, as it may affect blood sugar levels and make it difficult to control them during and after surgery. (10)

Interactions

Maitake is likely to lower blood sugar levels, which is also what antidiabetic treatment does. So if taken in parallel, this will result in the sugar falling too low. For this reason, blood sugar levels should be monitored frequently, and it is very likely that the dosage of the antidiabetic treatment will need to be adjusted. (11)

Dosage

The appropriate dosage for Maitake mushroom, when it is taken as a supplement is difficult to determine, as it depends on many factors such as one’s health status, age, any medication taken, etc. In addition, as natural as an ingredient is, it does not mean that it is safe in any dose. For these reasons it is legitimate for the dose to be determined by a healthcare professional (12).

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of food supplements with the Maitake mushroom, while very often it is combined with other mushrooms, such as Reishi, Shiitake etc.

References

1. Maitake extracts and their therapeutic potential.
2. Antitumor substance extracted from Grifola.
3. Medicinal Properties of Substances Occurring in Higher Basidiomycetes Mushrooms: Current Perspectives (Review)
4. The effect of maitake mushrooms on liver and serum lipids.
5. Effect on shiitake (Lentinus edodes) and maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms on blood pressure and plasma lipids of spontaneously hypertensive rats.
6. Blood pressure-lowering activity present in the fruit body of Grifola frondosa (maitake): I
7. Submerged-culture mycelia and broth of the maitake medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa (higher basidiomycetes) alleviate type 2 diabetes-induced alterations in immunocytic function.
8. Effects of Grifola frondosa non-polar bioactive components on high-fat diet fed and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic mice.
9. The Anti-allergic Effects of Maitake.
10. Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) extract induces ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
11. A possible hypoglycaemic effect of maitake mushroom on Type 2 diabetic patients
12. Maitake Mushroom: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing, Reviews