Can Mushrooms Increase Lifespan by 53%? "Immunity & Ageing" Says It's True! The Immune System Decline After 25 May Have a Solution

Mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional medicine, spanning thousands of years.[1,2] Fungi like mushrooms and yeast are rich in a compound called beta-glucan, known for its antiviral and immune-boosting effects.[3,4] Studies in humans show that beta-glucan intake can enhance immune responses,[5] reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of upper respiratory infections like colds and flu,[6-8] and relieve seasonal allergy symptoms.[9] Researchers have pinpointed three mushrooms with particularly strong immune benefits: shiitake,[10] maitake,[11] and chaga.[12] Combining isolated beta-glucan with mushroom extracts provides a comprehensive immune support solution.

How Beta-Glucan Enhances Immunity

Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi, bacteria, and whole grains like oats. Mushrooms are particularly high in beta-glucan, which can also be derived from yeast. These compounds help maintain immune health, boosting defense against viruses and other pathogens.[13-15] Preclinical research shows they can also reduce the impact of endotoxins, harmful by-products from bacterial infections that trigger inflammation.[16,17]

There are two types of immune responses: innate and adaptive.[18,19] Innate immunity is the body's first line of defense, where macrophages consume and neutralize viruses and other pathogens, and natural killer (NK) cells target and destroy unhealthy cells affected by viruses or pathogens. Adaptive immunity is more specific, arising after exposure to a specific pathogen and offering long-term protection through T and B cells. Beta-glucan can activate and stimulate both innate and adaptive immunity.[10,20,21]

As we age, our immune system weakens, losing the ability to resist infections and cancer—an effect known as immunosenescence. Animal studies suggest that beta-glucan intake may prevent or even reverse immunosenescence.[20,22] Renewing these immune responses is particularly important for older adults.

Mushrooms with the Most Health Benefits

Mushrooms contain various beneficial compounds, including indoles, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Beta-glucan is one of the bioactive immune-supporting compounds found in mushrooms.[23] Among the thousands of mushrooms with health benefits, three stand out for their immune-boosting effects: shiitake, maitake, and chaga.

Shiitake: Widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, shiitake mushrooms have beta-glucan that reduces bacterial load in animal models of severe lung infection and improves health outcomes.[25] Cell studies indicate shiitake can deactivate viruses and inhibit viral replication.[26,27] Clinical research suggests its immune-enhancing effects are due to its ability to increase immune cells like T cells and NK cells.[10] Shiitake also reduces markers of harmful chronic inflammation and stimulates the secretion of gut-protective antibodies.[10]

Maitake: Known in Asian cuisine, maitake mushrooms offer significant immune benefits. Animal research shows maitake extract can enhance NK cell activity and bacterial elimination, particularly when combined with shiitake extract.[28,29] Maitake extract also boosts the release of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a protein that inhibits viral replication.[29]

Chaga: Originating from cold climates and typically growing on birch trees, chaga mushrooms serve as immune modulators. Preclinical studies demonstrate the antiviral properties of chaga extract.[30] In studies on immune-deficient mice, chaga extract restored immune cells to near-normal levels and regulated inflammation indicators like TNF-α, suggesting it could prevent excessive inflammation.[31] Chaga extract has also shown beneficial activity against various viruses in preclinical studies.[12,30,32]

Defending Against Infections

Research shows that beta-glucan helps prevent and treat bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.[33-35] In multiple placebo-controlled human trials, participants randomly received either beta-glucan or a placebo. These trials used at least 250 mg of beta-glucan per day, and participants taking beta-glucan experienced reduced upper respiratory infections, shorter symptom duration, fewer lost workdays, increased circulating interferon, and higher levels of salivary antibodies that protect against respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens.[5-8,36,37]

Another study evaluated beta-glucan’s effects on adults with moderate seasonal ragweed allergies. Those who took 250 mg of beta-glucan daily had reduced allergy symptoms’ duration and intensity and improvements in sleep, quality of life, energy, and mood compared to the placebo group.[9]

The Immune Benefits of Mushrooms

Mushrooms have a long history in traditional medicine. Fungi, including mushrooms and yeast, are rich in beta-glucan and other immune-supporting compounds. In human trials, beta-glucan intake has been shown to reduce the frequency and duration of upper respiratory infections, including colds and flu, and to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms.

A meta-analysis of observational studies revealed that those who consume the most mushrooms have a 34% lower cancer risk than those who do not eat mushrooms. Combining beta-glucan with immune-supporting extracts of shiitake, maitake, and chaga mushrooms can strengthen the immune system’s ability to fight infections and other illnesses.

Enhanced Gut Health

The digestive tract hosts a variety of microorganisms, and a balanced microbiome is essential for fighting infection and maintaining immune health.[38] Beta-glucan and mushrooms enhance immunity by promoting the growth of healthy microbes in the gut. As a prebiotic fiber, beta-glucan nourishes beneficial bacteria.[13,39] Research shows a healthy microbiome supports immune responses, maintains gut wall integrity, and suppresses pathogenic bacteria and inflammation.[13,40-42] Beta-glucan also promotes the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are crucial for gut health and preserving the gut barrier’s integrity.[13,40,42]

Fighting Cancer

In September 2024, scientists from Penn State College of Medicine published results from a cohort study involving over 30,000 participants and a meta-analysis of over 600,000 participants to investigate the link between mushroom intake and mortality risk.[43] They found that higher mushroom consumption correlated with a reduced risk of death from all causes. This study's strengths include analyzing a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults and a comprehensive meta-analysis of cohort studies worldwide.

The immune system, when functioning normally, can identify and eliminate cancer cells. By boosting immunity, mushrooms can enhance this ability. A meta-analysis of observational studies including over 615,000 people, with nearly 20,000 cancer cases from 1966 to 2020, found that the highest mushroom consumers had a 34% lower cancer risk than those who ate the fewest mushrooms.[44] Beta-glucan and other compounds in shiitake, maitake, and chaga enhance protective signaling proteins that inhibit tumor cell growth.[30] The beta-glucan and extracts from these mushrooms can provide multiple immune-supporting compounds.

Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Research shows they contain beta-glucan, which boosts immunity and gut health and may help prevent viral infections and cancer. Beta-glucan, isolated from yeast, combined with extracts of shiitake, maitake, and chaga mushrooms, offers comprehensive immune support benefits.

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