Ergothioneine - amino acid for life extension.
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@cs3000
Nice find. Another reason to eat mushrooms.- Gut-cleaning effects
- aromatase inhibtors
- good Ergothioneine source
- nutritious in general
- If I remember correctly, Dr. Peat also talked about an antihistamine effect
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@Luke - I like the list. I would add that it might also delay the onset of MCI.
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**But there's a potential problem getting it through mushrooms, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8329194/#Sec2 mushrooms antagonistic to androgen receptor
they stop DHT increasing androgen receptor in multiple tissues & can lower vs controls in some tissues
ive noticed a flat mood effect from mushrooms before
heq low amounts 1g-1.5g of white button mushroom water extract (so probably not the ergo, likely b-glucans which are found in way higher amounts)(the beta glucan content has effects ~250mg here , closely matching white button https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11467013/#ctm270048-sec-0070)
shiitake has 1g/10g cooked b-glucanhere a b-glucan lowered estrogen in the prostate where elevated (normalized in prostate and also normalized low testosterone / AR doi: 10.1039/c4fo00472h ) there's an anti androgen receptor effect pretty potent across tissues by earlier study though using mushroom water extract
mainly because of the high beta glucan content
Here white button mushroom lowered AR in vitro, but in the mice tumors in vivo AR expression didn't lower, even tho tumors shrank (at least short term) (tho its not healthy tissue like the 1st study showed)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8542389/#S17
*maybe a supplement is best if doesnt also include the mushroom powder.
or taking 2g spirullina , if dont respond well to androgen reducing stuff--
also for ppl eating, wondered if microwaving destroys the ergothionine, nope all ergothioneine stays intact
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/fstr/25/1/25_115/_pdf/-char/en
Best not to boil them 2/3 of the ergothioneine gets drained
Roasting is good and frying should be ok too can pour the fat into the food
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@cs3000 = Thanks for all the information. I do not like all the fuss associated with boiling mushrooms as Dr. Peat advised. I am mostly interested in ergothioneine rather than the mushrooms themselves.
Peatbot.com: To cook mushrooms safely and effectively, particularly white button mushrooms, it is recommended to boil them. Here is a detailed method:
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Preparation: Clean the mushrooms thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. You can slice them if desired, but whole mushrooms can also be used.
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Boiling: Place the mushrooms in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. It is suggested to keep them at the boiling temperature for at least an hour to ensure safety and maximize the health benefits.
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Alternative Cooking Method: While boiling is recommended, you can also fry them in butter for flavor. However, it is still advised to boil them first to reduce any potentially harmful substances.
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Cooking Time: Although mushrooms may be safe after boiling for 15 to 20 minutes, cooking them for up to an hour is recommended to ensure they are thoroughly cooked and safe to eat.
This method helps to reduce the agaritine content, a compound found in mushrooms, which decreases significantly with prolonged boiling.
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Another good one ,
gives weight to ergo as the main compound in mushrooms that gives the main cognition improving effects vs b-glucansgiving mice deficient diet for 5 weeks
then refeeding 3x a week for 2 weeks (2mg/kg or 20mg/kg)discrimination index (DI), an indicator of learning and memory ability
restored by either amount (and higher than controls) , took 2 weeks
(smaller amounts likely work the same too just with a longer buildup , amounts build to 4 weeks its half life)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10847428/#Sec2
something interesting is their hippocampal levels didnt restore to controls at 2mg/kg vs 20mg/kg by 2 weeks, but still got the effect. i wonder how much mice usually get & where from. ive seen adding 0.5mg/kg bw to normal mice diet gave behavioral improvements in another study posted here
neurogenesis
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there's human trials
cognitive improvement
https://www.ls-corporation.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ergothioneine_congitive.pdfand over 1 year, with people aged > 60
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.08.24310085v1.full.pdf
at 6 months, and still gaining at 12 months. Following ET intake, an increase in Z-scores was observed in RAVLT assessments (immediate and delayed recalls), which evaluates learning ability and memory (Figure 4a&b). In contrast, no significant increase was observed in Z-scores across all NCA components, in the subjects given the placebo.
Block design scores, which assess visual-motor coordination and problem-solving skills, declined over time in both ET and placebo groups (Figure 4g). Although not measured at baseline, Z-scores of SDMT (written format) in the ET group showed a trend to increase from visit 7 to visit 14 (Figure 4i)(at 4 weeks visit 1 ergo group also had a better lymphocyte-neutrophil ratio)
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bump
@Mauritio said in Ergothioneine - amino acid for life extension.:
ERG protects PUFAs from beeing oxidized and helps to maintain Vitamin E levels.
"Oral administration of 70 mg l-Ergo/kg body weight of rats for 7 days prior to the injection of ferric-nitrilotriacetate protected the fatty acids against oxidation,
This effect by ERG (/ ETG) was likely due its property of chelating intracellular iron?
It enriches in mitochondria and the nucleus where it exerts protective action against iron and copper ions by binding them in a harmless way, i.e. without them undergoing the Fenton reaction. Therefore also protecting against ferroptosis and cuproptosis.
The effects of hippocampal neurodifferentiation are reminiscent of the benefits of low dose lithium. -
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If you want to get Ergothioneine in whole foods, you should intentionally consider branching out beyond the button mushrooms. Supplements are the easiest route to get the pure form. You can start at five milligrams a day, whether that's mushrooms or whether that's a supplement.
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Ergothioneine alleviates osteoporosis via the ROS-MAPK signaling Axis (2025)
Highlights
Ergothioneine (EGT) inhibits osteoclastogenesis via ROS reduction and RANKL-induced MAPK suppression.
EGT downregulates NFATc1 and c-Fos while upregulating Ho-1, Catexpression.
EGT combines antioxidant and anti-osteoclastic activity properties with a high safety profile
EGT effectively mitigates trabecular bone loss in OVX mice by reducing TRAP-positive osteoclast activity.
EGT effectively treats osteoporosis via ROS reduction and osteoclast inhibtion.
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Ergothioneine and exercise: A match made in (cognitive) heaven? (2025)
Highlights
• Ergothioneine accumulates in high-stress organs to protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage.
• Higher ergothioneine levels associate with improved cognition and supplementation shows promise for memory and neuroprotection.
• Physical exercise enhances neuroplasticity, cerebral perfusion, and cognitive performance through distinct mechanisms.
• The combined effects of ergothioneine and exercise on cognition are untested, representing a key direction for future research.
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Abstract
Ergothioneine is a diet-derived antioxidant with emerging evidence of neuroprotective benefits, but no dose-ranging study has evaluated its effects in healthy older adults. In this 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 147 adults aged 55–79 with subjective memory complaints received ergothioneine (10 mg or 25 mg/day ErgoActive
) or placebo. The primary outcome was the change in composite memory (CNS Vital Signs). Secondary outcomes included other cognitive domains, subjective memory and sleep quality, and blood biomarkers. At baseline, participants showed slightly above-average cognitive function (neurocognitive index median = 105), with plasma ergothioneine levels of median = 1154 nM (interquartile range = 889.9). Plasma ergothioneine increased by ~3- and ~6-fold for 10 mg, and ~6- and ~16-fold for 25 mg, at weeks 4 and 16, respectively (p < 0.001). 25 mg ergothioneine showed a within-group improvement in composite memory at week 4 (p < 0.05), although this was not sustained. Reaction time improved in both groups, dependent on time. Other domains showed null or limited effects. Subjective prospective memory and sleep initiation improved dose-dependently, with significant effects at 25 mg (p < 0.05). Liver function improved and a within-group increase in telomere length was noted. In conclusion, ergothioneine supplementation was safe and well tolerated, with evidence suggesting some benefits in this cohort of healthy older adults. Longer trials in individuals with lower baseline ergothioneine or cognitive function are warranted.
