AEGiS-LT: Maitake mushroom may boost immunity against cancer and HIV Los Angeles TimesImportant note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Click here to return to Los Angeles Times main menu
DonateNow


Maitake mushroom may boost immunity against cancer and HIV

Los Angeles Times - September 6, 2005
Elena Conis

The Frisbee-sized maitake mushroom was once a rare find in the mountains of northern Japan. Its name means "dancing mushroom," but it's also been dubbed "hen of the woods" for the feathery appearance of its overlapping caps. Today, the mushroom is cultivated throughout Europe and North America for its purported medicinal powers. Maitake's cell walls contain powerful carbohydrate compounds called polysaccharides, which help spur the body's immune cells into action.

Uses: Maitake supplements are most commonly used as an immune booster, particularly against cancer and HIV. They're also sometimes taken in attempts to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, lose weight and manage diabetes.

Dose: Recommended doses vary from 1 to 7 grams a day. Maitake supplements are sold as powders, pills and liquid extracts. The mushrooms can also be eaten as food or made into a tea. Maitake products are sometimes labeled with the mushroom's scientific name, Grifola frondosa.

Precautions: Maitake supplements are a relatively new subject of study, but so far they appear to be safe and side-effect free.

Research: In test-tube experiments, maitake extracts have displayed antibacterial, antiviral and anti-tumor activity. In fact, lab studies have shown that the mushroom's components activate several different types of immune-system cells, including white blood cells and so-called natural killer cells. In animal studies, the mushroom has shown promise against cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In humans, research has focused mainly on maitake's ability to help treat cancer. Researchers in Japan have shown that maitake extracts can boost immune cell function and slow the spread of disease in patients with different types of cancer. Researchers at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are studying the mushroom's effects on the immune system and its usefulness in treating breast cancer.

***

Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on selecting a brand.


050906
LT050902

Copyright © 2005 - Los Angeles Times. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Los Angeles Times, Permissions, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.  http://www.latimes.com.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .