title: Supplementation with a soluble β-glucan exported from Shiitake medicinal mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Berk.) singer mycelium: a crossover, placebo-controlled study in healthy elderly.
abstract: Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) is a medicinal mushroom with a long tradition of use in Asia. The major active substance in L. edodes is a (1-6,1-3)-beta-glucan (lentinan). No clinical controlled studies have yet investigated the effect of orally administered lentinan on the immune response in healthy, elderly Caucasian subjects. We evaluated the effect and the safety of a beta-glucan from L. edodes mycelium, Lentinex, in healthy, elderly subjects in a double blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-two subjects were randomly allocated to two groups given orally either 2.5 mg/day Lentinex or placebo for 6 weeks; then after a washout period of 4 weeks, the alternate supplementation was given for 6 weeks. The changes in the number of B-cells were significantly different between the groups. The number ofNK cells increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Other factors of the immune response (immunoglobulins, complement proteins, cytokines) were not altered. The safety blood variables (differential cell count, liver function, kidney function, and other blood chemistry) were not influenced by Lentinex, and the number, nature, and severity of adverse events were similar to placebo. Lentinex given orally to elderly subjects was safe and induced an increase in the number of circulating B-cells.
authors.affiliation: Link Medical Research AS, P.O. Box 4382 Nydalen, 0402 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaullier
authors.forename: Jowita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sleboda
authors.forename: Erik Snorre
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Øfjord
authors.forename: Elling
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ulvestad
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nurminiemi
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Albrektsen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gudmundsen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007912:Lentinan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry; D020942:Shiitake Mushrooms / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007912:Lentinan