Form Comparison

Lion's Mane Fruiting Body Extract vs Lion's Mane Mycelium

How lion's mane fruiting body extract and lion's mane mycelium differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Fruiting body extract is made from the mushroom itself and can be tested for beta-glucan content. Mycelium on grain is sold with its substrate, so much of the powder can be rice or oat starch, and its erinacine content varies unless the product states erinacine A. Choose the fruiting body extract, or a mycelium product only if it lists measured erinacine A like the cultured product in the Taiwanese trial.

Side by Side

Fruiting Body Extract Mycelium on Grain
Absorption Variable Variable
How it is absorbed Hot water (and sometimes alcohol) extraction of the mushroom itself concentrates beta-glucans and hericenones. Usually standardized to beta-glucan content. Fungus grown on rice or oats and sold with the substrate, so much of the powder can be grain starch. Erinacine content varies with strain and culture.
Typical dose 500-1,000 mg daily Per product
Common uses cognition (small trials) cognition (marketed)
Side effects GI upset. GI upset.
Cost Moderate Low
Also called hot water extract, dual extract myceliated grain, full spectrum mycelium

When to Choose Fruiting Body Extract

Choose lion's mane fruiting body extract when you want a measured product from the mushroom itself. Beta-glucan content can be measured; erinacines are found mainly in mycelium, not fruiting body.

Fruiting Body Extract

Concentrated and measurable, though the extraction removes some compounds and keeps others.

What to look for: Fruiting body extract with beta-glucan percentage stated, 500-1,000 mg daily.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

When to Choose Mycelium on Grain

Choose lion's mane mycelium when you can find a product stating erinacine A content. Erinacine A-enriched mycelium used in the Taiwanese trial is a specifically cultured product, not generic myceliated grain.

Mycelium on Grain

Usually more grain than mushroom. Erinacine A-enriched products are the exception.

What to look for: Only products that state erinacine A content per serving.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

Products on Titrate

497 of the 214,745 labels in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database list lion's mane as an active ingredient (370 on market). 169 are sold as lion's mane products by name.

Open supplement search

Lion's Mane does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

Related

References

Kawagishi H, Ando M, Sakamoto H, et al. Hericenones C, D and E, stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)-synthesis, from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum. Tetrahedron Lett. 1991;32(35):4561-4564.

Kawagishi H, Shimada A, Shirai R, et al. Erinacines A, B and C, strong stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)-synthesis, from the mycelia of Hericium erinaceum. Tetrahedron Lett. 1994;35(10):1569-1572.

Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2009;23(3):367-372.

Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer's disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;12:155.

Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The acute and chronic effects of lion's mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults: a double-blind, parallel groups, pilot study. Nutrients. 2023;15(22):4842.