Form Comparison

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

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

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Quick verdict. Whole fruiting body powder is the mushroom itself and the preparation used in the Mori trial at 3 g a day. Generic mycelium on grain is partly grain starch, with variable erinacine content. Choose the fruiting body powder unless a mycelium product states its erinacine A content.

Side by Side

Whole Fruiting Body Powder Mycelium on Grain
Absorption Variable Variable
How it is absorbed Dried, ground mushroom; the preparation used in the 2009 Japanese trial at 3 g daily. 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 1-3 g daily Per product
Common uses cognition (small trials) cognition (marketed)
Side effects GI upset. GI upset.
Cost Low Low
Also called dried lion's mane myceliated grain, full spectrum mycelium

When to Choose Whole Fruiting Body Powder

Choose lion's mane fruiting body powder when you want to match the Mori trial. Closest to the mushroom as food.

Whole Fruiting Body Powder

Closest to the 2009 trial, and to the mushroom as food.

What to look for: 100% fruiting body powder, 1-3 g 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.