Overview

Ergothioneine is an amino acid that is found mainly in mushrooms, as well as red and black beans. It is also found in animals that have eaten grasses containing ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is sometimes used as medicine.

People use ergothioneine for joint pain, liver damage, cataracts, Alzheimer disease, diabetes, heart disease, wrinkles, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Researchers are investigating ergothioneine to determine if it can reduce swelling (inflammation) in the lungs and damage in the liver, kidneys, and brain.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Heart disease. Some research suggests that higher levels of ergothioneine in the blood are linked to a lower risk of heart disease and death from heart disease. But it isn't clear if eating more foods containing ergothioneine or taking ergothioneine supplements will prevent heart disease or death.
  • Joint pain.
  • Liver damage.
  • Cataracts.
  • Alzheimer disease.
  • Diabetes.
  • Preventing wrinkles and reducing signs of aging, when applied to the skin.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of ergothioneine for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Ergothioneine is LIKELY SAFE when used in amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if ergothioneine is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine, or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Ergothioneine is LIKELY SAFE when used in amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if ergothioneine is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine, or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ergothioneine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for ERGOTHIONEINE overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of ergothioneine depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ergothioneine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.