University > Foods > Shiitake Mushrooms
Illustration of shiitake mushrooms with brown caps, thick white stems, and visible gills underneath.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake is a well-known culinary mushroom native to East Asia, grown on hardwood logs and sawdust. In dog supplements, it is valued for compounds such as lentinan and ergothioneine, which are studied for their potential to contribute to immune and liver health.
Last Reviewed Date: 01/02/2026

Contents

Overview

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Food Family

Food Meta: Fungi

Food Type: Mushrooms
Food: Shiitake Mushrooms

Food Meta: Fungi

Food Type: Mushrooms

Food: Shiitake Mushrooms
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Food Components

Info Ingredient sources of Shiitake Mushrooms
Image & Title At a Glance
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Nutrients

Info Nutrients Found in Shiitake Mushrooms
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General Health Topics

Info Health Topics related to Shiitake Mushrooms
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Health Conditions

Info Health conditions related to Shiitake Mushrooms
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Blog Articles

Info Articles related to Shiitake Mushrooms
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Follow the Research

Info Studies providing deeper insight into Shiitake Mushrooms
Title Information
Shiitake mushroom powder supplementation increase antioxidative activity in dogs

At a Glance

This 2024 study evaluated the effects of shiitake mushroom powder on cholesterol levels and antioxidant activity in healthy Beagle dogs. The authors reported a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol and significant increases in leukocyte sirtuin1 mRNA expression and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after four weeks of supplementation. These findings suggest that shiitake powder may increase antioxidative activity and support metabolic regulation in dogs.

Connecting the Dots
  • Shiitake mushroom powder supplementation increased antioxidant activity in healthy dogs.
  • The study observed higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a key enzyme that helps neutralize oxidative stress, along with increased expression of sirtuin1, a regulator of metabolic and oxidative balance.
  • Shiitake supplementation also reduced circulating cholesterol without adverse effects on liver enzymes.
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    Dig Deeper

    Info Q/A's related to Shiitake Mushrooms
    Title URL At a Glance
    What’s the difference between mushrooms and mycelium in supplements? https://www.bernies.com/university/dig-deeper/whats-the-difference-between-mushrooms-and-mycelium-in-supplements/ In supplements, “mushroom” means the fruiting body, the cap and stem you see, while “mycelium” is the hidden web the fungus grows with. They can come from the same species, but they aren’t interchangeable. Fruiting bodies are denser in cell walls and usually provide more beta-glucans (β-glucans) per gram. Mycelium’s makeup depends on how it’s grown: on wood (mostly fungal material), on grain (often milled with that grain, which adds regular starch), or in liquid culture (which can yield different polysaccharides). To compare products fairly, check which part was used, how it was grown, and whether the label lists a % of beta-glucans instead of only “total polysaccharides.”
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