Know2eat

Maitake mushrooms

Grifola frondosa

What maitake mushrooms has been studied for

2 associations assessed — 1 with at least some human evidence behind it. Strongest first.

  • 1 Limited
  • 1 Insufficient
3 things to know first — allergies, interactions and intake limits

About maitake mushrooms

A clustered, frilled bracket fungus that grows at the base of oaks, now widely cultivated. It has a firm texture and a deep savoury flavour that holds up to roasting.

Also known as Hen of the woods, Maitake, Sheepshead mushroom, Ram's head

Blood Sugar & Metabolic HealthImmune Health

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Blood glucose response

Blood Sugar & Metabolic Health
Limited evidence

A small number of human studies of maitake extract report modest reductions in fasting glucose or improved insulin sensitivity. The trials are small, mostly unblinded, use concentrated fractions rather than food, and have not been independently replicated.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

2 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Immune function

Immune Health
Insufficient evidence

Maitake beta-glucans activate immune cells in culture and in mice, which is why the mushroom is sold as an immune product. Human trials measuring infection rates or clinically meaningful immune outcomes essentially do not exist.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Ask about Maitake mushrooms

Ask about Maitake mushrooms

Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.

AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.

Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories31 kcal2%
Protein1.94 g4%
Total fat0.19 g0%
Carbohydrate6.97 g3%
Fibre2.7 g10%
Total sugars2.07 g—
Water90.4 g—
Fats
Saturated fat0.03 g0%
Monounsaturated fat0.03 g—
Polyunsaturated fat0.09 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
EPA (omega-3)0 g—
DHA (omega-3)0 g—
DPA (omega-3)0 g—
Linoleic acid (omega-6)0.09 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A0 µg0%
Vitamin C0 mg0%
Vitamin D28.1 µg141%
Vitamin E0.01 mg0%
Vitamin K0 µg0%
Thiamin (B1)0.146 mg12%
Riboflavin (B2)0.242 mg19%
Niacin (B3)6.58 mg41%
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.27 mg5%
Vitamin B60.056 mg3%
Folate21 µg5%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Choline51.1 mg9%
Minerals
Calcium1 mg0%
Iron0.3 mg2%
Magnesium10 mg2%
Phosphorus74 mg6%
Potassium204 mg4%
Sodium1 mg0%
Zinc0.75 mg7%
Copper0.252 mg28%
Manganese0.059 mg3%
Selenium2.2 µg4%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene0 µg—
Alpha-carotene0 µg—
Lycopene0 µg—
Lutein + zeaxanthin0 µg—
Caffeine0 mg—
Ash0.53 g—

Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

Source record: Mushrooms, maitake, raw (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 169403).

% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.

Nothing dependable is recorded about how preparation changes this food’s nutritional properties. Rather than guess, this section stays empty.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Interaction

    Possible additive effect with glucose-lowering medication

    Maitake extracts lower blood glucose in animal studies and there are case reports of hypoglycaemia when concentrated extracts were combined with diabetes medication. Culinary amounts are a different matter, but anyone taking insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside maitake supplements should be monitoring.

  • Worth knowing

    Never eat an unidentified wild mushroom

    Maitake is foraged as well as cultivated. Wild mushroom identification is a skill, not a hobby app feature, and misidentification kills people every year. Buy it or be certain.

  • Worth knowing

    Extracts are not the food

    Nearly all maitake research uses concentrated polysaccharide fractions at doses no plate of mushrooms could deliver. Claims made for the extract do not transfer to the vegetable.