RT Journal Article ID 3b3025c722e6c487 A1 Gaullier, Jean-Michel A1 Sleboda, Jowita A1 Ofjord, Erik Snorre A1 Ulvestad, Elling A1 Nurminiemi, Minna A1 Moe, Cecilie A1 Albrektsen, Tor A1 Gudmundsen, Ola T1 Supplementation with a Soluble Beta-Glucan Exported from Shiitake Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer Mycelium: a Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Elderly JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2011 FD 2011-10-07 VO 13 IS 4 SP 319 OP 326 K1 medicinal mushrooms K1 Shiitake mushroom K1 Lentinus edodes K1 Lentinex® K1 beta-glucan K1 elderly K1 immune response K1 B-cells K1 NK-cells AB Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) is a medicinal mushroom with a long tradition of use in Asia. The major active substance in L. edodes is a (1-6,1-3)-beta-glucan (lentinan). No clinical controlled studies have yet investigated the effect of orally administered lentinan on the immune response in healthy, elderly Caucasian subjects. We evaluated the effect and the safety of a beta-glucan from L. edodes mycelium, Lentinex®, in healthy, elderly subjects in a double blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-two subjects were randomly allocated to two groups given orally either 2.5 mg/day Lentinex® or placebo for 6 weeks; then after a washout period of 4 weeks, the alternate supplementation was given for 6 weeks. The changes in the number of B-cells were significantly different between the groups. The number of NK cells increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Other factors of the immune response (immunoglobulins, complement proteins, cytokines) were not altered. The safety blood variables (differential cell count, liver function, kidney function, and other blood chemistry) were not influenced by Lentinex®, and the number, nature, and severity of adverse events were similar to placebo. Lentinex® given orally to elderly subjects was safe and induced an increase in the number of circulating B-cells. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,7157a84928f91612,3b3025c722e6c487.html