Maitake Mushrooms for Breast Cancer
Key takeaways
There isn’t enough research in people to know how maitake mushrooms may affect the growth and spread of cancer.
A few small studies in people suggest that some maitake mushroom preparations might boost the immune system, but much more research is needed to be sure.
Maitake mushrooms are safe for most people, but always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement.
The popular medicinal mushroom maitake (also called hen of the woods) is a common supplement in Chinese medicine. Studies in animals and cells suggest the mushroom may help fight cancer, but more research is needed to see if it has the same effects in people.
Maitake can be eaten or taken as a capsule, powder, or liquid supplement. Different preparations of maitake can have different effects on the body, so you can’t assume that studies based on one preparation apply to another.
What the research shows
There have only been a few small studies on maitake mushrooms in people with cancer. (In studies, maitake mushrooms are often referred to by their scientific name, Grifola frondosa.) When studies are too small, there’s a high risk that their results are due to chance — not due to the effects of maitake.
Immune response
A couple of small studies suggest that maitake may affect immune function in people with cancer. A study of 34 postmenopausal women who had finished breast cancer treatment found that maitake extract stimulated the immune system in some ways but dampened it in others. A study in 18 people with myelodysplastic syndrome (a type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow) showed that maitake extract boosted the immune system, increasing the function of some immune cells and improving the response to harmful bacteria. More research is needed to understand the complex effects that maitake may have on the immune system in people with a history of cancer and how it affects different types of cancer.
Cell and animal research
Most of the research supporting maitake supplements for cancer is based on studies in cells and animals. These lab-based studies are an important early step in research. But you can’t draw conclusions about how things will work in people from them. For example, adding maitake supplements to cells in a lab dish can’t tell researchers how the supplement will be absorbed or broken down in your body. And cancer can behave differently in a mouse than it behaves in a person. These studies are valuable, though, because they help researchers find promising leads and decide if they should be tested in people. However, they can’t tell researchers if the product or supplement is helpful for people with cancer.
Studies in animals and cells suggest that some forms of maitake could help combat several types of cancer, including cancer in the breast, brain, colon, kidney, and bladder. Some research shows that components of maitake can kill breast cancer cells and make it harder for breast cancer to spread. In addition, a few animal studies suggest that some preparations of maitake could protect against harmful side effects of chemotherapy.
Other uses
People also take maitake for reasons other than fighting cancer, but there aren’t studies on humans for most of these reasons. One potential use for maitake is weight loss. A study of 30 people who were overweight found that taking 200 grams of fresh maitake daily for two months was associated with an average of 7 to 13 pounds of weight loss. But because this was a small study and there was no control group, more research is needed to confirm maitake’s potential for supporting weight loss.
Safety, risks, and side effects
Maitake mushroom supplements are generally considered safe. But always talk to your doctor before taking a new supplement. Be extra careful before taking maitake if you are on blood thinners, blood pressure medications, or diabetes medications, because maitake could interfere with these drugs. There isn’t a standard dose for maitake supplements, so ask your doctor about what’s best for you.
A possible side effect of maitake is high white blood cell counts, specifically a type of white blood cell called eosinophils. Maitake supplements may also cause gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea and stomach pain.
Should you take maitake supplements?
More studies are needed to understand if maitake preparations can help treat people with cancer, including breast cancer. Before taking maitake supplements, be sure to talk with your doctor about how maitake may interact with any conditions you have and medications you take.
