Ergothioneine, a Powerful Little-known Nutrient

In recent years, the nutritional value and healing power of mushrooms have gained much attention among health enthusiasts. One little-known nutrient in various mushrooms is ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid with potent antioxidant properties. It is synthesized exclusively by fungi, cyanobacteria, and mycobacteria. The best sources for our consumption are shiitake, king oyster, and maitake mushrooms.

Telomere length decreases with age and age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease (eg. Alzheimer’s), type 2 diabetes, and obesity. When cells in our body divide, telomeres are not fully replicated, and they shorten with every replication. Telomere length is commonly used as a biomarker of aging. Oxidative stress is considered a major contributor to telomere shortening, and anti-oxidants may mitigate this and other adverse effects of aging. 

In a study of human fibroblasts in vitro (in a laboratory), ergothioneine decreased the rate of telomere shortening and preserved telomere length under oxidative conditions. Ergothioneine does its magic by prolonging telomerase activity up to 1-2 days. The compound has also been shown to protect lab animals against oxidative injury, injury due to inflammatory molecules, and ischemic damage to a variety of tissues.

Ergothioneine has been found in high concentrations in certain injured tissues, including the liver, heart, and gut. It has been hypothesized the accumulation of ergothioneine is an adaptive mechanism, involving increased uptake and concentration to minimize oxidative damage to tissues. 

Ergothioneine also protects against stress-induced sleep disturbance and neuronal injury induced by amyloid-beta and may benefit brain function through its anti-oxidant activity and promoting neurogenesis and neuronal maturation.

We can add ergothioneine to the list of beneficial compounds in mushrooms, one of the healthiest foods on our menu!

Note: Although I am a physician, the content in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness or disease in the reader – it is for educational purposes only.

References

1. Samuel P, Tsapekos M, de Pedro N, et al. Ergothioneine mitigates telomere shortening under oxidative stress conditions. J Diet Suppl 2022;2:212-25.
2. Halliwell B, Cheah IK, Drum CL. Ergothioneine, an adaptive antioxidant for the protection of injured tissues? A hypothesis. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 2016;470:245-50.
3. Ishimoto T, Kato Y. Ergothioneine in the brain. FEBS Letters 2022;596:1290-98.