Ergothioneine · L-Ergothioneine
A rare mushroom-derived amino acid that accumulates in tissues under oxidative stress, blood levels drop with age.
Short answer
Ergothioneine (L-Ergothioneine) is a longevity antioxidant with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 4 produkter containing Ergothioneine. Typical doses range from 4 to 30.0 mg per portion. The top-ranked product scores 6.5 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $88.00 per månad.
Top Ergothioneine produkter
| Product | Varumärke | Dose | Pris/mo | 3rd-party tested | Poäng |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ergo+ | 10 mg | $29.95 | Yes | 6.5 | |
| Youngr NMN | 4 mg | $88.00 | Yes | 5.9 | |
| L-Ergothioneine Supplement | 30.0 mg | $19.95 | Yes | 5.8 | |
| L-Ergothioneine - 25 mg, 30 capsules | 25.0 mg | $39.95 | Yes | 5.7 |
Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard. Se how we score.
What it is
Ergothioneine is an unusual amino acid your body cannot make. You get it mostly from mushrooms. Cells actively transport and hoard it, which suggests it does something important, possibly protecting mitochondria and DNA from oxidative damage.
Why people take it
Population studies show people with higher blood ergothioneine live longer and have less cognitive decline. But that's association, not causation. Small human trials support safety and modest cognitive benefits; large outcome trials do not exist yet.
Our verdict
One of the more scientifically credible 'longevity-vitamin' candidates. Safe, mechanistically interesting, but human outcome data still limited. Reasonable as an add-on for those with low mushroom intake.
Structure & class
L-(+)-Ergothioneine, a betaine-thiol amino acid derivative. Actively transported via OCTN1 (SLC22A4) into mitochondria, red blood cells, and brain.
Mechanism & clinical data
Multiple population studies (Smith 2020; Cheah 2016) show inverse association between blood ergothioneine and all-cause mortality, mild cognitive impairment, and frailty. Small RCTs (Matsuda 2020) show cognitive benefit at 5 to 25 mg/day.
Pharmacokinetics
Very long tissue half-life (weeks); tissue accumulation via active transport.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Some produkter dose well below the 5 to 10 mg/day used in trials. Fermented (yeast-derived) sources are more sustainable but check purity/COA.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Ergothioneine, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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Smith et al. 2020 (Heart)Higher plasma ergothioneine associated with 21% lower cardiovascular mortality over 20-year follow-up in a Swedish cohort (n=3236).
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EU authorizes ergothioneine as Novel FoodThe European Commission authorized L-ergothioneine as a Novel Food, permitting its use in food supplements. The US has a GRAS notification filed. Ergothioneine's authorization covers specific production methods and purity standards.
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Cheah et al. 2016 (Biochim Biophys Acta)Blood ergothioneine progressively decreases with age and is significantly lower in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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Smith et al. 2020 (Heart)
Higher plasma ergothioneine associated with 21% lower cardiovascular mortality over 20-year follow-up in a Swedish cohort (n=3236).
Läs studie → -
Cheah et al. 2016 (Biochim Biophys Acta)
Blood ergothioneine progressively decreases with age and is significantly lower in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter (4)
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Ergothioneine, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Longevity antioxidant →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Ergothioneine in our catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ergothioneine?
Ergothioneine is an unusual amino acid your body cannot make. You get it mostly from mushrooms. Cells actively transport and hoard it, which suggests it does something important, possibly protecting mitochondria and DNA from oxidative damage.
What dose of Ergothioneine should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 10 mg per dag, with a range of 5 to 30 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Ergothioneine safe?
Some produkter dose well below the 5 to 10 mg/day used in trials. Fermented (yeast-derived) sources are more sustainable but check purity/COA.
What is the best Ergothioneine supplement?
We track 4 produkter containing Ergothioneine. The top-ranked product scores 6.5 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Ergothioneine?
Ergothioneine has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.