Lion's Mane · Hericium erinaceus
Mushroom compound with neurotrophic factor induction; human data early.
Short answer
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a nootropic / neurogenesis with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 2 produkter containing Lion's Mane. Typical doses range from 600.0 to 1000.0 mg per portion. The top-ranked product scores 5.6 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $48.00 per månad.
Top Lion's Mane produkter
| Product | Varumärke | Dose | Pris/mo | 3rd-party tested | Poäng |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplement | 1000.0 mg | $22.95 | Yes | 5.6 | |
| NOVOS Bar | 600.0 mg | $48.00 | No | 4.4 |
Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard. Se how we score.
What it is
An edible mushroom that produces molecules (hericenones, erinacines) that induce nerve growth factor.
Why people take it
Small trials show cognitive benefits in mild cognitive impairment. Broader claims outrun the evidence.
Our verdict
Interesting emerging supplement; look for extracts standardised to erinacines.
Structure & class
Hericenone (fruiting body), erinacine (mycelium).
Mechanism & clinical data
Mori 2009 showed cognitive benefits in MCI at 3 g/day for 16 weeks.
Pharmacokinetics
Unknown.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Buy from suppliers who test for beta-glucan and specify fruiting body vs mycelium.
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 Lion's Mane, 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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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.
Lion's mane mushroom improved mild cognitive impairment scores in a small 30-person 2008 trial, but a 2025 acute-dose RCT in healthy young adults found no significant overall cognitive or mood benefit.
Verified 2026-07-09. We update this section as new peer-reviewed trials land.
Best-supported claim
Lion's mane has its strongest signal in mild cognitive impairment, not in healthy adults. Mori et al.'s 2009 dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad trial in 30 adults aged 50-80 with mild cognitive impairment found 16 weeks of Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) tablets significantly increased cognitive function scale scores at weeks 8, 12, and 16 versus placebo, though scores declined again 4 weeks after stopping (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/). A 2023 pilot RCT in 43 healthy young adults found a single 1.8 g dose sped up Stroop task performance at 60 minutes post-dose, and 28 days of daily use showed a trend toward reduced subjective stress (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10675414/).
Not supported by the evidence base
Lion's mane is marketed as a potent nootropic that sharpens focus and memory in healthy people, largely extrapolating from nerve growth factor findings in animal and cell studies. A 2025 dubbelblind, randomized, placebokontrollerad crossover trial in 18 healthy adults aged 18-35 found a single 3 g dose of Hericium erinaceus extract produced no significant effect on composite measures of global cognitive function or mood, with only an isolated improvement on one pegboard motor test (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40276537/). The 28-day trial in young adults similarly found no significant improvement in global cognitive performance and even found the placebo group recalled more words at day 29 than the lion's mane group, undercutting simple 'boosts brainpower' marketing claims (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10675414/).
Typical dose
1.8-3 g/day of Hericium erinaceus fruiting body extract or dried powder
Säkerhet
Lion's mane has shown no significant adverse effects in RCTs up to 3 g/day for single doses and 1.8 g/day for 28 days, with laboratory tests showing no toxicity signals in the 16-week mild cognitive impairment trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/). It is generally well tolerated as a culinary mushroom. Rare allergic reactions have been reported anecdotally in people with mushroom or mold allergies, though this has not been systematically studied in RCTs. Long-term safety data beyond 16 weeks are not available.
Interactions worth flagging
- No well-documented prescription drug interactions reported in current RCTs
- Theoretical caution for people with mushroom or mold allergies given its fungal origin
Three recent studies to know
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Acute effects of Hericium erinaceus on cognition and mood: a dubbelblind randomised placebokontrollerad study
A single 3 g dose of lion's mane extract showed no significant effect on composite cognitive function or mood scores in healthy young adults versus placebo.
Läs studie → -
The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Studie
A single dose sped up Stroop task performance, and 28 days of daily supplementation showed a trend toward reduced subjective stress, but no overall cognitive improvement.
Läs studie → -
The Benefits, Side Effects, and Uses of Hericium erinaceus as a Supplement: A Systematic Review
Systematic review finds lion's mane human trial evidence is limited to a small number of studies with inconsistent cognitive outcomes across healthy and impaired populations.
Läs studie →
Landmark studies
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Mori et al. 2009
3 g/day for 16 weeks improved cognitive scores in MCI.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter (2)
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Lion's Mane, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Nootropic / Neurogenesis →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Lion's Mane in our catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lion's Mane?
An edible mushroom that produces molecules (hericenones, erinacines) that induce nerve growth factor.
What dose of Lion's Mane should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 3000 mg per dag, with a range of 1000 to 3000 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Lion's Mane safe?
Buy from suppliers who test for beta-glucan and specify fruiting body vs mycelium.
What is the best Lion's Mane supplement?
We track 2 produkter containing Lion's Mane. The top-ranked product scores 5.6 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 Lion's Mane?
Lion's Mane 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.