The dietary/food supplements industry is ever in search of the next rising star ingredients. Superfoods that contain an unusually high level of constituents linked to health benefits are sometimes discovered in our own backyard (like bilberry) or in ethnic traditional medicine (like goji berry). Sometimes, as in the case of ashwagandha, medicinal plants from traditional medicines find their way into mainstream food supplements.

One case where the food, as it were, was around us all along is mushrooms.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

The many varieties of mushrooms we know are nutrient-rich foods have been linked to a number of health benefits. They are one of the few foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D. When exposed to UV radiation, mushrooms generate vitamin D like we do, making them an excellent source of this essential nutrient. Vitamin D, of course, plays a crucial role in immune and bone health.

Considering the continued consumer demand for natural ingredients, vitamin D sourced from mushrooms is an interesting raw material in the food supplement industry for companies that cater to the “natural” consumer segment.

Mushrooms also contain a number of prebiotics. Of note, there are oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), and Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). They contain, among others, chitin, beta and alpha glucans, mannans, xylans, hemicellulose, and galactans.

Some mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that can help relax blood vessels, improving circulation and reducing blood pressure. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Some are rich in antioxidants, such as ergothioneine and glutathione, which can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. This can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Some studies have suggested that consuming mushrooms may lower the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast, colon, and prostate cancer.

Mushrooms also contain compounds that may help protect against cognitive impairment and dementia. They may also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the risk of depression. For example, lion’s mane has cognitive health benefits due to its contents of beta glucans, hericenones and erinacines.

Mushrooms come in many varieties, some exotic and some not, including cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms.
 

“The food and beverage application segment dominated the global functional mushroom industry in 2022, accounting for the highest share of 41.9% of the overall revenue. The food supplements segment is also a significant contributor to the market growth, driven by the increasing demand for healthy and nutritious products.”

Steady Demand for Mushroom Supplements

The functional mushroom market size was valued at $15.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass the $23.3 billion mark by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 10.1% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

The food and beverage application segment dominated the global functional mushroom industry in 2022, accounting for the highest share of 41.9% of the overall revenue. The food supplements segment is also a significant contributor to the market growth, driven by the increasing demand for healthy and nutritious products.

Mushroom supplements are available in a range of forms including capsules, tinctures, sprays, and gummies. Their main claims are immune system support, cognitive function improvement, energy boosting, and stress relief.

That is, these are the claims these products carry in the U.S. In the EU, where the Health Claims Regulation requires that all health claims be authorized, the situation is a little different. Despite the availability of scientific evidence, companies must currently make do without any authorized health claims for their mushroom products.

The only claims that are currently possible for mushrooms are nutrition claims such as “contains” or “is a source of,” but these options are not very interesting to food supplement manufacturers hoping for strong messaging and unique selling points.

As is the case for many other interesting food ingredients that do not yet have authorized health claims, brands must therefore find ways around this limitation in an ever tightening regulatory leeway. Experienced consultancies such as analyze & realize GmbH stand ready to help.
 

About the Author: Dr. Joerg Gruenwald is co-founder of analyze & realize GmbH, a specialized business consulting company and CRO in the fields of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbals and functional food, and author of the PDR for Herbal Medicines. He can be reached at analyze & realize GmbH, Waldseeweg 6, 13467 Berlin, Germany; +49-30-40008100, Fax: +49-30-40008500; e-mail: jgruenwald@a-r.com, www.analyze-realize.com