Is Lion’s Mane Mycelium Effective? The Truth About Grain-Grown Mycelium and Erinacine A.

What is “grain-grown mycelium” and why doesn’t it work?

…in the form it is sold in Ukraine

Full analysis.

Why is mycelium even interesting?
Hericium erinaceus mycelium is a source of unique compounds, especially erinacine A, which:

Read more about the properties of this mushroom in the article: Properties of Lion’s Mane mushroom

However!
Erinacine A is only found in pure mycelium, and even then — only in specific strains. For example, in the study by Liu et al. (2024), erinacine A content ranged from 0.23 mg/g to 42.16 mg/g depending on the strain. The highest amount was found in a wild Hericium strain.
The lowest content — only 0.23 mg/g — was recorded under the same growth conditions. This means the difference between the best and worst strain is 183-fold. (Source: Isolation and Evaluation of Erinacine A).

The substrate for mycelium is the nutrient medium on which the fungus grows and feeds.
In simple terms:
🔸 It’s the "soil" for the fungus — though not in the usual sense.
🔸 It can be rice, oats, corn, wood, or special broths with sugars, proteins, and microelements.
🔸 The mycelium "digests" the substrate and builds up biomass — like the root system of the mushroom.

The choice of substrate determines how much active compound (e.g., erinacine A) the fungus produces.

Learn more about other beneficial properties of Lion’s Mane in the article: Lion’s Mane – the mushroom of longevity!

Researchers have already compared and identified the most effective substrates. For example:

  • Corn grain — highest yield: ≈0.80 mg erinacine A/g substrate

  • Polished rice — good yield: ≈0.53 mg/g

  • Oats (adlay kernel) — moderate yield: ≈0.26 mg/g

  • Brown rice — weak yield: ≈0.23 mg/g

  • Red bean — low yield: ≈0.14 mg/g

  • Sesame — practically no erinacine A production (≈0 mg/g)

Growing mycelium on grain is a common raw material technology where the fungus partially colonizes the grain, and then the whole mass is ground and sold as so-called “lion’s mane powder.”
If Hericium erinaceus is grown on oats (adlay kernel), as is commonly done in Ukraine due to the low cost of oats, then to obtain a therapeutic daily dose of erinacine A, a person weighing 70 kg would need to consume approximately 1346 g of substrate (i.e., more than 1.3 kg per day).

Calculation:
5 mg/kg/day is the approximate therapeutic dose of erinacine A based on in vivo studies in animals, where it was used for neuroprotection, NGF stimulation, and cognitive improvement.

For example:
In a study on rats with Alzheimer’s disease, erinacine A was used at 2–10 mg/kg/day, which led to increased NGF and improved memory (Li et al., 2018; Lai et al., 2013).

Thus, 5 mg/kg is a mid-range effective value commonly used as a base for estimating potential human dosage.
This value is not officially established as a daily norm for humans (since clinical trials are still ongoing), but it is used for theoretical comparison of substrates and supplements.

Example for a 70 kg person:

So to reach the effective daily dose, a person would have to consume 1.3 kg of substrate — which is physically unrealistic.
Most stores selling grain-grown mycelium in capsules (or so-called lion’s mane capsules) contain 0.5 to 1 g of this powder per capsule.

Read also: Lion’s mane for stroke recovery: scientific evidence and recommendations

Which Forms of Lion’s Mane Actually Work?

✔️ Pure mycelium extract and fruiting body extract are the only reliable sources of guaranteed active compound concentration:

  • Erinacines (from mycelium);

  • Beta-glucans (from the fruiting body);

  • Polysaccharides, triterpenes, etc. (from the fruiting body).

The higher the percentage concentration, the better. Also important is the extraction ratio, i.e., how much raw mushroom was used to produce 100 g of extract. For example, 10:1.

This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Order high-quality Lion’s Mane extract from our store!

Frequently Asked Questions about Lion’s mane mushroom

 

  1. Why is lion’s mane extract more effective than grain mycelium?

    The extract contains a high concentration of erinacine A, while grain-grown mycelium contains almost none. To reach a therapeutic dose, you’d need to consume over 1 kg of powder daily.

  2. Is it worth buying capsules labeled “lion’s mane mycelium”?

    Only if the standardized concentration of erinacine A is clearly stated. Most such capsules are just ground grain with minimal actual mycelium.

  3. Which substrate best stimulates erinacine A production?

    Corn shows the highest yield — about 0.80 mg/g. Oat-based substrates, commonly used due to cost, perform significantly worse.

  4. How much erinacine A is needed per day?

    Based on research — approximately 5 mg per kg of body weight. For a 70 kg person, that’s around 350 mg per day.

  5. What is the alternative to grain mycelium?

    Pure mycelium cultivated on specialized media or standardized extracts of the lion’s mane fruiting body.

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