Mushroom Atlas

Maitake Dosage & Consumption

What this page covers: the exact Maitake doses used in named immune, PCOS, and blood-glucose research, and how they compare to a typical retail capsule. It does not evaluate specific supplement products or make treatment claims. See the Maitake hub for the full research context.
In one line

The two named human trials used two different, specific extract doses (a body-weight-scaled dose in one, a branded SX-fraction tablet in the other), neither of which is a plain 500 mg/day whole-mushroom serving, the typical US retail dose.

Trial doses vs. typical retail dose

Maitake trial doses vs. typical retail dose
Study / productPopulationDose & durationOutcome
Deng et al., 200934 postmenopausal breast cancer patients, disease-free0.1 to 5 mg/kg extract, twice daily, escalating cohorts, for 3 weeksStatistically significant, non-linear immune-marker changes (P<.0005); no dose-limiting toxicity
Chen et al., 2010 (Maitake SX-fraction, MSX)72 PCOS patients3 tablets, 3x/day (250 mg dried Maitake + 18 mg SX-fraction per tablet), up to 12 weeks76.9% ovulation rate by patient, vs. 93.5% on the comparison drug clomiphene citrate
Typical US retail Maitake capsuleGeneral consumer, no trial context~500 mg/day (1 capsule), per common label serving sizesNot the extract type or dose used in either trial above; no clinical outcome data at this dose

Why the gap exists

Both named trials used a specific, non-generic extract rather than a plain whole-mushroom powder: Deng et al. scaled the dose to body weight, and Chen et al. used a proprietary SX-fraction tablet with a stated dried-mushroom-to-extract ratio. A typical US retail Maitake capsule, generally around 500 mg/day, is neither of these; see the Maitake hub for what named brands disclose about their extract type and concentration.

Safety at the doses studied

Neither trial on this page reported serious adverse events at the doses tested (Deng et al. reported no dose-limiting toxicity across all five cohorts). Separately, per Memorial Sloan Kettering, Maitake carries a documented case report of dangerously elevated INR in a patient on warfarin, and a caution that combining it with diabetes medication may not be safe due to a compounding blood-sugar-lowering effect. This page doesn't evaluate individual medication interactions beyond what's cited here; anyone with a mushroom allergy, anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone on blood thinners or diabetes medication should talk to a doctor before starting Maitake at any dose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What dose of Maitake was used in the immune-function trial?

0.1 to 5 mg/kg of body weight, taken twice daily for 3 weeks, in ascending dose cohorts, per Deng et al., 2009. The trial was designed to test safety and immune-marker response, not a single fixed dose meant for general use.

What dose of Maitake was used in the PCOS trial?

3 tablets, 3 times daily, of a specific SX-fraction extract (each tablet containing 250 mg dried Maitake powder and 18 mg SX-fraction), for up to 12 weeks, per Chen et al., 2010. This is a specific branded extract dose, not a generic Maitake powder amount.

Does a typical Maitake capsule match either trial dose?

Not necessarily. A common US retail serving is around 500 mg/day. Neither trial on this page used a plain 500 mg/day whole-mushroom dose; one used a body-weight-scaled extract, the other used a specific branded SX-fraction product. Check a specific product's label against the trial details above rather than assuming equivalence.

Is it safe to take Maitake long-term?

Per Memorial Sloan Kettering, Maitake is generally considered safe as a food, with asymptomatic eosinophilia as the main documented side effect. MSK also documents a case report of dangerously elevated INR in a patient on warfarin, and cautions that combining Maitake with diabetes medication may not be safe. Anyone on blood thinners or diabetes medication, anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with a mushroom allergy should talk to a doctor before starting Maitake at any dose.

Sources