Osavi Shiitake 800 mg is a single-ingredient food supplement providing 800 mg of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) fruiting body extract per daily serving of two capsules, standardised to a minimum of 40% polysaccharides including at least 160 mg beta-glucans. 120 vegan capsules, 60 days at the recommended serving.

Two facts are worth being clear about before you buy, because both are routinely blurred elsewhere in this category. First, the 800 mg on the front of the bottle is the daily serving of two capsules, not the content of a single capsule. Each capsule provides 400 mg of extract. Second, this is an extract of the fruiting body of the mushroom, not mycelium grown on grain. Those are different raw materials with different composition, and in the EU they are treated differently in law.

This is a plain, standardised, single-ingredient extract with a clean label and no added fillers. It is sold on its specification, not on a health benefit, for the reason set out further down this page.

Supplement Facts

No % NRV is stated because no EU Nutrient Reference Value exists for shiitake extract, polysaccharides or beta-glucans. NRVs are set for vitamins and minerals only, and this product contains none. Per capsule the extract content is 400 mg.

Ingredients: shiitake (Lentinula edodes) fruiting body extract, standardised for polysaccharides and beta-glucans; capsule shell: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Key Features

• 800 mg extract per daily serving, stated honestly. Two capsules daily provide 800 mg. One capsule provides 400 mg. The pack front states the serving, not the capsule.
• Fruiting body extract, not mycelium on grain. The raw material is the mushroom itself. This is the distinction that determines both composition and EU novel food status.
• Standardised, not just powdered. Minimum 40% polysaccharides and minimum 20% beta-glucans, giving at least 320 mg and 160 mg respectively per serving. Unstandardised mushroom powders carry no guaranteed figure.
• DER 10:1 concentration, quantified. 8 g of shiitake fruiting bodies are used to obtain 800 mg of extract.
• Clean label. One active and an HPMC capsule shell. No fillers, binders, anti-caking agents or bulking agents.
• Batch tested by independent laboratories for heavy metals, microbiological safety and declared active content.
• Authorised Irish retailer for Osavi, stocked in Dublin and dispatched next business day by DPD.

How to Take

Two capsules daily, taken after a meal with a glass of water. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Intended for adults aged 18 and over.

At two capsules daily, the 120-capsule pack provides 60 servings, which is two months of continuous use. A 60-capsule pack is also produced by Osavi and covers one month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Osavi Shiitake 800 mg?

It is a single-ingredient food supplement in hard capsule form. Each daily serving of two capsules provides 800 mg of extract from the fruiting bodies of the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes), concentrated at a drug-to-extract ratio of 10:1 and standardised to a minimum of 40% polysaccharides, of which at least 160 mg are beta-glucans. There are no other actives and no added fillers.

How much shiitake extract is in one capsule?

400 mg. The 800 mg figure on the front of the bottle refers to the daily serving of two capsules, which is how Osavi and most EU manufacturers state mushroom extract content. It is worth checking this on any mushroom supplement you compare, because some products state the per-capsule figure and some state the per-serving figure, and the two are not interchangeable.

What does DER 10:1 mean?

DER stands for drug-to-extract ratio. A ratio of 10:1 means ten parts of raw material were used to produce one part of finished extract. For this product, 8 g of shiitake fruiting bodies are used to obtain the 800 mg of extract in a daily serving. The ratio describes concentration, not potency, and ratios should only be compared between extracts made by comparable methods.

How much beta-glucan does it contain, and is there an EU health claim for it?

A daily serving provides a minimum of 160 mg of beta-glucans, equal to at least 20% of the 800 mg extract. There is no authorised EU health claim that applies to it. The authorised beta-glucan claims under Regulation 432/2012 are restricted to beta-glucans from oats, oat bran, barley and barley bran, and require at least 1 g per portion. Mushroom beta-glucans are beta-(1,3)(1,6)-D-glucans, a structurally different molecule from a source not covered by those claims. We therefore state the amount as a specification and make no health claim for it.

Is this made from the fruiting body or the mycelium?

The fruiting body. That is the mushroom itself, as opposed to mycelium, which is the root-like network and is often grown on and sold together with a grain substrate. The two are different raw materials and are not equivalent on a milligram-for-milligram basis. The distinction is stated on the label and on the supplement facts panel of this product.

Is shiitake extract legal to sell as a food supplement in Ireland?

Yes. Under the EU novel food rules, shiitake fruiting body and its extract powder have an established history of consumption in the EU and are classified as not novel for use in food supplements. Dehydrated shiitake mycelium powder is treated differently and is an unauthorised novel food, which is one practical reason the fruiting body distinction matters. Food supplements sold in Ireland are regulated by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Is it suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes. The capsule shell is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a plant-derived cellulose material, and the product is labelled by Osavi as vegan capsules. There is no gelatine in the shell and no animal-derived ingredient in the formula.

How do I take it, and how long does a pack last?

Two capsules daily after a meal, swallowed with a glass of water. The 120-capsule pack provides 60 daily servings, so it lasts two months at the recommended dose. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.

Are there any precautions?

It is not for use by children or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are under medical supervision, taking prescribed medication, or have any food allergy, consult your pharmacist or doctor before use. Anyone with a known mushroom allergy should avoid it. Store in a dark, dry place at room temperature, out of the reach of young children.

How is it delivered in Ireland?

Orders are dispatched from our Dublin warehouse by DPD on a fully tracked, next business day service across Ireland. Delivery is free on Irish orders over €75. Because the order ships from within Ireland, there are no customs charges, import duties or handling fees.

Product details: Osavi · Shiitake 800 mg · 120 vegan capsules · 60 servings · daily serving 2 capsules · 800 mg shiitake fruiting body extract DER 10:1 per serving · min. 320 mg polysaccharides, min. 160 mg beta-glucans · HPMC capsule shell · food supplement · Probiotic.ie is an authorised Irish retailer for Osavi.