--- title: "Ergothioneine (L-Ergo) — Evidence, Benefits & Where to Buy | Magellan" description: "Ergothioneine (L-Ergo) — Ergothioneine (L-ergothioneine, \"L-Ergo\") is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid (a thiol/thione derivative of…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html" type: "product" section: "Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers" evidence_grade: "Moderate evidence" evidence_tier: "moderate" citations: 16 product_id: 108 price_usd: 34.95 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" license: "Educational content — not medical advice" --- # Ergothioneine (L-Ergo) [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) › Ergothioneine (L-Ergo) **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/108 ## Key facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Product | Ergothioneine (L-Ergo) | | Category | [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) | | Evidence grade | Moderate evidence (B) | | Peer-reviewed citations | 16 | | Typical listed price | $34.95 (check the live price) | | Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ergothioneine%20%28L-Ergo%29&tag=magellanlong-20) | | Catalog ID | 108 | ## What it is Ergothioneine (L-ergothioneine, "L-Ergo") is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid (a thiol/thione derivative of histidine) that is synthesized mainly by fungi and certain bacteria and cannot be made by the human body; mushrooms are by far the richest dietary source. It is absorbed from the diet and retained in tissues by a dedicated transporter, OCTN1/SLC22A4 (the ergothioneine transporter), and accumulates in cells and tissues that are exposed to oxidative stress. Mechanistically it acts as a potent antioxidant and cytoprotectant, scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, chelating metal ions, and modulating pathways such as Nrf2 and NF-κB. Some researchers have proposed classifying it as a "longevity vitamin." ## Its role in longevity In humans, blood ergothioneine levels tend to fall with age, particularly after 60, and multiple observational and prospective studies link lower plasma ergothioneine to a higher risk of cognitive decline, dementia, cardiovascular disease, frailty and overall mortality; in one 3,236-person cohort followed for about 21 years, higher levels tracked with meaningfully lower rates of coronary disease, cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality. A small one-year pilot trial in mild cognitive impairment (25 mg three times weekly) found improved learning scores and a stabilized neuronal-damage biomarker with clean safety labs, animal studies show lifespan and healthspan extension, and a direct mitochondrial target (activation of the enzyme MPST) was identified in 2025. However, most human data are observational and cannot prove causation - ergothioneine may partly mark a healthy, mushroom-rich diet - and large long-term randomized trials are still lacking, so benefits remain suggestive rather than established. This evidence describes the compound ergothioneine and its biomarker associations and mechanisms, not this specific commercial product. ## Evidence grade: Moderate evidence - **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound. - **Dose used in studies:** 25 mg three times weekly (the regimen in the 1-year cognition pilot RCT) - **What this grade does not say:** Human data are mostly observational: higher blood ergothioneine tracks with lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in large cohorts, but causality is unproven - it may partly mark a healthy, mushroom-rich diet. The one controlled cognition trial was positive but tiny (n=19). Appears safe at studied doses; larger randomized trials are needed. ## Where it comes from without a bottle Food, exercise and behaviour routes to the same pathway, each with its citation. | Natural source | How it works | Citation | | --- | --- | --- | | Specialty mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, king) | Direct food analysis by mass spectrometry shows mushrooms carry by far the most ergothioneine of any food, so a regular serving of specialty mushrooms is the cleanest dietary route. | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2007 [PMID 17616140](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17616140/) | | Shiitake mushrooms (highest-testing species) | When 14 mushroom species were assayed, shiitake topped the list for ergothioneine, making it the single best-tested kitchen mushroom for this antioxidant amino acid. | Brain Research 2023 [PMID 38036238](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38036238/) | | Mushrooms as the leading dietary source | Because fungi are the main producers of ergothioneine, mushrooms are the leading dietary source of this 'longevity vitamin'; eating them regularly is the natural way to keep blood levels up. | FEBS Letters 2022 [PMID 34954825](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34954825/) | ### What those papers actually say 1. **Specialty mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, king)** Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2007 · [PMID 17616140](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17616140/) · [DOI 10.1021/jf071328f](https://doi.org/10.1021/jf071328f) > Only some food contained ergothioneine with highest concentrations detected in specialty mushrooms, kidney, liver, black and red beans, and oat bran. 2. **Shiitake mushrooms (highest-testing species)** Brain Research 2023 · [PMID 38036238](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38036238/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148693](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148693) > Among the 14 evaluated mushroom species, Lentinula edodes (LE), shiitake mushroom contains the highest ergothioneine content. 3. **Mushrooms as the leading dietary source** FEBS Letters 2022 · [PMID 34954825](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34954825/) · [DOI 10.1002/1873-3468.14268](https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.14268) > ERGO is now regarded by some as a 'longevity vitamin'... Since ERGO is produced primarily by fungi, mushrooms are known to be the leading dietary source. ## In the news - **Ergothioneine in Mushrooms: Health Effects and Scientific Evidence** — News-Medical 2025 [Read it](https://www.news-medical.net/health/Ergothioneine-in-Mushrooms-Health-Effects-and-Scientific-Evidence.aspx) > Ergothioneine is a diet-derived antioxidant that may support healthy aging, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health. Current evidence suggests protective biological roles, but large clinical trials are still needed to define its therapeutic and nutritional significance. - **Ergothioneine & Your Brain** — Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (Cognitive Vitality) 2023 [Read it](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/ratings/ergothioneine) > Observational studies show that blood levels of ergothioneine tend to decrease with age, especially in individuals with physical and/or cognitive decline. Clinical trials have not yet been conducted to determine whether supplementation can prevent or reverse these declines. ## The research Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product. ### Cited studies 1. **Evidence: plasma ergothioneine, cytoprotection** Heart 2019 · [PMID 31672783](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31672783/) · [DOI 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315485](https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315485) > higher ergothioneine was an independent marker of lower risk of cardiometabolic disease and mortality 2. **Ergothioneine promotes longevity and healthy aging in male mice** Geroscience 2024 · [PMID 38446314](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38446314/) · [DOI 10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5) > Ingestion of ergothioneine remarkably extended the lifespan of male mice and rescued age-related impairments 3. **Ergothioneine: an underrecognised dietary micronutrient required for healthy ageing?** Br J Nutr 2023 · [PMID 38018890](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38018890/) · [DOI 10.1017/S0007114522003592](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114522003592) > high plasma ergothioneine levels associated with reduced overall mortality 4. **Investigating the efficacy of ergothioneine to delay cognitive decline in mild cognitively impaired subjects: A pilot study.** J Alzheimers Dis 2024 · [PMID 39544014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39544014/) · [DOI 10.1177/13872877241291253](https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877241291253) > Subjects receiving ergothioneine demonstrated improved performance in assessment of learning ability and stabilized plasma levels of neurofilament light chain, compared with the placebo group, which saw no improvement in cognitive assessments and a significant increase in neurofilament light chain levels. 5. **Low Plasma Ergothioneine Predicts Cognitive and Functional Decline in an Elderly Cohort Attending Memory Clinics.** Antioxidants (Basel) 2022 · [PMID 36139790](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36139790/) · [DOI 10.3390/antiox11091717](https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11091717) > Lower plasma ET levels were associated with poorer baseline cognitive performance and faster rates of decline in function as well as in multiple cognitive domains including memory, executive function, attention, visuomotor speed, and language. 6. **Low plasma ergothioneine levels are associated with neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease in dementia.** Free Radic Biol Med 2021 · [PMID 34673145](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34673145/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.10.019](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.10.019) > Plasma ET concentrations were lowest in dementia (p < 0.001 vs. NCI and CIND), with intermediate levels in CIND (p < 0.001 vs. NCI). 7. **Genomic atlas of the plasma metabolome prioritizes metabolites implicated in human diseases.** Nat Genet 2023 · [PMID 36635386](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36635386/) · [DOI 10.1038/s41588-022-01270-1](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01270-1) > we identified 22 metabolites and 20 metabolite ratios having estimated causal effect on 12 traits and diseases, including orotate for estimated bone mineral density, α-hydroxyisovalerate for body mass index and ergothioneine for inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. 8. **Prospective study of dietary mushroom intake and risk of mortality: results from continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2014 and a meta-analysis.** Nutr J 2021 · [PMID 34548082](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34548082/) · [DOI 10.1186/s12937-021-00738-w](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-021-00738-w) > The meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, including 601,893 individuals, showed that mushroom consumption was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (pooled risk ratio: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91, 0.98). 9. **Effects of an ergothioneine-rich sp. on skin moisturizing functions and facial conditions: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.** Front Med (Lausanne) 2024 · [PMID 38887673](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38887673/) · [DOI 10.3389/fmed.2024.1396783](https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1396783) > At 12 weeks, wrinkle and texture scores were significantly better in the hiratake group than in the placebo group, and plasma EGT concentrations in the hiratake group were 4.7-fold higher than baseline (from 3.4 to 15.9 μM). 10. **Ergothioneine for cognitive health, longevity and healthy ageing: where are we now?** Proc Nutr Soc 2025 · [PMID 40968729](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40968729/) · [DOI 10.1017/S0029665125101754](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665125101754) > Observational data consistently associate low blood ergothioneine levels with cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, frailty and mortality. 11. **Prolonging healthy aging: Longevity vitamins and proteins.** Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 · [PMID 30322941](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30322941/) · [DOI 10.1073/pnas.1809045115](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1809045115) > the following 10 compounds as putative longevity vitamins, is reviewed: the fungal antioxidant ergothioneine; the bacterial metabolites pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and queuine 12. **Decline of ergothioneine in frailty and cognition impairment.** FEBS Lett 2022 · [PMID 35090053](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35090053/) · [DOI 10.1002/1873-3468.14299](https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.14299) > In patients suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer's disease with hippocampal atrophy, deteriorating cognitive ability is correlated with declining ergothioneine levels. 13. **Cardioprotective Effects and Antioxidant Mechanism of L-Ergothioneine in Experimental Type-2 Diabetic Rats.** Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2022 · [PMID 34370646](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34370646/) · [DOI 10.2174/1871525719666210809122541](https://doi.org/10.2174/1871525719666210809122541) > L-egt protects against diabetes-induced cardiovascular injury via the upregulation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and its downstream cytoprotective antioxidants. 14. **Cognitive Healthy Aging in Mice: Boosting Memory by an Ergothioneine-Rich Primordium Extract.** Biology (Basel) 2023 · [PMID 36829475](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36829475/) · [DOI 10.3390/biology12020196](https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020196) > we disclosed a selective, preventive and neuroprotective effect of He2 on aged hippocampus, both on recognition memory as well on inflammation/oxidative stress/glutamate receptors expression. 15. **Association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among American adults: prospective cohort study findings from NHANES III.** Nutr J 2021 · [PMID 33888143](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33888143/) · [DOI 10.1186/s12937-021-00691-8](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-021-00691-8) > Participants who reported consuming mushrooms had lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with those without mushroom intake (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73-0.98) 16. **Ergothioneine levels in an elderly population decrease with age and incidence of cognitive decline; a risk factor for neurodegeneration?** Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2016 · [PMID 27444382](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27444382/) > Cross-sectional analysis found blood ergothioneine declines significantly after age 60 and is lower in people with mild cognitive impairment than in age-matched controls. ## Where to buy [Search Amazon for Ergothioneine (L-Ergo)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ergothioneine%20%28L-Ergo%29&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ItemPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html","name":"Ergothioneine (L-Ergo)","description":"Ergothioneine (L-ergothioneine, \"L-Ergo\") is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid (a thiol/thione derivative of histidine) that is…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Ergothioneine (L-Ergo)","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html"}]},{"@type":"Product","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html#product","name":"Ergothioneine (L-Ergo)","category":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/108.html","description":"Ergothioneine (L-ergothioneine, \"L-Ergo\") is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid (a thiol/thione derivative of histidine) that is synthesized mainly by fungi and certain bacteria and cannot be made by the human body; 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Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).