Mushroom Mycelium vs Fruiting Body: What’s Better?

There’s a big debate among makers of mushroom supplements about which part of the mushroom is more beneficial: the fruiting body or the mycelium. If you’ve done any reading on the subject, it gets confusing quickly! This blog post will explain what these two mushroom parts are, the arguments on both sides, our stance on the controversy, and the issue the debate overshadows. Understanding this information will help you make informed choices when purchasing mushroom products.

Fruiting Body

The above-ground “fruit” or visible portion that is commonly referred to as simply “mushroom”.

Mycelium

Network of fungal threads that is the living organism and produces the fruiting body.

Understanding Mushroom Parts

The mushroom fruiting body is the visible, above-ground portion of the fungus. Fruiting bodies can take many forms, but the most recognizable is the classic stem with a cap on top. The mycelium is the intricate network of threadlike filaments that compose the non-visible, vegetative portion of mushrooms. When comparing mushrooms to plants, the mycelium functions similar to roots, often hidden underground or within a host like a tree or insect.

The Crux of the Debate

One side of the mushroom debate claims that the fruiting body contains higher levels of key constituents, such as beta-glucans, making it the better choice. However, proponents of mycelium use argue that mycelium can also be a source of valuable compounds and should not be overlooked.

The truth is that both portions are highly valuable, both in terms of the variety of mycochemical compounds they contain as well as their supportive properties.

Some Overlap, Some Differences

There is known to be significant overlap in the compounds contained in both portions of the fungus. In that way, they bring many of the same benefits to the table.

While research is ongoing and we still have much to discover regarding the benefits of mycelia versus fruiting bodies, some research suggests that the different compounds present in each part of the fungus provide different, but complementary, benefits.^1,2.3

Transparency Matters

Unfortunately, this debate has overshadowed an issue of much greater concern: the lack of transparency among supplement manufacturers. Transparency around things like cultivation methods gives mushroom lovers the information they need to make informed choices.

How mushroom ingredients are cultivated greatly affects not only their mycochemical profile, but also their supportive properties. This is especially true for mycelia, which are grown on substrates like grain or wood. If the cultivation process is rushed and the substrate is harvested before optimal mycelial growth, you get an ingredient with higher grain content than mycelium. As a result, it will have lower levels of key compounds and therefore fewer supportive properties. That’s why it’s essential to learn as much as you can about a company’s mushroom cultivation practices and to look for verified levels of key constituents on the label.

References

[1] Qian F.G., Xu G.Y., Du S.J., Li, M.H. (1990). Isolation and identification of two new pyrone compounds from the culture of Hericium erinaceus. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 25(7), 522–525.
[2] Kenmoku, H., Kato, N., Shimada, M. & et al. (2001) Isolation of (-)-cyatha-3,12-diene, a common biosynthetic intermediate of cyathane diterpenoids, from an erinacine-producing basidiomycete, Hericium erinaceum, and its formation in a cell-free system. Tetrahedron Letters, 42(43), 7439–7442.
[3] Wang, K., Bao, L., Qi, Q. & et al. (2015). Erinacerins C–L, isoindolin-1-ones with a-glucosidase inhibitory activity from cultures of the medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus. Journal of Natural Products. 78(1):146–154.