Maitake prevents colds
Mostly falseThe Claim
Maitake is promoted as a natural way to avoid catching colds and upper respiratory infections by strengthening immunity.
Origin
The idea comes from maitake's beta-glucan content and animal research on immune stimulation.
What Science Says
The first placebo-controlled trial of maitake for respiratory infections found that the overall number of cold (URTI) episodes did not differ between maitake and placebo groups in young or older adults. One maitake strain (Y10M) was associated with fewer cumulative days of some symptoms such as fever and runny nose, while another strain showed limited effects. Evidence for preventing colds is therefore lacking, with only preliminary signals for symptom burden.
Verdict
Mostly False