Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) can be eaten raw or dried and used in soups, teas, tonics, and other foods but standardized extracts are also available. Maitake mushroom extracts contain all the beneficial ingredients from the medicinal mushroom in a dietary supplement that can be taken once or several times a day to improve your immune system and help prevent cancer, diabetes and associated insulin diseases, and lower cholesterol levels.
Maitake extract comes in various forms and from multiple different producers. The three main standardized extracts are Maitake D-fraction and even more purified Maitake MD-fraction, and Maitake SX-fraction. Maitake D-fraction and MD-fraction are used for their antitumor properties. Maitake SX-fraction is designed for people with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar levels.
Beta glucan is a polysaccharide (multi sugar) compound that is one of the most important components of Maitake mushroom extracts. Beta glucan stimulates the immune system to produce macrophages. Macrophages are one of the body’s natural defenses against cancer. Beta glucan also stimulates the production of T-cells, interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 that are proven to be active in the body’s natural defense mechanisms against cancer (particularly breast cancer).
Three main Maitake mushroom extracts
Maitake D-fraction and MD-fraction contain beta-1,3 glucan and beta-1,6 glucan. Both of the extracts were developed by Dr. Hiroaki Nanba. Basically these extracts have the same effects but Maitake MD-fraction
is much more potent and has less impurities compared to D-fraction. Maitake MD-fraction is the strongest Maitake mushroom extract. Clinical trials have shown high cancer regression rates in liver cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer when using Maitake MD-fraction extract. Both of these extracts can also be used to improve immune response and resistance to diseases of all kinds.
Maitake SX-fraction contains extracted glycoprotein from the Maitake mushroom. This protein conjugated with carbohydrates helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The name comes from Syndrome X (risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes). It is used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes by reducing cells’ insulin resistance and increasing insulin sensitivity. When used with normal diabetes medication it is important to monitor the blood sugar levels because Maitake SX-fraction can cause the normal medication becoming too potent.