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Dietary supplement

Maitake 20 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Answer

Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Maitake 20 mg is a dietary supplement by Nature's Answer with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for immune support, blood sugar support in diabetes, high blood pressure.Based on those ingredients, 260 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Maitake Mushroom extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Maitake 20 mg contains one active ingredient: maitake mushroom extract, a concentrated form of the fungus historically used in traditional medicine. The capsule itself is filled with inactive ingredients — rice flour, vegetable cellulose (the capsule material), and calcium silicate — that serve no therapeutic role.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Maitake Mushroom product and its label doesn't state a use — see Maitake Mushroom's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for maitake mushroom extract isn't established in the data we hold. The product facts list six potential uses — hay fever, chemotherapy-related anemia, laryngeal cancer, and chemotherapy-related diarrhea among them — but every one carries a rating of insufficient reliable evidence.

That means the studies so far are too limited or weak to confirm whether it actually works for any of these conditions.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Maitake Mushroom

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Maitake mushroom is generally well tolerated when used as food. However, supplement safety hasn't been fully studied, so caution is warranted with concentrated supplements like this one.

The most common side effects in clinical trials were gastrointestinal — a small number of trial participants reported diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain. One person experienced a rash and itching that cleared on its own.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the safety data advises against concentrated maitake supplements; the data isn't sufficient to say they're safe.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Maitake Mushroom

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Maitake Mushroom.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 260 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take warfarin (Coumadin) or any blood thinner — maitake mushroom may increase its effect. Also double-check if you're on any blood pressure medication or any diabetes medication, as maitake can lower both blood pressure and blood sugar.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Maitake mushroom extract is generally tolerated well by most people who take it, but the evidence for what it actually does isn't clear. More importantly, if you take warfarin, blood pressure medications, or diabetes medications, this product poses documented interaction risks — talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's right for you.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, skip concentrated maitake supplements and check with your healthcare provider first.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 22, 2016.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Maitake 20 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Answer
Barcode (UPC) 083000164118
Net contents 60 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 22, 2016
DSLD ID 59290
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
083000164118
IngredientAmount% DV
Maitake Mushroom extract20 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Vegetable Cellulose, Calcium Silicate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formulation

Vegetarian/Vegan

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take one (1) capsule twice a day with food or water.

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications, planning any medical procedure or have a medical condition, consult with your healthcare practitioner before use.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Advanced Botanical Fingerprint Technology

Discover Nature’s Answer

Discover Nature’s Answer and trust the difference… The true nature of our standards go way beyond the herb…

2013 Nature's Answer

Formula

Grifola frondosa

General

18411 Rev. 913

See for yourself

Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Maitake Mushroom extract

Interacts with
260 drugs
20 mg per serving Form: Polysaccharides

Maitake is an edible mushroom long used as food and in traditional Japanese medicine, and it is being studied for possible immune, blood sugar, and bl...

Maitake Mushroom extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Vegetable Cellulose, Calcium Silicate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Maitake 20 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
260Drugs
260 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Maitake 20 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Maitake Mushroom extract3 drug types · 260 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, combining maitake mushroom with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research shows that taking maitake mushroom polysaccharide (MMP) can lower blood glucose levels in patients with types 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, combining maitake mushroom with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research shows that maitake mushroom can lower blood pressure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

There is limited evidence that maitake mushroom may increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin.
In a case report, a patient previously stabilized on warfarin developed an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) of 5.1 after taking maitake mushroom (Grifron-Pro Maitake D-Fraction) 1 drop/kg daily in three divided doses for one week. The elevated INR resolved after holding warfarin for two days, then reducing the dose by 11%. It is thought that the beta-glucan constituent of maitake mushroom might cause warfarin dissociation from proteins, resulting in increased free warfarin levels and increased warfarin effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Maitake 20 mg, from the product label.

Nature's Answer

See all Nature's Answer products
Name
Nature's Answer
City
Hauppauge
State
NY
ZipCode
11788-3943
Phone Number
(800) 439-2324
Web Address
www.naturesanswer.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer: Common Questions

Does Maitake 20 mg by Nature's Answer interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Maitake 20 mg has a known interaction with 260 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Maitake 20 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this while I'm on warfarin?
Not without checking first. Maitake mushroom may strengthen warfarin's blood-thinning effect — one patient's clotting markers spiked dangerously after taking it for just a week. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
Will this help with hay fever or chronic fatigue?
The evidence we hold doesn't support it — maitake carries an insufficient-evidence rating for both. That doesn't mean it won't work, just that the studies haven't confirmed it yet.
What are the side effects?
Most people tolerate it fine. In clinical trials, a small number experienced stomach upset, diarrhea, or nausea — and rarely, one person had a rash that went away on its own.
Is it safe to take while pregnant?
The safety data doesn't support it. There isn't enough information to know either way, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
What exactly is maitake mushroom extract?
It's a concentrated form of maitake mushroom, a fungus used historically in traditional medicine. This product packs 20 mg of extract per capsule.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Maitake 20 mg is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Maitake 20 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Maitake 20 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 8 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Maitake Mushroom 8 references
  1. Kabir Y, Kimura S. Dietary mushrooms reduce blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1989;35:91-4. PubMed
  2. Kabir Y, Yamaguchi M, Kimura S. Effect of shiitake (Lentinus edodes) and maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms on blood pressure and plasma lipids of spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1987;33:341-6. PubMed
  3. Konno S, Tortorelis DG, Fullerton SA, et al. A possible hypoglycaemic effect of maitake mushroom on Type 2 diabetic patients. Diabet Med 2001;18:1010. PubMed
  4. Chen JT, Tominaga K, Sato Y, et al. Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) extract induces ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a possible monotherapy and a combination therapy after failure with first-line clomiphene citrate. J Altern Compl
  5. Hanselin MR, Vande Griend JP, Linnebur SA. INR elevation with maitake extract in combination with warfarin. Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:223-4. PubMed
  6. Talpur, N. A., Echard, B. W., Fan, A. Y., Jaffari, O., Bagchi, D., and Preuss, H. G. Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of whole Maitake mushroom powder and its fractions in two rat strains. Mol.Cell Biochem. 2002;237(1-2):129-136. PubMed
  7. Deng, G., Lin, H., Seidman, A., Fornier, M., D'Andrea, G., Wesa, K., Yeung, S., Cunningham-Rundles, S., Vickers, A. J., and Cassileth, B. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: i
  8. Wesa KM, Cunningham-Rundles S, Klimek VM, et al. Maitake mushroom extract in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): a phase II study. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015;64(2):237-47. PubMed

See these in context on the Maitake Mushroom monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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