{
  "dataset": "lions-mane-fruiting-body-vs-mycelium",
  "title": "Lion's Mane Products — form, disclosed beta-glucan, extract ratio, and verification",
  "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/lions-mane/fruiting-body-vs-mycelium/",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), Lion's Mane Fruiting Body vs Mycelium Comparison",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-12",
  "methodology": "Beta-glucan percentages are each manufacturer's own disclosed figures, not independently assayed. The distinction that matters is whether a product discloses a beta-glucan number at all (mushroom beta-1,3/1,6-glucan) versus vague \"polysaccharides,\" which cheap assays cannot separate from grain starch (alpha-glucan). Validated method: McCleary & Draga 2016 (PMID: 26957216).",
  "products": [
    {
      "brand": "FreshCap",
      "form": "Fruiting body",
      "betaGlucan": "31%",
      "ratio": "14:1",
      "verification": "3rd-party tested",
      "notes": "Whole fruiting-body extract with a disclosed beta-glucan percentage."
    },
    {
      "brand": "Real Mushrooms",
      "form": "Fruiting body",
      "betaGlucan": ">30%",
      "ratio": "Extract",
      "verification": "NMR-verified",
      "notes": "100% fruiting body, guaranteed >30% beta-glucan, NMR-authenticated — the fullest disclosure in the category."
    },
    {
      "brand": "Nootropics Depot",
      "form": "Fruiting body",
      "betaGlucan": "25%",
      "ratio": "8:1",
      "verification": "Lot-specific COA",
      "notes": "8:1 whole fruiting-body extract standardized to 25% beta-glucan with per-lot certificates of analysis."
    },
    {
      "brand": "Host Defense",
      "form": "Mycelium on rice",
      "betaGlucan": "Not disclosed",
      "ratio": "—",
      "verification": "Badge only",
      "notes": "Mycelium grown on brown rice; discloses no beta-glucan percentage or extract ratio. The category's best-seller, shown for contrast."
    }
  ],
  "citations": [
    "PMID:26957216",
    "PMID:34836215",
    "PMID:39723452",
    "PMID:40181478",
    "PMID:38890878",
    "PMID:32581767"
  ]
}