Evidence supporting the use of: Lentinan
For the health condition: Radiation Sickness
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Lentinan is a beta-glucan polysaccharide extracted from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). Its primary studied effects are as an immunomodulator, particularly as an adjunct in cancer therapy. Regarding radiation sickness, there is limited but notable scientific investigation into lentinan’s potential protective effects. Some animal studies have reported that lentinan can enhance hematopoietic recovery and increase survival in mice exposed to lethal doses of radiation, likely due to its immunostimulatory and bone marrow-protective properties. For example, preclinical research published in the 1980s and 1990s found that lentinan administration increased white blood cell counts and aided recovery after radiation exposure in animal models. However, clinical evidence in humans is lacking: there are no large, well-controlled trials supporting its use in radiation sickness patients. Most human research on lentinan has focused on its use as an adjunct to chemotherapy rather than for radiation injury per se. Thus, while its use for radiation sickness may be justified by preclinical data suggesting immune and hematopoietic support, the overall evidence base is weak, and lentinan is not a standard or widely accepted treatment for radiation sickness in clinical practice.