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English
Ergothioneine, is a unique natural amino acid produced in mushrooms, yeast, and certain types of bacteria.
What makes ergothioneine unique is that its mode of action is very similar to that of vitamins in the human body. Since the human body cannot produce vitamins on its own, all vitamin intake is crucial for us, and vitamins are necessary for key chemical reactions in the body. Although ergothioneine is not currently recognized as a vitamin, its importance to human cell metabolism is evident because our body contains a cell membrane protein specifically used to transport ergothioneine into cells. The existence of this transport protein indicates that ergothioneine is a key factor in achieving cellular function.
Once ergothioneine is transported into cells, it can exert multiple biological effects, including functioning as an antioxidant, inflammation modulator, and a detoxification aid to protect and enhance cellular function.
Recent evidence suggests that a diet rich in ergothioneine may help exert these protective effects and has longevity benefits. Because of this, ergothioneine is also called the "longevity vitamin."
Ergothioneine is a thiol, which means it is a sulfur-containing compound. Some of ergothioneine's antioxidant defenses and potential anti-aging effects are similar to other sulfur-containing compounds like glutathione and coenzyme Q10.
However, what sets ergothioneine apart is that its molecular size is much smaller, and it is distributed throughout the body, existing within all cell compartments, including the intracellular environment and the inside of mitochondria.
A human medical-grade study indicates that taking ergothioneine as a dietary supplement may help increase the ergothioneine content in the blood, assist in actively regulating the thiol state, and further enhance the body's antioxidant defenses, resulting in various health benefits.
Vitamins are compounds from food, and without them, we cannot live or stay healthy properly. The human body cannot produce vitamins, so we must ingest them through diet or supplements.
In organs where ergothioneine accumulates more concentratedly, the brain might be particularly sensitive to lower levels of ergothioneine. After all, the brain is the most metabolically active organ in the body. As we age, ultimately, the decline in brain function may be related to the decrease in ergothioneine levels. If ergothioneine is determined to be a vitamin, the decline in brain function might be a sign of ergothioneine deficiency.
The level of ergothioneine in the body decreases with age, which could be due to a reduction in dietary intake and a decline in the gene expression of the ergothioneine transporter protein. This situation indicates that a lack of ergothioneine in the body could significantly impact age-related brain function impairment. This association is supported by research data, as two human studies have shown that elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment have lower levels of ergothioneine compared to those without cognitive impairment. Evidence suggests that the accumulation of ergothioneine in the brain may contribute to defending against oxidative damage, inflammatory responses, and mitochondrial functional decline associated with cognitive decline in the elderly.
Research has proven that for almost all studied tissues and cell types, such as the endothelium of blood vessels, liver, kidneys, heart, and other organs, ergothioneine may help alleviate potential oxidative stress. Additionally, ergothioneine may help reduce the malefic effects of various harmful chemicals. The antioxidant and detoxification effects of ergothioneine are at the core of all its positive effects. It is particularly suitable for protecting the heart and vascular system and against oxidative stress exacerbation associated with glucose metabolism diseases and obesity.
Since ergothioneine supplements can be taken safely and increasing the intake of ergothioneine may be beneficial to health, taking ergothioneine supplements might be a good supplementary option.
