A Trusted Choice for Healthy Longevity
Blue California’s flagship ingredient, ErgoActive® ergothioneine, is a cutting-edge longevity ingredient that may support mitochondrial, cellular and whole-body health.
- Clinically supported, continued investment into science: double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled studies, with ongoing studies at top academic research institutions.
- Award Recognition: Finalist position for the prestigious Nutra-Ingredients USA 2025 Award for our commitment to supporting quality science.
- Ease of formulation: water-soluble with neutral taste and exceptional stability
- Advanced Technology: with our proprietary precision fermentation technologies to produce nature-identical bio-based ergothioneine
- Wide Application: dietary supplement, food, beverage, cosmetic and pet nutrition
- Safety: first bio-based ergothioneine to achieve FDA-reviewed GRAS (#734) in 2019; clinically studied to support safety
Embracing Healthy Longevity
The global population over age 65 is expanding rapidly, driven by declining birth rates and rising life expectancies. Modern consumers increasingly recognize the importance of extending healthspan—the years spent in good health—as a cornerstone of a longevity-focused lifestyle.
Inspired by nature, we create innovative nutritional ingredients designed to support the vitality and well-being consumers need to lead happy, healthy lives.
What is L-Ergothioneine?
L-Ergothioneine is a next-generation antioxidant with growing recognition as a “longevity vitamin.” This unique amino acid is naturally found in mushrooms and fermented foods, but must be obtained through diet or supplementation. What makes ergothioneine stand out?
- Unmatched stability: Unlike other antioxidants, ergothioneine resists degradation, even under heat or oxidative stress.
- Targeted delivery: It’s actively transported into cells and mitochondria via the body’s own ergothioneine transporter (OCTN1/ETT).
- Long retention: Unlike typical water-soluble nutrients, it stays in the body longer, making it ideal for sustained protection.
Ergothioneine helps defend against oxidative stress, supports mitochondrial health, and plays a growing role in healthy aging.
As a branded L-ergothioneine ingredient, ErgoActive® stands apart with demonstrated bioavailability, safety, human data, and trusted by leading researchers.
Health benefits of ErgoActive®
Due to the unique features of ergothioneine, its health benefits are vast and multifaceted. Health benefits of ErgoActive® may include:
Mitochondrial Health
Cell-Protection
Telomere Protection
Cognitive Support
Sleep Support
ErgoActive® for Healthy Longevity and Telomere Support
Telomeres, the protective endcaps of chromosomes, are biomarkers of cellular aging. These structures progressively shorten with each cell division and can be accelerated by factors such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and poor lifestyle habits.
Preliminary in vitro studies evaluated ErgoActive® in cultured human fibroblasts under both baseline and oxidative stress conditions. Compared to controls, cells treated with ErgoActive® showed:
- Longer median telomere length
- A reduced proportion of short telomeres
- A slower rate of telomere shortening
These early findings suggest that ErgoActive® ergothioneine may help protect telomeres from oxidative stress-related damage.
ErgoActive®: The Next Breakthrough in Cognitive Health
With aging, blood levels of crucial nutrients like ergothioneine decline. Suboptimal levels of ergothioneine in the body is consistently linked to significant age-related health concerns, including cognitive decline. Raising ergothioneine levels is associated with health benefits.
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- A study with 2,840 participants aged 60+ showed that higher mushroom consumption, a natural source of ergothioneine, correlated with better cognitive performance.
- A study with 470 adults aged 50+ showed that higher plasma ergothioneine levels was associated with enhanced memory and executive function.
- Lower blood ergothioneine levels have been observed in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
- A study involving 92 healthy adults between 40 to 75 years showed that ergothioneine supplementation improved sleep quality.
Blue California is pleased to announce completion of a double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial on ErgoActive® ergothioneine supplementation. This landmark study underscores the potential of ErgoActive® to support cognitive health, memory, and sleep in the healthy elderly with subjective memory complaints.
ErgoActive® effectively boosts plasma ergothioneine levels
In our human clinical study, daily supplementation with 10 mg ErgoActive® resulted in ~300% increase in plasma ergothioneine levels at 4 weeks and a ~600% increase at 16 weeks. Supplementation with 25 mg/day produced even greater increases.
Plasma ergothioneine concentrations have been observed to decline with age, and lower levels have been associated in observational studies with greater risk of age-related conditions. Incorporating ErgoActive® in supplements or functional foods may help consumers achieve a physiological levels associated with healthier aging.
ErgoActive® Applications
Dietary Supplements
Functional Foods
Beverages
Gummies
Cosmetic Applications
