Blue California Publishes Peer-Reviewed Ergothioneine Review Paper in PNS

Ergo Review Paper Image

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (September 19, 2025) - A newly published review in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (PNS) is shedding light on the role of ergothioneine, a rare dietary amino-thione, in promoting brain health, longevity, and healthy aging. The paper, titled “Ergothioneine for Cognitive Health, Longevity and Healthy Aging: Where Are We Now?”, was authored by Dr. Linda May-Zhang (Blue California), Dr. Irwin Cheah (National University of Singapore), Dr. Ian Zajac (Flindlers University) and Dr. Emily Brindal (CSIRO, Australia), and Dr. Naomi Kakoschke (CSIRO, Australia).

As populations worldwide grow older, the prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases is rising sharply. This review brings together emerging evidence that positions ergothioneine as a promising nutritional strategy for supporting cognitive resilience and systemic health.

Key Findings from the Review

• Observational studies consistently link low blood levels of ergothioneine with increased risk of cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative conditions, cardiovascular disorders, frailty, and mortality.
• Interventional studies in older adults suggest supplementation may improve cognition, memory, and sleep quality, while stabilizing biomarkers of neurodegeneration, all with an excellent safety profile at doses up to 25 mg/day.
• Mechanistic research demonstrates that ergothioneine may protect through multiple pathways, including reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, preserving mitochondrial function, and potentially influencing neurogenesis and NAD⁺ metabolism.
• Beyond the brain, ergothioneine shows potential benefits across other aging-relevant systems, including cardiovascular, metabolic, gut, liver, kidney, immune, skin, and lung health.

Expert Perspective

“Ergothioneine has all the hallmarks of a longevity vitamin, a critical dietary compound that our bodies accumulate and use to protect against age-related decline,” said Dr. Linda May-Zhang, Vice President of Science & Innovation at Blue California and lead author of the paper. “In this review, we highlight the breadth of evidence already showing ergothioneine’s role in supporting cognition, sleep, and systemic health, while also recognizing the importance of larger, long-term trials to build on this foundation. I am grateful to have co-authored this work with outstanding independent researchers: Dr. Irwin Cheah, Dr. Ian Zajac, Dr. Emily Brindal, and Dr. Naomi Kakoschke, whose expertise and perspectives were invaluable.”

Why This Matters

With life expectancy rising globally, the need for safe, effective, and accessible interventions to extend healthspan, not just lifespan, has never been greater. Ergothioneine, found naturally in mushrooms and select dietary sources, is now emerging as a strong candidate for supporting resilience against age-related cognitive and systemic decline.

Next Steps

The authors conclude that while current evidence is compelling, further large, well-designed intervention trials are necessary to establish causal links and guide optimal use of ergothioneine in promoting cognitive and overall health in aging populations.

As part of this effort, Blue California invites researchers and institutions to collaborate through the ErgoActive® Research Program, a global initiative that provides high-purity ergothioneine to leading investigators and fosters collaborations across academic and clinical settings. Researchers and institutions are invited to partner through this program to accelerate discovery and translation into practice.

This publication builds on Blue California’s expanding research portfolio in ergothioneine, spanning clinical, preclinical, and investigator-led studies that together reinforce its role in longevity and healthy aging.

The full review article is available online ahead-of-print at Cambridge University Press:
Ergothioneine for Cognitive Health, Longevity and Healthy Aging: Where Are We Now?