New Episode: “A Deep Dive Into the ‘Longevity Vitamin,’ Ergothioneine”
Dr. Linda May-Zhang on Conquer Aging or Die Trying!
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (February, 2026)—Dr. Linda May-Zhang, PhD (VP of Science & Innovation, Blue California) joined Michael Lustgarten, PhD on Conquer Aging or Die Trying! for a long-form conversation on ergothioneine: its biology, why levels may decline with age, how to think about dosing, and what today’s evidence can (and can’t yet) support. Watch the episode on YouTube.
What you'll learn in this episode
- What ergothioneine is and why it’s gaining attention in healthy aging.
- Where it comes from: produced mainly by fungi/soil microbes and concentrated in foods like mushrooms.
- Aging and levels: evidence suggests ergothioneine tends to decline with age, with lower levels associated with less favorable aging-related outcomes in observational research.
- Supplementation: human studies show supplementation can increase plasma levels, including in the 5–25 mg/day range studied clinically.
- Clinical data discussed: early findings in cognition and sleep-related endpoints are reviewed, along with what still needs stronger confirmation.
- Safety: safety evaluations and the overall “well-tolerated” profile reported.
- Important gaps in research
Episode timestamps (highlights)
Presentation timestamps
- 0:26 Introduction to ergothioneine (ERGO/EGT)
- 4:08 Discovery history + why interest accelerated after the transporter finding
- 9:53 Dietary sources (mushrooms + food chain)
- 15:16 Aging trends: levels decline with age; links reported with MCI
- 19:53 Human association studies overview (higher levels linked with healthier aging signals)
- 31:28 Supplementation: raises plasma levels; doses studied ~5–25 mg/day
- 37:01 Clinical findings discussed (memory/sleep endpoints)
- 47:04 Safety overview (GRAS + tolerability in studies discussed)
- 51:01 What’s promising vs what still needs stronger substantiation
- 53:27 Practical dosing framing (food-equivalent baseline; higher-dose range discussed)
- 55:55 Key recap / conclusion
Q&A with host Mike Lustgarden, PhD
- 57:00 Should we all be eating mushrooms, and/or supplement?
- 1:01:05 What’s an optimal daily dose for ergothioneine?
- 1:07:38 Why does ergothioneine decline during aging?
- 1:13:20 Ergothioneine blood testing?
- 1:14:40 Ergothioneine vs. glutathione as an antioxidant
- 1:17:40 Oxidation and formulation considerations
- 1:21:25 Discussion of a product concept
- 1:27:25 Ergothioneine’s impact on stem cells?
- 1:29:50 Ways to support Dr. May-Zhang’s work?
- 1:32:00 Telomeres / immune cell function question
- 1:34:10 Ovarian health question
- 1:34:50 Current and future studies?
About Conquer Aging or Die Trying!
Conquer Aging or Die Trying! is a channel hosted by Michael Lustgarten, PhD focused on data-driven approaches to health, fitness, aging, and lifespan.
About Dr. Linda May-Zhang, PhD
Dr. Linda May-Zhang is VP of Science & Innovation at Blue California, where she leads translational strategy for clinically studied nutrition ingredients spanning research partnerships, evidence generation, and science-forward education for partners and stakeholders.
Blue California is a leading developer and manufacturer of nature-based ingredients for dietary supplements, functional foods, and beverages that promote human health. Through innovative science and sustainable production processes, Blue California delivers high-quality ingredients like ErgoActive® Ergothioneine to support a healthier future.