ABSTRACT
<i>Objective</i>: In this study, we evaluated the safety of excessive intake of granular foods containing extract of cultured <i>Lentinula edodes </i>mycelia (L.E.M.) in healthy adult volunteers.<br> <i>Methods</i>: Eleven subjects (8 males and 3 females, ages 33.4 ± 9.4) consumed the test foods containing 5,400 mg L.E.M. a day, three times the recommended daily intake, for 4 weeks.<br> <i>Results</i>: No adverse effect by excessive intake of test foods was observed in physical and clinical exam. No severe symptom was observed, except for mild gastrointestinal symptom such as soft stool in a subject who has hypersensitive intestine.<br> <i>Conclusion</i>: These results suggest that the granular food containing L.E.M. is safe in healthy adults, even if excessive amount up to 5,400 mg a day is consumed.<br>