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Benefits of Turkey Tail

Evidence:Strong
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary — consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Evidence-Based Benefits

  • Immune cell activation — PSK and PSP bind to Toll-like receptors (TLR-2, TLR-4) on immune cells, activating NK cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and dendritic cells. This enhances immune surveillance without the overstimulation associated with echinacea-type immunostimulants
  • Oncology support — a landmark meta-analysis of 13 RCTs (n=8,009) found that PSK as adjunctive therapy improved 5-year survival rates in gastric and colorectal cancer patients. PSK has been a prescription adjunctive therapy in Japan since 1977
  • Gut microbiome support — turkey tail polysaccharides act as prebiotics, increasing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations. A 2014 study found significant improvements in gut microbiome composition after 8 weeks of turkey tail supplementation
  • Antioxidant activity — contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids that contribute to antioxidant capacity and reduction of oxidative stress markers
  • Upper respiratory infection prevention — a small clinical study found turkey tail supplementation reduced the incidence and duration of cold and flu symptoms in healthy adults

What the Research Says

Turkey tail has the deepest evidence base of any medicinal mushroom. PSK (polysaccharide-K) has been approved as an adjunctive cancer therapy in Japan since 1977, and a 2012 meta-analysis by Oba et al. analyzing 8,009 patients across 13 RCTs found that PSK significantly improved overall survival in gastric and colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In the United States, a Phase I clinical trial funded by the NIH (Torkelson et al., 2012) found that turkey tail significantly increased NK cell activity in breast cancer patients after radiation therapy, with dose-dependent immune enhancement at 3, 6, and 9g/day. For general immune support, Pallav et al. (2014) demonstrated that turkey tail supplementation modulated gut microbiome composition in healthy volunteers, increasing beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. The beta-glucan content of turkey tail activates the complement system and enhances macrophage phagocytosis through dectin-1 and CR3 receptor binding.

Related Conditions

Immune Function
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References

  1. Meta-analysisOba K, Teramukai S, Kobayashi M, et al. (2007). Efficacy of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curative resections of gastric cancer. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. DOI PubMed
  2. RCTTorkelson CJ, Sweet E, Martzen MR, et al. (2012). Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Oncology. DOI PubMed
  3. RCTPallav K, Dowd SE, Villafuerte J, et al. (2014). Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers. Gut Microbes. DOI PubMed
  4. ReviewNarayanan S, de Mores AR, Cohen L, Anwar MM, et al. (2023). Medicinal Mushroom Supplements in Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.. Current oncology reports. DOI PubMed