{
  "slug": "ergothioneine",
  "name": "Ergothioneine (L-Ergothioneine · EGT)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "L-Ergothioneine",
    "EGT",
    "ERGO",
    "2-mercaptohistidine trimethylbetaine"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Selective scavenging of singlet oxygen / peroxynitrite / hydroxyl radical (research-context · rate constant ~10^6 M^-1 s^-1 for ONOO-)",
    "Transition-metal chelation (Fe2+/Cu2+ pro-oxidant deactivation)",
    "NRF2-ARE antioxidant pathway activation (preclinical)",
    "Mitochondrial DNA / cardiolipin protection (preclinical)",
    "NF-kB / NLRP3 inflammatory-pathway suppression (in vitro / animal)",
    "Autophagy / mitophagy modulation (emerging preclinical)"
  ],
  "target": [
    "OCTN1 (SLC22A4) dedicated transporter",
    "Singlet oxygen",
    "Peroxynitrite",
    "Hydroxyl radical",
    "NRF2",
    "NF-kB",
    "NLRP3",
    "Mitochondrial DNA"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "cellular antioxidant / oxidative-stress defense (research context)",
    "cognitive / neuroprotection research context",
    "inflammation / immune-balance research context",
    "cardiovascular cohort-association research context",
    "skin photoprotection research context (preclinical-dominant)",
    "healthy-aging / longevity hypothesis research context"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "MITO",
    "CNS",
    "CELL",
    "IMMUNE",
    "SKIN",
    "CARDIO"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "B",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 4,
  "dosage_range": "5-15 mg/day general antioxidant context (Cheah 2017 PK · OCTN1 saturates ~5 mg/d); cognition research context 25 mg/d ≥12 wk (Yau 2024 pilot RCT 25 mg/d in MCI); EU EFSA Novel Food regulatory ceiling 30 mg/day for adults",
  "safety_notes": "EU EFSA Novel Food adult ceiling 30 mg/day. NOT recommended for pregnant/lactating women or children under 3 years (EFSA — insufficient data). OCTN1 (SLC22A4) is shared with organic-cation drugs (metformin, cimetidine, verapamil) — theoretical competitive-absorption interaction; advise consulting a physician if co-medicated (HARD R5). Reproductive/genotoxicity safety: Forster 2015 reproductive-safety evaluation + Ames/chromosome/micronucleus negative; 90-day rat NOAEL high (FDA GRAS dossiers). Generally well tolerated in healthy-human PK/pilot studies with no significant adverse events reported.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "US FDA — GRAS self-affirmed no-objection (synthetic L-EGT): Blue California ErgoActive GRN 734 (no-questions 2019); Tetrahedron MitoPrime  (2021). Marketed as DSHEA dietary supplement + food fortification. GRAS self-affirmation is NOT FDA approval/certification.",
    "efsa": "EU — Novel Food authorized for synthetic L-ergothioneine (Decision EU 2017/1281 Tetrahedron; Reg EU 2018/462 extension; Union List Reg 2017/2470). EFSA 2016/2017 safety opinions. Adult ceiling 30 mg/day; food-supplement use; NOT recommended for pregnant/lactating women or children <3 yr. NO authorized health claim under Reg 432/2012 (market access only, ≠ functional claim).",
    "anvisa": "Brazil ANVISA — NOT listed in IN 28/2018 Anexo I authorized constituents; no dedicated novel-ingredient pathway for purified EGT (case-by-case evaluation). Edible-mushroom extract (whole-food) permissible as traditional food; purified synthetic EGT not authorized as supplement constituent."
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/ergothioneine/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "longevity-stack",
    "cognitive-support"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "senior-60-plus"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}