Fruiting Bodies, Pure Mycelium, and Mycelium on Grain (MOG): What’s the Difference?

Mushroom supplements are everywhere these days. With terms like fruiting bodies, mycelium, cultured oats, and mycelial biomass it can be hard to tell exactly what you’re getting. Thankfully, a little knowledge about the mushroom lifecycle will go a long way in helping you determine the quality of mushroom products.

First, a biology lesson. Just like plants, fungi have a circular lifecycle. The main two life stages that are used commercially are the mycelium and the mature fruiting body. Both the mycelium and fruiting body can be grown on different substrates with vastly different results. Typically, there are three different types of mushroom products available – fruiting body, mycelium, and Mycelium on Grain (MOG).

Pure Fruiting Body Products

The fruiting body appears during the reproductive stage at the end of the fungus life cycle. Did you know the fruiting body can contain up to 30-40% active compounds? As it reaches the reproductive stage, the mushroom pours all of its resources into the fruiting body in preparation to release spores. It’s the ideal part of the mushroom to extract for its naturally high concentration of active compounds. Since mushrooms feed by absorbing nutrients from decaying organic matter, fruiting body products do best when growing on their native preferred log.

When grown on hardwood, as they would in nature, pure fruiting bodies have higher naturally-occurring levels of beta-glucans plus other active compounds. For example, Chaga mushroom can only produce betulin and lupeol, two key active compounds, if it grows on birch logs. If it is grown on another substrate, those two natural components don’t occur.

Pure Mycelium Products

Like a fruiting body, mycelium is another stage in the mushroom lifecycle. Mycelium is the root-like structure of the fungus that absorbs nutrients and has lower levels of active compounds than the fruiting bodies. 

Pure mycelium products are grown through liquid fermentation. Through the mycelium, a fungus absorbs nutrients from its environment in a two-stage process. First, the hyphae secrete enzymes onto or into the food source, which breaks down biological polymers into smaller units called monomers. These monomers are then absorbed into the mycelium by facilitated diffusion and active transport. In short, the mycelium absorbs whatever it grows on. Pure mycelium grown in its natural habitat will be rich in extra-cellular compounds such as enzymes and beta-glucans.

Mycelium on Grain (MOG) Products

Mycelium on Grain (MOG) products derive straight from the grain spawn placed directly onto a grain substrate such as rice or oats. The mushroom never fully fruits the way it should when grown on hardwood. As result, there will never be significant levels of natural beta-glucans in MOG products. And since mycelium absorbs whatever it grows on, the mycelium on grain contains a high percentage of starch since it doesn’t break down grain entirely. The extra starch shows up in test results as higher levels of polysaccharides. But those polysaccharides are starchy alpha-glucans, not more beta-glucans! The product is actually more starch than mycelium.

To compensate for the lack of natural active compounds, MOG products add synthetic beta-glucans to the final product. 

The Difference in Labeling

How can you tell if a mushroom product is made from fruiting bodies, pure mycelium, or MOG? Simple, peek at the label.

The Takeaway

Knowing which mushroom product is best for you is as simple as knowing a bit about the mushroom life cycle and checking out the Supplement Facts. Just look for keywords like “fruiting bodies,” myceliated brown rice,” and “mycelial biomass,” and always check for what other ingredients are listed.

Author: WholeSun Wellness