Nutrition & Food

·

Study

X-Rays Boost Vitamin D in Shiitake Mushrooms

X-Rays Boost Vitamin D in Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake

What they found

X-ray exposure rapidly converted ergosterol to vitamin D₂ in shiitake mushrooms.

X-ray exposure rapidly converted ergosterol to vitamin D₂ in shiitake mushrooms.

How solid is it?

Lab dish

Lab dish

Lab – chemical analysis

Lab – chemical analysis

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Lentinula edodes

Lentinula edodes

Compound

vitamin D₂; ergosterol

vitamin D₂; ergosterol

Published in

Food Chemistry

Food Chemistry

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

GROWING & GOURMET

GROWING & GOURMET

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Vitamin D Boost

Vitamin D Boost

X-rays can dramatically increase vitamin D₂ levels in shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). When exposed to targeted X-ray radiation, the mushrooms rapidly converted ergosterol into vitamin D₂, creating a nutrient-enriched food without altering the mushroom itself. The same effect appeared in yeast, showing how X-ray treatment could become a practical way to fortify everyday foods.

X-rays can dramatically increase vitamin D₂ levels in shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). When exposed to targeted X-ray radiation, the mushrooms rapidly converted ergosterol into vitamin D₂, creating a nutrient-enriched food without altering the mushroom itself. The same effect appeared in yeast, showing how X-ray treatment could become a practical way to fortify everyday foods.

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