Vitamin D

(from shiitake mushroom, plant-based vitamin D₂ source)

Close-up of dried shiitake mushrooms with brown and beige colors.

What It Is

Vitamin D from shiitake mushrooms comes from Lentinula edodes, an edible mushroom traditionally used in food across many cultures. When shiitake mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet light, they naturally convert ergosterol into vitamin D₂, making them one of the few whole-food, plant-based dietary sources of vitamin D.

In functional foods, shiitake-derived vitamin D is valued for providing this nutrient within a naturally occurring food matrix, rather than as a synthetic isolate.

Why It’s Used in Functional Foods

Vitamin D is included in functional foods because of its involvement in normal immune function, epithelial integrity, and cellular regulation throughout the body.

Plant-based sources such as shiitake mushrooms are often chosen to support dietary diversity and to align with food-first formulation approaches that prioritise whole ingredients and gentle nourishment.

How It Supports the Body

Research has explored vitamin D in relation to several foundational physiological processes. This includes its role in supporting normal immune signalling, maintaining epithelial and barrier integrity, and guiding healthy cell turnover and differentiation.

Within the gastrointestinal tract, vitamin D is involved in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining and supporting immune balance along the intestinal surface. Rather than acting directly on digestion, vitamin D supports the systems that help maintain a stable and resilient internal environment.

Gut–Skin Axis Support

Vitamin D plays an important role in the gut–skin axis due to its involvement in immune regulation and barrier function in both tissues.

Research suggests vitamin D supports gut epithelial integrity and immune balance, as well as skin barrier renewal and balanced inflammatory signalling relevant to skin comfort and appearance. Because the gut and skin share many immune and signalling pathways, vitamin D is increasingly discussed in the context of whole-body barrier health.

Additional Functional Compounds

Beyond vitamin D₂, shiitake mushrooms naturally contain beta-glucans and other bioactive compounds that contribute to their recognition as a functional food ingredient. These compounds further support the inclusion of shiitake-derived ingredients in blends designed to nourish gut and skin health together.

Who It’s Commonly Chosen By

Vitamin D from shiitake mushrooms is often chosen by people looking to support gut barrier integrity, immune balance, and skin health, particularly those who prefer plant-based or food-derived nutrient sources.

It is also commonly selected by individuals interested in supporting overall resilience and cellular health through gentle, whole-food ingredients.

Important Context

Vitamin D is used in functional foods to support normal physiological processes across multiple body systems. Its role is influenced by overall diet, sun exposure, individual vitamin D status, and the broader food matrix in which it is consumed.

This ingredient is shared for educational purposes, to support understanding of vitamin D as part of a whole-food, functional nutrition approach.

Research references

For those who wish to explore the research context further

Supplamize context

Vitamin D (from Shiitake Mushroom) can be selected as an optional active in certain Supplamize blends, including: