August 12, 2025

21-Day Real User Test: What Effects Can Ergothioneine – the 'Hermès of Antioxidants' and Pricy 'Longevity Vitamin' for 35+ Skin – Truly Deliver?!

in News

As a science communicator who’s dissected every trending antioxidant from resveratrol to NAC, I rarely get excited—until I locked eyes with ergothioneine (EGT). Dubbed the "Hermès of antioxidants" for its rarity and efficacy, this mitochondrial guardian costs more per kilo than gold ($30,000/kg!). After 21 days with Mkule’s EGT 25000 system, I finally understand why Nobel Prize-nominated biochemist Dr. Bruce Ames called it a "longevity vitamin".

Take a group photo in the room with the ergothioneine products I recently used

In the content that follows, I'll approach three crucial topics with an objective, scientifically grounded perspective—free from anxiety or misinformation. When introducing essential biochemistry concepts in English, I'll translate them into plain language that even a liberal arts student (like myself) can grasp. I believe this will offer real value to health-conscious readers, so I sincerely hope you'll follow my logic patiently!

The questions we'll explore:

What is ergothioneine, and why does it matter?
Why invest in it? How to choose products? (Including exclusive discounts)
What effects did my family and I experience? Will I keep investing?

Chemical structure of the main ingredient "ergothioneine"

1. About Ergothioneine

① What Is It?

Paula Begoun, founder of Paula’s Choice, once stated: "There is no 'miracle ingredient' that can solve all skin problems." I wholeheartedly agree.

Yet it’s equally undeniable that the skincare and wellness industries have undergone transformative changes over recent decades—and continue to break new ground at an accelerating pace. After reviewing over twenty scientific papers on ergothioneine, I’ve come to recognize it as a revolutionary compound born from technological innovation: one with exceptionally broad applications and outstanding multi-functional performance.

Paula's rating for ergothioneine: "The best antioxidant ingredient for anti-aging and anti-freckle effects"

Paula’s Rating of Ergothioneine: "A top-tier antioxidant for anti-aging and hyperpigmentation correction."

To grasp the importance of antioxidants, we must first understand oxidation correctly. Modern consumers routinely emphasize the "holy trinity" of skincare: anti-aging, anti-glycation, and antioxidant regimens—often treating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals as ultimate enemies. However, duality exists in all things. Even these "notorious" free radicals play essential roles in physiological functions and maintaining biological balance.

The Body’s Built-in Defense System

Our bodies possess a sophisticated antioxidant defense system to ensure free radicals fulfill their duties without causing collateral damage. Ergothioneine is one of its key biological weapons. Alarmingly, as we age, our intrinsic regulatory capacity declines. Compounded by modern stressors—demanding work schedules, sleep deprivation, environmental pollutants, and poor dietary habits—excessive ROS generation becomes inevitable.

An Ecological Metaphor

Think of your body as a river. ROS are like algae: at balanced levels, they nourish the ecosystem (e.g., supporting immune responses). A healthy river possesses self-purification capacity to handle occasional algae blooms. But when overgrowth disrupts equilibrium, it triggers cascading crises—agricultural pollution, aquaculture collapse, and climatic shifts—mirroring how oxidative stress in humans manifests as premature aging, chronic diseases, and functional decline.

Thus, the true threat isn’t free radicals themselves—it’s their excess. Antioxidants like ergothioneine act as ecological stabilizers: neutralizing surplus radicals before they ignite systemic damage. This is the essence of intelligent antioxidant intervention.

Having explored ergothioneine's role in antioxidation, we can now delve into its fundamental identity.

Ergothioneine (scientific name: L-Ergothioneine; commonly abbreviated as Ergothioneine, EGT, or ET) is an amino acid derivative with potent antioxidant properties. It was initially isolated from fungi such as Claviceps purpurea (ergot fungus), Ganoderma species (lingzhi), and Tricholoma matsutake (matsutake mushroom).

Since its debut in cosmetics by Estée Lauder in 1998, ergothioneine has garnered significant attention for its multifaceted benefits for skin and systemic health — so extensive that they cannot be fully listed here.

For decades, however, ergothioneine remained a minor ingredient in premium skincare formulations. Many users might have applied it for years without recognizing its presence. This scarcity stemmed from production constraints: before 2017, ergothioneine was primarily extracted from rare fungi, with production costs soaring to 30 million per kilogram. Technological breakthroughs in microbial fermentation around 2021 revolutionized this landscape. The new process yielded 99% pure ergothioneine, eliminating impurity issues and slashing costs to 300,000 per kilogram.

Through persistent research by scientists globally, critical challenges in yield conversion, compound stability, and safety protocols were overcome. These advances enabled high-purity mass production, transforming ergothioneine from an inaccessible luxury into an economically viable yet still highly valued active compound.

After synthesizing findings from multiple studies, I’ve distilled ergothioneine’s primary scientifically validated actions:

Scavenges free radicals
Activates cellular ATP production (explained below)
Reduces UV-induced photodamage, inhibits collagen degradation, and minimizes hyperpigmentation
Maintains cellular youthfulness while enhancing metabolic vitality and promoting overall youthful vitality

② What Are Its Functions?

System-wide: Defending Against Free Radical Damage

Approximately 90% of the oxygen we inhale is utilized by mitochondria to produce cellular energy—Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). As I’ve explained in previous beauty columns, ATP acts like a cellular battery, and part of the efficacy of microcurrent beauty devices stems from their ability to stimulate ATP regeneration.

However, 0.2–2% of oxygen generates reactive oxygen species (ROS)—highly reactive free radicals. Among these, two types of ROS are exceptionally unstable due to electron deficiency, making them particularly toxic and damaging:

Superoxide Radicals (•O₂⁻)
Hydroxyl Radicals (•OH)

The latter is especially notorious. Unlike superoxide radicals (•O₂⁻), which can be partially converted into harmless water and oxygen, hydroxyl radicals (•OH) frequently accumulate to excessive levels. They directly trigger inflammation, aging, and cell death by oxidizing critical skin components:

Lipids (inducing lipid peroxidation)
Proteins (causing denaturation and cross-linking)
Polysaccharides (disrupting extracellular matrix)
DNA (promoting mutations and strand breaks).

The original generation process of four reactive oxygen species (ROS) (orange circles)

Ergothioneine (EGT) is highly valued in the scientific community primarily because it is the only known antioxidant capable of actively crossing cell membranes and neutralizing [superoxide radicals (•O₂⁻)] and [hydroxyl radicals (•OH)] without disrupting the balance of the body's innate antioxidant defense system.

Through this process, the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage to skin can be effectively controlled. Crucially, EGT converts excess ROS into harmless water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂) via a biologically safe pathway.

For visual clarity, I’ve added blue markers to the diagram above to highlight these mechanistic contrasts.

When combating the most challenging hydroxyl radicals (•OH), ergothioneine demonstrates 25% higher scavenging efficiency than vitamin E and approximately 3.5 times the capacity of glutathione! Additional experiments further confirm its free radical neutralizing power reaches 20 times that of coenzyme Q10!

Comparison of ergothioneine vs. glutathione, vitamin E, and uric acid in their ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (•OH) (that word "scavenging" is so catchy!)

Skin: Repairing Photoaging Damage
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the dermal layer.

UVA (320-400 nm) induces the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), superoxide radicals (•O₂⁻), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂), which collectively suppress collagen production in skin fibroblasts. Simultaneously, UVA activates matrix metalloproteases (MMPs)—enzymes that accelerate the cleavage and degradation of existing collagen. Collectively known as photoaging, this process drives the development of wrinkles, skin roughness, hyperpigmentation, sagging, and malignant tumors.

UVB (290-320 nm), although accounting for only ~10% of terrestrial UV radiation, penetrates glass and directly causes keratinocyte inflammation and cell death through RIPK3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis pathways.

When skin is exposed to solar UV radiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase significantly (as shown from left to middle in the figure below). This surge ultimately triggers cellular stress responses, oxidative damage to DNA/proteins/lipids, inflammation, photoaging, and even photocarcinogenesis.

In contrast, UV-exposed skin treated with ergothioneine (right panel) resists UV-induced oxidative stress and facilitates timely DNA repair.

Excessive sugar intake, coupled with unhealthy lifestyle habits and lack of exercise, can trigger the Maillard reaction within the skin—yes, the very Maillard reaction that gives seared meat its appealing crust.

This process causes sugars, proteins, and lipids in the skin to undergo degradation, generating advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

Effects of AGEs on the epidermis: (A) Impede wound healing (B) Reduce the levels of ceramide and cholesterol in the epidermis, ultimately leading to a decrease in skin lipids (C) Destroy the structure of keratinocytes in the epidermis (D) Promote melanin production by melanocytes

Research demonstrates that when collagen and glyceraldehyde are incubated with varying concentrations of ergothioneine (EGT) at 37°C for 24 hours, EGT at 0.05–0.3 mM exhibits an AGEs inhibition rate of 7.1% to 50.5% .

Thus, EGT plays a critical role in:

Maintaining existing fibroblast function,
Stimulating de novo collagen synthesis,
Suppressing subcutaneous hyperpigmentation.

2. Selecting Ergothioneine Products

By this point, I trust you’ve grasped my perspective: ergothioneine is crucial for maintaining health and youthfulness. But does this mean we should blindly invest in ergothioneine products?

Absolutely not. I believe any successful health investment must meet two prerequisites:
First, it must offer irreplaceable benefits;
Second, it must carry no risks that outweigh the advantages.

① Irreplaceability

The primary reason ergothioneine supplements are irreplaceable lies in their unique biological role — coupled with the fact that the human body cannot synthesize it endogenously. As we age, endogenous ergothioneine levels decline significantly. This reduction compromises the body’s intrinsic antioxidant defenses, particularly in combating mitochondrial oxidative stress — a process no other antioxidant can replicate with equivalent precision.

Left: The older you get, the less ergothioneine you have in your blood. Right: People with mild cognitive impairment have lower ergothioneine levels than older adults (although a causal relationship hasn't been proven).

Dr. Bruce Ames, a professor of biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, proposed the famous "Triage Theory" of nutrition in 2006.

When micronutrients are deficient, the body, like a wounded soldier on a battlefield, is forced to make difficult choices about how to use the remaining nutrients: should it be used to repair the immediate problem (pursuing short-term health) or to keep other parts functioning healthily for a longer period of time (pursuing long-term health)?

Deficiencies in certain "longevity vitamins" can cause DNA breakage similar to that caused by nuclear radiation.

Thus, if we want to maintain adequate antioxidant defenses and avoid the depletion of our cells' antioxidant capacity, we need to "feed" our skin and body with ergothioneine through exogenous supplementation, just as we replenish water and nutrients daily.

Second, although ergothioneine is widely present in various natural plants and animals, very few sources qualify as effective dietary supplements.

According to a 2022 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology, the daily requirements for EGT are 3.7 mg/kg for children and 1.7 mg/kg for adults . For a 60 kg adult, this translates to 102 mg of ergothioneine daily.

Out of prudence, however, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposed a more conservative unified recommendation:

20 mg/day for children
30 mg/day for adults .

Let’s use the 30 mg/day benchmark to compare the efficiency of obtaining ergothioneine from different sources.

As illustrated in the figure above, consuming 40–60 grams of matsutake or porcini mushrooms daily could theoretically provide sufficient EGT. However, relying solely on fresh ingredients faces significant challenges:

Economic and logistical barriers: High market prices and perishability complicate consistent access.
Safety concerns: Potential contamination with heavy metals or pesticide residues raises health risks.
Bioavailability uncertainty: Cooking-induced degradation (losses up to 30–50%) and gastrointestinal absorption variability make actual EGT uptake unpredictable.

While Ganoderma spores (lingzhi spore powder) contain ergothioneine, their EGT levels are highly inconsistent (ranging from 0.04‰ to 0.5‰) due to water solubility-related losses during processing .

This instability makes them unreliable as a primary source.

Other foods like oyster mushrooms, chicken liver, and oat bran contain trace amounts of EGT (typically 1–5 mg/kg), but these quantities are insufficient to counteract excessive free radicals.

For example:

Achieving 30 mg EGT would require consuming >3 kg of oyster mushrooms or >6 kg of chicken liver daily — far exceeding practical dietary limits.

Consequently, dietary EGT intake is heavily constrained by geographic availability and socioeconomic factors (e.g., regional access to specialty mushrooms). This variability prevents consistent health benefits across diverse populations, underscoring the necessity for standardized exogenous supplementation to ensure reliable, dose-controlled EGT delivery.

② Minimal Risk with Exceptionally High Safety Margin
When investing in emerging health innovations—particularly novel compounds—ensuring that risks are thoroughly weighed against benefits is paramount.

Reassuringly, ergothioneine demonstrates an outstanding safety profile. Toxicological studies confirm that even at doses 941 times higher than the recommended daily intake—specifically 1,600 mg per kg of body weight per day—and administered continuously for 90 days, ergothioneine caused no measurable harm to physiological parameters across multiple organ systems. Comprehensive assessments of blood biochemistry, organ histopathology, and behavioral indicators revealed no evidence of toxicity or adverse effects.

This exceptional safety margin positions ergothioneine as a low-risk, high-reliability ingredient for long-term health supplementation.

It is precisely due to these exceptional properties that in Dr. Bruce Ames' 2018 "Longevity Vitamins" theory, ergothioneine is positioned alongside established antioxidants such as vitamin D, DHA, magnesium, carotenoids, and lutein as one of the 41 essential "longevity vitamins" critical for sustaining lifelong human health.

This foundational recognition explains why a defining axiom resonates within the biochemical community:"Ergothioneine is not a formulator's choice—it is a genetic imperative."

Being able to become a "genetic choice" means safety is self-evident.

③ Compatibility with All Skin Types

Given its proven efficacy and exceptional safety profile, ergothioneine (EGT) is extensively utilized in skincare formulations.

Compared to well-known antioxidants like vitamin C (VC) and retinol (VA), EGT delivers exceptional efficacy while overcoming the finicky nature and common limitations of earlier-generation actives. It is:

Colorless and odorless → Seamlessly integrates into formulations without altering product aesthetics
Lightweight and non-greasy → Leaves no residue, ideal for layering in routines
Highly stable → Resists degradation under typical storage conditions
Biochemically resilient → Maintains activity despite environmental stressors

Critically, EGT achieves zero irritation, zero sensitization, and zero comedogenicity, making it suitable for:

Sensitive skin (no barrier compromise)
Pregnancy and lactation periods (non-hormonal mechanism)
Post-procedure recovery (supports wound healing without inflammation).

Let me introduce the ergothioneine product I am currently using - mkule egt 25000

Ⅰ. Key Ingredients & Mechanisms

1.Ergothioneine (EGT, 25mg/capsule)

Antioxidant & DNA Protection: Targets mitochondria via OCTN1 transporter, scavenges hydroxyl radicals (•OH) with 3.5× efficiency of glutathione and 20× of CoQ10, directly inhibiting UV-induced DNA damage.
Photoaging Repair: Clinically reduces wrinkles by 24% in 4 weeks and suppresses collagen degradation (MMP-1).

2.Spermidine

Autophagy Activation: Clears senescent cells, boosts fibroblast activity to enhance collagen/elastin synthesis.

3.Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ)

Mitochondrial Biogenesis: Stimulates new mitochondria generation, synergizes with EGT to block oxidative stress cascades.

Ⅱ. Technological Edge & Safety

Purity & Stability: 99.99% pure EGT from microbial fermentation, stable at 100°C for 120 mins with <5% degradation in gastric acid.
Certifications: FDA GRAS, cGMP compliance, and SGS tests (heavy metals/hormones) confirm safety. Daily 30mg intake is only 6% of safety threshold (470mg).

Ⅲ. Formula Efficacy Highlights

Ingredient	Primary Action	Evidence-Based Outcome
EGT	Telomere integrity	8.3% reduction in telomere damage (6 months)
PQQ+Spermidine	Collagen synthesis	37% increase in fibroblast collagen secretion
Synergy	Antioxidant network	3.2× higher Trolox-equivalent capacity

Ⅳ. Safety Profile & Indications

Anti-Aging Focus: Ideal for ages 30+ combating photoaging, collagen loss, and sleep disorders (EGT improves sleep efficiency by 47%).
Non-Toxicity Proof: No adverse effects observed at 941× recommended dose (1600mg/kg) in 90-day trials.

3. 21-Day Usage Review

① Observed Effects
My initial plan was to compare facial changes after three weeks of using mkule EGT. However, upon concluding this small experiment, I realized this expectation might have been overly ambitious — if not impatient.

Just as quitting sugar requires 3–6 months to visibly reshape one's physique, expecting dramatic external transformations from merely three weeks of ergothioneine supplementation is unrealistic. Objectively, the camera-captured changes were subtle: primarily enhanced skin radiance, improved hydration plumpness, and a reduction in dullness. Yet even as a "side effect," this degree of brightening and pigment correction delivers remarkable value for the investment!

The most significant gains, however, lie beyond the surface. What truly resonates with me is ergothioneine's fundamental work at the genetic level — those scientifically profound yet challenging cellular defenses that operate silently within our biological machinery. This aligns with research showing ergothioneine's ability to protect telomeres and mitochondrial DNA from oxidative erosion, a process requiring sustained commitment to manifest macroscopically.

Last month was rough:

Neck pain from sitting too long
Stomach flu
High fever
...plus heavy workloads. Normally, I’d feel drained—especially during PMS when I bloat and get sensitive skin.
But here’s the surprise: Even with more work stress in April/May, my skin actually looked better—more even-toned and smooth.

Will I keep using it? Absolutely.

Staying healthy as we age means sticking to good habits. Now that I’ve found something that works—like a true "longevity vitamin"—why stop? Just like eating veggies shouldn’t wait until you’re sick, protecting your cells shouldn’t wait either. Start now.

So I’ll keep EGT in my routine, just like I keep greens in my meals. Simple, consistent, and backed by science.

②Why Choose Mkule EGT?

The Mkule EGT 25000 redefines anti-aging through a triple-action cellular revitalization mechanism combining antioxidant defense, autophagy activation, and mitochondrial empowerment.

Its 99.99% fermentation-purity ergothioneine, enhanced by nanodelivery technology, overcomes bioavailability barriers to deliver deep-layer rejuvenation. Rigorous toxicology validation (safe at 941× recommended dose) and universal compatibility (pregnancy/sensitive skin/post-procedure use) eliminate safety concerns.

Whether combating photoaging damage, enhancing skin elasticity, or establishing genetic-level long-term protection, this scientifically formulated product pioneers a new paradigm of inside-out age intervention.