Lion's Mane in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Children
What the sources we read say about lion's mane supplements in pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood: one rat study, one small unblinded child study, and no proper evidence for most questions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. The sources we read do not show that lion's mane supplements are safe in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or for children. Lack of evidence is not proof of safety. If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or thinking of giving a supplement to a child, talk with a doctor, midwife or pharmacist first. If a child swallows a supplement by accident or has a reaction, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or 911 for trouble breathing or collapse.
What we looked for
Lion's mane here means Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers., sold as powders, capsules, extracts and other products. [1] We searched PubMed for lion's mane studies together with pregnancy, lactation, breast milk, infants and children, and read the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) herb page and the NIH LiverTox review. The MSK page does not address pregnancy, breastfeeding or children. [2] We could not read the NIH LactMed drug and lactation database, which blocked automated access, so we cannot say what it holds on this mushroom.What the evidence shows
| Question | What the sources found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy, in people | Not described in the sources we read. | Proper evidence not found |
| Pregnancy, in animals | In a rat study, pregnant animals received an erinacine A-enriched mycelium by stomach tube at three amounts. Uterus weight, fetal weight and implantation counts did not differ from the control group, and fetal examinations showed no significant differences. [3] | Preclinical (animals); does not transfer to people |
| Breastfeeding and breast milk | Not described in the sources we read. | Proper evidence not found |
| Children | One small non-randomized study in Bulgaria followed children aged 3 to 6 with autism spectrum features who took a mushroom biomass supplement for 6 or 12 months; the outcome was brain-wave (EEG) patterns. [4] | Insufficient evidence |
| Eating lion's mane as a food during pregnancy or childhood | Not described in the sources we read. | Proper evidence not found |
The rat study, in plain terms
The rat study tested one specific product, a mycelium grown to contain extra erinacine A. It found no effect on the pregnancy measures it checked. [3] Several authors list Grape King Bio Ltd., a company, as their affiliation. [3] Results in rats cannot show that a supplement is safe in human pregnancy, and the product is not the same as a fruiting body powder or a mixed product.The study in children
The 2026 paper compared 57 children with autism spectrum features, who took the supplement, with 90 typically developing children who were measured once. [4] The authors themselves note the lack of randomization and blinding and the limited number of observations. [4] Its main outcome was an EEG pattern, a brain-activity measure, not how the children functioned day to day. The authors reported that no children withdrew for side effects. [4] One small study without a randomized comparison cannot show safety or benefit in children. This page does not repeat the study's amounts: an amount used in a trial is not a recommendation for any child.Where to read more
General guides: pregnancy and breastfeeding: supplements and herbs, children and teens: why they are different, and the mushroom-wide pages on pregnancy and breastfeeding and children and teenagers. For medicine questions see lion's mane and medicines. A child with autism or learning difficulties should have supplement questions handled by the child's own doctor.Frequently asked questions
Is lion's mane safe during pregnancy?
Proper evidence not found. No human pregnancy data appeared in the sources we read, and one rat study of a specific mycelium product is not enough to call it safe. [3] Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist.
Can I take lion's mane while breastfeeding?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We could not read the LactMed database. Ask a clinician or pharmacist, and tell them the exact product.
Is lion's mane safe for kids?
One small, non-randomized study followed children aged 3 to 6 with autism spectrum features, and its authors cautioned about its limits. [4] That is insufficient to call it safe. Ask the child's doctor first.
Does lion's mane help children with autism or learning problems?
Not proven. The only study we read measured EEG patterns, without randomization or blinding. [4]
What if a child swallowed too much?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or 911 if the child has trouble breathing, collapses or has a seizure. Have the product label ready.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Cautions that apply to all supplements
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. [5]
- The National Cancer Institute notes that supplement ingredients may vary considerably from lot to lot. [6] See quality testing and certifications.
- Allergic reactions to lion's mane have been reported in adults [7]; see side effects and allergy.
- Accidental swallowing by small children is a poisoning-prevention topic. See children: supplements, gummies and herbs, poisoning and dosing risks.
References
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Name checked through the species match API (api.gbif.org/v1/species/match) on 2026-10-23. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Lion's Mane Mushroom (About Herbs; page updated June 2024). Read 2026-10-23.
- Li IC, Chen WP, Chen YP, et al. Acute and developmental toxicity assessment of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018. PubMed 29359595. Read 2026-10-23.
- Dimitrov P, Petrova A, Bell V, Fernandes T. Characterization of children with intellectual disabilities and relevance of mushroom Hericium biomass supplement to neurocognitive behavior. Nutrients. 2026. PubMed 41599861. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ), Health Professional Version. Updated 2024-11-06. Read 2026-10-23.
- Menon A, Jalal A, Arshad Z, et al. Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review. Front Nutr. 2025. PubMed 40959699. Read 2026-10-23.