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Pure Defense Mushroom-8 Immune Support

Irwin Naturals
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(293 ratings)
European Elder 200 mg
Astragalus 200 mg
Maitake Mushroom 50 mg
Hericium mushroom 50 mg
Cordyceps 50 mg
Chaga 50 mg
Protein 1 Gram(s)
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Score57
A useful vitamin, mineral, elderberry, and astragalus base is diluted by lightly dosed mushroom powders and a significant licorice trade-off.
How scoring works
Quantity:60 Liquid(s) • (20 servings)
Goals:

Score 57

A useful vitamin, mineral, elderberry, and astragalus base is diluted by lightly dosed mushroom powders and a significant licorice trade-off.
How scoring works
$22.99($1.14 per serving)
Walmart
$ 22.99
Pure Formulas
$ 22.99
Vitacost
$ 22.99
iHerb
$ 22.99
Amazon
$ 22.99
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Analysis

Zinc citrate, selenomethionine, vitamin C, elder fruit, echinacea root, and astragalus root form the strongest part of the formula. Their individual amounts are listed, and the mineral forms are sensible choices for regular supplementation.

Eight mushroom powders add breadth but not much verifiable depth. Most are present in small amounts, are not identified as extracts, and lack mushroom-part, species, and beta-glucan information.

Flaxseed and olive oils support the liquid softgel format, while BioPerine may increase absorption of some compounds. Licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, so the formula does not fit every user despite its broad ingredient list.

Who is it for
  • Adults seeking a broad botanical and mushroom blend
  • People who prefer a liquid-filled supplement
Best for
  • Combining zinc, selenium, vitamin C, elderberry, and astragalus
  • Users who value ingredient breadth more than concentrated mushroom extracts

Pros

  • Uses zinc citrate and selenomethionine
  • Clearly identifies astragalus species and root extract
  • Lists separate amounts for every active
  • Includes elder fruit and multiple mushroom species
  • Oil base may aid dispersion of fat-soluble compounds

Cons

  • Mushroom powders are lightly dosed
  • No mushroom extraction or beta-glucan details are provided
  • Elderberry is not standardized to anthocyanins
  • Astragalus lacks an extraction ratio or active marker
  • Value is weak for focused mushroom use

Warnings

  • Licorice may raise blood pressure or lower potassium, especially with potassium-depleting diuretics
  • BioPerine can change absorption of some medicines, including narrow-therapeutic-range drugs
  • Echinacea may trigger reactions in people sensitive to ragweed-family plants
  • Astragalus and echinacea may be unsuitable with immunosuppressant therapy because they can stimulate immune activity

Nutrient quality

54 Moderate impact

Core nutrients and several botanicals provide coherent immune relevance. Small raw mushroom amounts and dominant oil carriers weaken dose depth and efficiency.

Ingredient transparency

71 High impact

Every listed active has a stated amount without a major hidden blend. Mushroom quality details, complete usage guidance, and inactive ingredients remain incomplete.

Customer satisfaction

64 Moderate impact

The aggregate rating is strong and supported by an adequate evidence base. Specific experience details are unavailable, so complaint patterns and purpose fit remain uncertain.

Value for money

34 Situational impact

Core nutrients and botanicals provide some formula value. High cost, weak mushroom doses, and heavy carrier material make competitiveness poor.

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Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Calories
30 Calorie(s)
Total Fat
2 Gram(s)
Total Carbohydrates
2 Gram(s)
Protein
1 Gram(s)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
 200 mg
Zinc (Zinc Citrate)
 15 mg
Selenium (L-Selenomethionine)
 55 mcg
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1050 mg
Flaxseed Oil
1050 mg
Astragalus Root Extract (Astragalus membranaceus Root Extract)
 200 mg
Echinacea purpurea root extract
200 mg
Black Elder Fruit Extract
200 mg
Licorice, Powder
100 mg
organic Reishi Mushroom powder
100 mg
organic Turkey Tail Mushroom powder
100 mg
Organic Agaricus Mushroom powder
50 mg
organic Chaga Mushroom powder
50 mg
organic Cordyceps Mushroom powder
50 mg
organic Lion's Mane Mushroom powder
50 mg
organic Maitake Mushroom powder
50 mg
organic Shiitake Mushroom powder
50 mg
BioPerine Complex
6 mg
Adults 18–50 Women Organic
Report overview
European Elder · 200 mg OverallScore65
C+ Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityB- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyD+ Value

The listed Black elder fruit extract is an unstandardized extract, so active anthocyanin content remains uncertain. The dose provides moderate elderberry support near the collection range. The active-weight cost offers average value.

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Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus Root Extract) · 200 mg OverallScore53
D Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityB- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyF Value

Astragalus membranaceus root extract gives clear species and plant-part identification. The amount is fully disclosed, but no concentration ratio, active marker, or organic claim is supplied for the astragalus. Standardized cost remains high, and additive quality cannot be confirmed from the available label data.

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Maitake Mushroom · 50 mg OverallScore31
F Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityC- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyF Value

The label clearly provides a low amount of organic Maitake powder within a broad immune-support blend. Raw powder, unspecified mushroom part, and absent active markers make concentrated Maitake effects less likely. The above-midpoint serving cost is difficult to justify for Maitake-focused use, and the licorice powder may be unsuitable for people with high blood pressure or those using potassium-depleting diuretics.

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Loading alternative details
78 Performance

M/R/S Mushroom Formula

Pure Encapsulations
Fruiting-body extracts of maitake, reishi, and shiitake are individually disclosed, providing a focused extract-based mushroom option. The three-species formula is much narrower than the original and lacks its vitamins, minerals, astragalus, echinacea, and elderberry.
88 Performance

Mushroom 8-Plex

ZHOU
Eight fermented organic mushrooms are each listed at substantial, equal amounts, closely matching the original’s broad mushroom diversity. It omits vitamin C, zinc, selenium, astragalus, echinacea, and elderberry, so the non-mushroom immune support is less complete.
84 Performance

Fermented Mushroom Complete 600 mg

Solaray
The formula covers eight fermented mushrooms, including chaga, lion’s mane, maitake, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, cordyceps, and agaricus. It provides broad mushroom coverage but lacks the original’s quantified vitamin C, zinc, selenium, astragalus, echinacea, and elderberry.
82 Budget

DefensePlus

NutriBiotic
The lower-cost formula retains vitamin C, zinc, astragalus, reishi, maitake, shiitake, and echinacea, making it a practical immune-focused alternative. It covers fewer mushroom species and omits the original’s elderberry and selenium.
75 Budget

Reishi Shiitake Maitake Mushroom Extract

Solgar
The economical extract concentrates on reishi, shiitake, and maitake, with beta-glucans and triterpenoids explicitly listed for reishi. Its narrower three-mushroom design omits vitamin C, zinc, selenium, astragalus, elderberry, and five mushrooms from the original.
80 Budget

Stamets 7

Host Defense Mushrooms
The seven-mushroom formula costs less per serving and includes cordyceps, reishi, maitake, lion’s mane, and chaga in clearly stated amounts. It omits shiitake, turkey tail, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, astragalus, and elderberry, so immune-pathway coverage is narrower.
86 Value

Beyond Wellness

KAL
The lower-cost formula combines vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, andrographis, elderberry, astragalus, maitake, and shiitake. It offers broad immune-support overlap and good value, though it covers only two of the original’s eight mushrooms.
82 Value

MYcoMune

Pure Essence MyPure
Six organic mushroom extracts are individually disclosed, including cordyceps, reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, maitake, and shiitake. The serving value is favorable, but turkey tail, agaricus, vitamins, minerals, astragalus, echinacea, and elderberry are absent.
79 Value

Mushroom Immune Defense

Source Naturals
The blend provides reishi, shiitake, maitake, turkey tail, and vitamin C at a lower serving cost. It overlaps with several core mushrooms but relies partly on a proprietary blend and omits zinc, selenium, astragalus, echinacea, elderberry, and four mushroom species.
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