Goals ›

Immune support

The immune system, colds and flu, and recovery from illness.

Strongest evidence: Artemisinin, Probiotics and Vitamin D.

Supplements for immune support

Each supplement gets the grade of its strongest immune support benefit. Open one to see each benefit.

StrongModerateWeakNo trials
SupplementMain effects in studiesEvidenceBenefits studied
ArtemisininEfficacy: +95% cure, PK/safety: exposure changesStrong2 of 8
ProbioticsProbiotics: fewer infections, Immune calming + barrierStrong2 of 8
Vitamin DImmune↑ Tregs, Inflammation↓ IL-6Strong3 of 8
Fish oilImmune boost, fewer infections, Immune suppression, fewer flaresStrong2 of 8
ZincGut barrier - intestinal permeability, Immune defense - infections -20%Strong1 of 8
IodineImmune support: -85% infection, Immune support: -13% soresStrong1 of 8
Essential Amino AcidsProtein markers + stay, Glutamine/arginine: less catabolismStrong2 of 8
Vitamin AImmune markers +13%, +T cells 12%Strong2 of 8
GlutamineProtein loss ↓, Infections ↓Strong2 of 8
Omega-3 fatty acidsInflammation↓, EPA↑, Complications↓, infections↓Strong1 of 8
Showing 10 of 218 supplements.

What immune support covers

8 benefits that studies measure, and the supplements with the strongest evidence for each.

Immune support

How well the immune system works, both in defending against infection and in not overreacting. It is measured by immune cell counts and activity, by antibody levels, and by how often people actually get ill.

173 supplements, 48 strong
  1. ProbioticsStrong, 498
  2. Vitamin DStrong, 236
  3. ZincStrong, 216
  4. Fish oilStrong, 202
  5. IodineStrong, 171

Cold/flu relief

How bad a cold or flu is and how long it lasts, once it has started. Trials record symptom severity each day and the number of days until symptoms stop, which is separate from whether anybody caught it at all.

6 supplements, 0 strong
  1. EchinaceaModerate, 10
  2. Andrographis PaniculataModerate, 6
  3. CinchonaModerate, 5
  4. GarlicModerate, 5
  5. ElderberryModerate, 4

Illness recovery

Getting back to normal after an illness, an operation or an injury. It is measured by how long recovery takes, by how much function returns, and by complications along the way.

63 supplements, 20 strong
  1. Vitamin DStrong, 146
  2. Essential Amino AcidsStrong, 132
  3. GlutamineStrong, 123
  4. GlutathioneStrong, 82
  5. ElectrolytesStrong, 55

Antimicrobial

The ability to kill bacteria, fungi or viruses, or to stop them multiplying. Most of this evidence is from laboratory dishes rather than from people, so a result here says what a substance does to an organism, not what it does to an infection.

18 supplements, 2 strong
  1. ArtemisininStrong, 643
  2. LactoferrinStrong, 33
  3. GarlicModerate, 13
  4. MannoseModerate, 8
  5. WormwoodModerate, 7

Allergy relief

The symptoms of an allergic reaction: sneezing, a running or blocked nose, itching, watering eyes. Trials score the symptoms daily and often count how much antihistamine a person still needed.

15 supplements, 2 strong
  1. ProbioticsStrong, 65
  2. Fish oilStrong, 33
  3. ColostrumModerate, 5
  4. Artemisia AnnuaModerate, 4
  5. Beta-GlucansModerate, 4

Respiratory comfort

Breathing easily, without tightness, wheeze or breathlessness. It is measured by lung function tests such as FEV1 and by rated breathing symptoms.

45 supplements, 6 strong
  1. Vitamin DStrong, 116
  2. N-Acetyl CysteineStrong, 42
  3. Vitamin AStrong, 32
  4. Beta-GlucansStrong, 17
  5. GinsengStrong, 16

Cough & throat

Coughing, and a sore, scratchy or irritated throat. Coughs are scored for frequency and severity, sometimes counted by a recorder, and throat pain is rated on a simple scale.

9 supplements, 0 strong
  1. ChamomileModerate, 9
  2. PropolisModerate, 8
  3. EchinaceaModerate, 7
  4. Andrographis PaniculataModerate, 6
  5. LicoriceModerate, 4

Mucus clearance

Clearing mucus out of the airways. It is measured by mucus thickness and volume, by how easily a cough shifts it, and by chest symptom scores.

5 supplements, 1 strong
  1. N-Acetyl CysteineStrong, 20
  2. CapsaicinModerate, 7
  3. EchinaceaModerate, 3
  4. ButterburWeak, 2
  5. LicoriceWeak, 1

Protocols for immune support

What studies used, for this goal or for a group of people. Not advice: talk to a doctor first.