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Top Picks — Immune Support

🛡️ Best Immune Support Supplements

Beta-glucans, vitamins, and immunomodulatory ingredients clinically studied for cold/flu prevention, immune resilience, and host defense.

145 ingredients reviewed Ranked by clinical evidence

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Top 5 — Ranked by Evidence

Common Cold Duration and Severity Reduction

75–90 mg/day (RDA); immune/antioxidant: 200–500 mg/day; upper limit 2,000 mg/day; lip

Beta-Glucans (Oat & Yeast-Derived)

Respiratory immune support (yeast β-glucan)

Cholesterol: 3 g/day oat beta-glucan (the FDA and EFSA claim amount). Immune: 250 to 500 mg/day yeast beta-glucan in the Wellmune trials.

May Shorten the Common Cold (Cold Lozenges)

13–23 mg elemental zinc per lozenge for cold use (75–100 mg/day total); 50 mg three t

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Reduction

10–20 billion CFU/day; 5–10 billion CFU/day commonly used in pediatric protocols

📈 Fastest Growing Immune Support Ingredients

Branded ingredients seeing rapid growth in formulator adoption and clinical research in 2024–2026.

EpiCor® (Postbiotic Yeast Fermentate — Cargill)

Gut-immune axis support

BLIS K12® (Streptococcus salivarius for ENT — Stratum Nutrition)

Salivary Immunity Support

1 billion CFU/day for oral maintenance (1 lozenge or slow-release tablet); the pediatric…

🔬 Future Immune Support Ingredients to Watch

Lower current evidence but active research underway — these may become top picks within 2–3 years.

ResistAid® (Larch Arabinogalactan — Lonza)

Common Cold Incidence (Borderline, Manufacturer-Funded)

1.5 to 4.5 g/day in the immune and vaccine trials; 15 g/day in the microbiome trial.

PEA — Palmitoylethanolamide

Allergy symptoms and upper respiratory infections

300 to 600 mg/day in the knee osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy and upper respiratory…

Bifidobacterium breve

Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: studied in infants under clinical supervision

Infant/preterm (M-16V) 1×10⁹ CFU/day; adult immune 1×10⁹–1×10¹⁰ CFU/day; pregnancy allergy…

Recommended Immune Support Products

Heads up: NutraSmarts may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. We curate these picks based on the same evidence we cite throughout the page. Full disclosure.

Real products featuring the best-evidenced immune support ingredients ranked above — chosen for clinically-studied forms and doses, third-party testing, and value. Match the supplement to your specific need.

Best for correcting a confirmed vitamin D deficiency Amazon →

Sports Research Vitamin D3 5000 IU + Coconut MCT Oil

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) — 5000 IU + MCT

Worth considering if a blood test shows low vitamin D, which is common and does impair normal immune function. In people who are not deficient, large trials found vitamin D did not prevent respiratory infections. At 5,000 IU (125 mcg), each softgel is above the 4,000 IU daily upper limit for adults, so it suits correcting a confirmed deficiency, guided by a retest after 8 to 12 weeks, rather than year-round use without testing. The MCT oil aids absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin.

Best beta-glucan immune modulator (Wellmune®) Amazon →

Immune Health Basics Ultra Strength Immunity (Wellmune®)

Wellmune® beta-1,3/1,6-glucan — 250 mg

Wellmune® is the most-studied branded beta-glucan, with more than a dozen peer-reviewed trials. 250 mg matches the dose used in them, and one trial in stressed adults reported fewer upper respiratory symptoms than placebo. It primes innate immune cells through the gut rather than acting the way vitamin D does. Aimed at daily use through demanding stretches of work, travel or training.

Best postbiotic option (gut-immune axis) Amazon →

Doctor's Best EpiCor Immune Support

EpiCor® dried yeast fermentate — 500 mg

EpiCor® is a dried yeast fermentate, or postbiotic. 500 mg matches the dose used in its trials, which measured immune markers and self-reported cold and congestion symptoms; the evidence base is small. It is thought to act through the gut-immune axis rather than priming immune cells directly, a different route from Wellmune®.

Best botanical for the first days of a cold Amazon →

Double Wood Andrographis with AP-Bio®

Andrographis paniculata — AP-Bio® standardized

Andrographis has been studied for shortening how long cold symptoms last and how bad they feel when it is started early. AP-Bio® is the standardised extract used in those trials, which is not the same as generic andrographis powder. It is taken for a few days at the onset of symptoms rather than every day. Unlike the other picks here, this one is for when you are already coming down with something.

All Immune Support Ingredients (145)

Common Cold Duration and Severity Reduction

75–90 mg/day (RDA); immune/antioxidant: 200–500 mg/day; upper limit 2,000 mg/day; lip

Beta-Glucans (Oat & Yeast-Derived)

Respiratory immune support (yeast β-glucan)

Cholesterol: 3 g/day oat beta-glucan (the FDA and EFSA claim amount). Immune: 250 to 500 mg/day yeast beta-glucan in the Wellmune trials.

May Shorten the Common Cold (Cold Lozenges)

13–23 mg elemental zinc per lozenge for cold use (75–100 mg/day total); 50 mg three t

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Reduction

10–20 billion CFU/day; 5–10 billion CFU/day commonly used in pediatric protocols

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Supports normal immune-system function

1.3–1.7 mg/day (RDA); therapeutic: 25–100 mg/day; upper limit 100 mg/day long-term

ResistAid® (Larch Arabinogalactan — Lonza)

Antibody Response Enhancement

1.5-4.5 g/day ResistAid (research-validated)

Upper respiratory tract infections

200-1,200 mg/day of extract standardized to >=10% andrographolides, used short term at cold onset; the clearest trial used 200 mg/day.

BetaVia™ (Euglena gracilis Algae Beta-1,3-Glucan — Kemin)

Fewer URTI sick days (90-day RCT)

Pivotal trial: 367 mg/day BetaVia Complete for 90 days. Kemin recommended dosing: 375

Bioferrin® (Lactoferrin — Glanbia)

100-1000 mg/day lactoferrin (varies by application; immune support typical 100-300 mg

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Antimicrobial and immune activity

Garlic powder 600-900 mg/day (about 4,000-5,000 mcg allicin potential) in most BP and lipid trials; aged garlic extract 240-2,400 mg/day, and 2.56 g/day in the cold and flu trial.

Immune function

55 mcg/day (RDA); therapeutic studies: 100–200 mcg/day; upper limit 400 mcg/day

Immune modulation

15 mg/day (RDA); therapeutic studies use 400–1,000 IU/day

Immune System Support

8 to 11 mg/day elemental zinc is the adult RDA; supplements provide 15 to 30 mg/day. The upper limit is 40 mg/day; doses above it, like the 50 mg/day used in trials, need medical guidance.

effera® (Human-Identical Lactoferrin)

Manufacturer study found no antibody response to effera®

No established effera® dose; the cited human trials used bovine lactoferrin at 200 to 600 mg a day, not effera® itself.

Probiotics (Multi-strain Blends)

Immune modulation

1–10 billion CFU/day maintenance; up to 50 billion CFU/day therapeutic

Ester-C® (Buffered Calcium Ascorbate Vitamin C — American Health)

500 to 1000 mg of vitamin C per day.

Common Cold Symptom Reduction

15 to 30 mg elemental zinc a day generally; 40 mg a day is the adult upper limit. The cold-lozenge regimen reaches roughly 80 to 100 mg a day and exceeds that limit, so use it for a few days only.

FucoMax® (Fucoidan from Brown Seaweed — BGG)

Antiviral and antibacterial activity (laboratory findings only)

300 mg/day was used in the elderly influenza-vaccination trial; much higher intakes appear only in supervised oncology research and are not appropriate for self-directed use.

Immune System Support

200–400 mg/day standardized extract (ginsenosides ≥4–7%); American ginseng: 100–200 m

ParActin® (Andrographis Extract — HP Ingredients)

Immune and respiratory claims come from a two-herb combination

300 mg or 600 mg a day in the single trial; labels often suggest 100-300 mg, whose low end is below the amounts tested.

PROMUNEL® (Propolis Immune Extract)

Immune modulation and inflammatory regulation

400–800 mg/day propolis extract; PROMUNEL® clinical dose per PLT specifications; immu

Reduced upper respiratory symptoms

The 60-patient influenza trial used liquid extract at 15 mL four times daily; extract strengths differ widely between products, and no preventive dose is established in the cited evidence.

Reishi Mushroom

Immune modulation

1.5–9 g/day whole mushroom powder; 1–1.5 g/day standardized extract

Aqua-D3® (Water-Dispersible Vitamin D3)

Commonly 1000 to 4000 IU per day; no trial cited tested this water-dispersible form at any dose, though daily or weekly dosing was the pattern linked with benefit.

Bacillus subtilis

Immune system training and infection resistance

1–10 billion CFU/day; DE111 commonly dosed at 1 billion CFU/day

BLIS K12® (Streptococcus salivarius for ENT — Stratum Nutrition)

Salivary Immunity Support

1 billion CFU/day BLIS K12 (research-validated)

DE111® (Bacillus subtilis Probiotic — ADM Deerland)

Commonly 1 billion CFU per day.

Kyolic® (Aged Garlic Extract — Wakunaga)

Immune system support

Standard cardiovascular protocol: 1,200-2,400 mg/day Kyolic® in divided doses. Differ

L-OptiZinc® (Zinc Mono-L-Methionine — Lonza)

Immune System Support

10-30 mg elemental zinc/day (per L-OptiZinc product specification)

Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa)

Immune Activation (D-Fraction)

1-3 mg D-fraction/kg body weight (50-300 mg D-fraction/day for typical adults); whole

Prodiet® Lactoferrin (Native Bovine Lactoferrin — Ingredia)

Commonly 100 to 200 mg per day.

SoWell™ (Postbiotic Heat-Killed Lactobacillus)

Shelf-stable immune modulation

10 mg a day of heat-killed L. plantarum L-137 for 12 weeks in the trial; SoWell does not publish a dose that can be matched to that.

C-Fence® (Sustained-Release Vitamin C — Nutriventia)

The only dose tested is a single 500 mg sustained-release tablet in one small pharmacokinetic study; no daily dose of C-Fence has been tested for immune or antioxidant outcomes.

Streptococcus salivarius

Looked at in children prone to repeated ear infections (K12)

1 billion CFU/day (K12 lozenge); 1 billion CFU/day (M18 lozenge)

Immune modulation

About 1 g/day of Cs-4 in the older-adult trial, 2 g/day in the marathon trial, 3 g/day in the cyclist trial; 1.5 g/day of Cordyceps militaris; 4 g/day of a six-mushroom blend.

Polypodium Leucotomos

Immune Modulation

Typically dosed at 240–480 mg/day

Setria® Glutathione

Immune system enhancement

250–500 mg/day; 250 mg shown effective for increasing blood glutathione levels

Immune Function and Mucosal Barrier Integrity

RDA 700 mcg RAE/day for women, 900 mcg RAE/day for men; Tolerable Upper Intake Level 3,000 mcg/day of preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters).

Zinc Bisglycinate (Zinc Glycinate)

15–30 mg elemental zinc/day for general supplementation; up to 50 mg for short-term t

Earthlight® (Whole Food Mushroom Vitamin D2)

Immune function support

250–1000 IU Vitamin D2 equivalent per serving as Earthlight®; dosing equivalent to 25

Spectramune® (Immune Defense Complex)

No published evidence that it prevents infections

Per Spectramune® clinical dosing; PLT Health Solutions product specifications

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

Immune modulation and upper-respiratory support

ROOT: 2-6 g/day dried OR 250-500 mg/day standardized extract. IMMUNE: 500 mg BID. TA-

Bovine Colostrum

Upper respiratory illness in athletes

10-20 g/day for 8-12 weeks in most human trials; a smaller set of trials used 0.5-1.0

10-20 g/day for 8-12 weeks in most human trials; a smaller set of trials used 0.5-1.0

Isenolic® (Olive Polyphenols for Cold/Flu)

Neuraminidase inhibition (anti-influenza mechanism)

Per Pharmactive product specification

SelenoForce® (Selenium-Enriched Yeast — Sabinsa)

Immune function support

100 to 200 mcg a day of elemental selenium; upper limit 400 mcg a day from all sources including food.

AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound)

Immune Support in Women with Persistent HPV

1-3 g/day; 3 g/day used in HPV clearance trials (Smith 2019 — 6 months); 1-3 g/day fo

AlvioLife® (Respiratory Health & Performance)

Immune biomarker modulation (IFN-γ up, IL-4 down)

Per AlvioLife® clinical dosing; PLT Health Solutions product specifications

CM-Glucan™ Nu

Immune 'training' and resilience

EpiCor® (Postbiotic Yeast Fermentate — Cargill)

Gut-immune axis support

500 mg/day EpiCor (research-validated)

Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa)

Immunomodulation

Traditional powder 0.5-1 g; the only controlled trial used 375 mg three times a day; note 3-6 g is used deliberately to cause purging, so more is not better.

Lactobacillus casei

Colds and respiratory infections: not measured in the study cited here

The one cited study used a daily fermented milk drink with L. casei Shirota, not a capsule; labels commonly provide about 1 to 10 billion CFU a day. Higher C. difficile doses involve different strains.

Lactobacillus paracasei (Multi-Strain Specialist)

Upper respiratory symptom duration

L. CASEI 431® RESPIRATORY: ≥1×10⁹ CFU/day × 42 days. KW3110 POLLEN ALLERGY: 4×10¹⁰ CF

Phyto-C® (whole-food vitamin C and polyphenol immune complex — FutureCeuticals)

Everyday immune support

150 mg/day of the finished whole-food blend; acerola supplies the natural vitamin C.

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes)

Immune Modulation

5-10 g/day of whole dried shiitake as food for 4 weeks in the human immune study. Extracts sold at 1,000-3,000 mg/day were not the dose that study tested.

Tinofend® (Tinospora cordifolia for Immune — Verdure)

Adaptogenic immune balance (not stimulation)

Per Verdure Tinofend product specification

Zinmax® (Premium Zinc Picolinate - Nutrition 21)

8-15 mg elemental zinc daily (typical zinc supplementation; therapeutic doses higher)

Bifidobacterium bifidum

Immune modulation and balanced inflammation

IBS (live MIMBb75): 1×10⁹ CFU/day for 4+ weeks; IBS (heat-inactivated MIMBb75 / SYN-H

Attenutin® (Scutellaria and Acacia for Respiratory Health — Unigen)

Immune and inflammatory balance

Two capsules a day for 56 days in the flu-vaccine trial (Lewis 2023); the paper gives no mg per capsule and no daily dose is published.

Berriqi® (Boysenberry and Apple Polyphenols — Anagenix)

Immune cells in the lung, animal data only

No standard human dose has been established; the one human trial gave capsules daily for 5 days before ozone exposure. Products vary widely in content, so check the label.

GS15-4® (Enzyme-Fermented Ginseng — Ilhwa)

Around 165 mg of fermented ginseng extract per day.

Nutramunity® Beta-Glucan (Yeast Beta-Glucan)

Commonly around 75 to 250 mg per day.

PeakO2® (Adaptogenic Mushroom Blend)

Immune and stress claims have no cited study behind them

1–4g/day for ongoing use; 4g/day for clinical performance benefits (21-day loading);

Prodiet® Colostrum (Bovine Colostrum — Ingredia)

Trials used 20 g/day, 25 g/day, or 3.2 g/day of colostrum powder. Ingredia's suggested minimum, about 0.4 to 0.5 g of powder a day, is far below the amounts used in those trials.

Sparassis crispa (Cauliflower Mushroom / Hanabiratake)

Dectin-1 / GM-CSF immunomodulation pathway

β-GLUCAN content: >40% of dry weight (highest among medicinal mushrooms). MOUSE Sarco

SynBalance® (Probiotic Strains — ROELMI)

Commonly billions of CFU per day, depending on the strain.

Turkey Tail Mushroom

Immune system activation

1–3 g/day PSK extract; 2–9 g/day whole mushroom powder

15 to 30 mg elemental zinc per day is the usual supplement range; the adult upper limit is 40 mg per day.

Immune System Support

Prevention: 2,400 mg/day of an Echinacea purpurea alcoholic extract in adults, 1,200 mg/day in children; treatment used about 10 g of dried root on day 1 then 5 g/day.

Phellinus linteus (Meshimakobu / Sanghuang)

Immune markers in a 30-person pilot trial (trend-level results)

The Korean pilot tested 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg a day; the planned trial uses 1,000 mg a day. Human data are one small pilot, so no effective dose is established. Avoid if you have an autoimmune condition.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12 / HN019)

Immune function and respiratory infection reduction

1–10 billion CFU/day (BB-12); 17.2 billion CFU/day (HN019 in constipation studies)

500-1,000 mg/day; in pooled blood pressure trials 500 mg/day or more worked while doses below 500 mg/day did nothing, and many products supply well under 500 mg.

Immunell™ (Nucleotides + Prebiotic Acacia)

Immune Response Reinforcement

Nexira's recommended intake is 300 to 500 mg a day. Immunell itself has never been dose-tested; adult trials used other nucleotide products at higher amounts.

merLIX™ (marine DNA & nucleotide complex — InnoVactiv)

Supports normal immune function

Brand serving guidance about 200-400 mg/day; no human trials on merLIX itself. The 50 mg/day to 1.2 g/day range comes from trials of generic nucleotides, not merLIX.

Olivactive® (Olive Leaf Extract for Immune Support)

Reduced sick days in athletes

No dose of the branded Olivactive extract has been tested in a published trial. Related trials used 100 mg of oleuropein a day, or about 500 mg a day of olive leaf extract.

Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM / Himematsutake / Royal Sun Mushroom)

Lung cancer surgery pilot: a combination product, and the main immune result was not…

No consumer dose established. The 60 mL per day figure comes from one branded liquid extract (AndoSan) given to patients about 7 weeks; those studies are not cited here.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Antimicrobial and immune support

500–1,000 mg/day dried root powder; standardized extract: 250–500 mg/day; typically u

Immune function — preliminary evidence

General use: 3-6 g/day. NAFLD studies: 1.2-1.5 g/day × 3 months. Metabolic syndrome:

Eleuthero / Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Preliminary Antiviral/Immune Signal (Not a Treatment)

300-1,200 mg/day standardized extract; root powder 1-3 g/day

Antiviral activity (preclinical)

Traditional/clinical doses: 100-500 mg/day humic acid extract. No FDA-recognized stan

Hōlistiq™ (Adaptogen + Mushroom Wellness Blend)

Immune modulation and defense

Per product label; typical adaptogen blend 300–800mg/day; mushroom component 500mg–2g

Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus)

Immune Modulation

500 to 2,000 mg/day of extract, or 3 to 4 g of dried chaga per cup of tea. That much dried chaga is high in oxalate, so avoid it if you have kidney disease or kidney stones.

StaiMune® (Inactivated Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 — Kerry)

Around 0.5 to 1 billion inactivated cells per day.

Thymocid® (Black Cumin Seed Extract — Natural Remedies)

Immune effects in the plant literature

No human dose established and no trial in people has tested this ingredient; the supplier suggests 500 to 1,000 mg per day.

Uva ursi (Bearberry)

REGATTA trial: fewer antibiotic courses, but worse symptoms and more kidney infections

3,600 mg extract (720 mg arbutin)/day was used in the ATAFUTI trial, where it worked no better than placebo; short-term use only, no longer than one week at a time.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus / Xeya®)

Immune support — modest evidence

500-1,000 mg/day standardized root extract. Lactation: 300 mg twice daily. PCOS (CL22

Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)

Immune system modulation

250–500 mg/day standardized POA extract; rheumatoid arthritis trials: 60 mg freeze-dr

Spirumune® (Spirulina for Immunity)

Labels commonly list 1 to 2 grams of spirulina per day. No published trial has tested Spirumune itself; the cited studies used generic spirulina capsules.

Tinospora Cordifolia (Tinofend®)

Immune system modulation

300 mg/day Tinofend® (standardized extract); traditional Ayurvedic dose: 1–3 g/day wh

Biootic® (Probiotic Cultures)

Commonly billions of CFU per day, depending on the strain.

Brewster Probiotics™ (Probiotic Cultures)

Varies by strain and product; commonly billions of CFU per day.

ColostrumOne™ (Bovine Colostrum — PanTheryx)

Immune support during heavy training, with honest limits

500 mg to 1 g per serving

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

Upper respiratory mucosal support

Traditional amounts only: 400-800 mg/day dried herb or extract, or a tea from 1-2 g dried herb, 2-3 cups/day. No controlled trial has tested any oral dose of eyebright.

Morinaga BB536 (Bifidobacterium longum BB536)

Immune effects: not tested

46 billion CFU per day for 4 weeks in the single cited trial, which did not show a significant benefit over placebo. Typical labels list 1 to 5 billion CFU per day, far below the amount tested.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia)

Immune modulation

30–750 mL/day noni juice; most studies use 29–118 mL (1–4 oz) daily; freeze-dried pow

PhytoServ® (concentrated fruit & vegetable phytonutrient extract — FutureCeuticals)

Supports immune resilience

Not established for the finished ingredient; dosed to a "1 serving" phytonutrient equivalent per label

Bifidobacterium breve

Atopic dermatitis and food allergy: studied in infants under clinical supervision

INFANT AD (M-16V Morinaga): 1×10⁹ CFU/day × 1 mo. PRETERM (M-16V): 1×10⁹ CFU/day NICU

Gingever® (High-Potency Ginger Extract — OmniActive)

Occasional constipation

280 mg/day Gingever (Eraiah 2024 constipation trial, taken nightly after dinner for 8

Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (BioGaia Protectis®)

Infant colic crying time reduction

Infants: 100 million CFU (1×10⁸) once daily as drops (BioGaia Protectis® dosing). Chi

PEA — Palmitoylethanolamide

Neuropathic pain relief (substantial evidence)

Standard dose: 300-1,200 mg/day PEA. Most clinical trials use 600 mg twice daily (1,2

Aged Garlic Extract

Blood pressure reduction in adults with elevated blood pressure

Standard cardiovascular dose: 600-2,400 mg/day AGE standardized to S-allyl cysteine c

Bacillus clausii (Enterogermina® / Erceflora)

Acute diarrhea — supports faster recovery in children

Standard dose: 2 billion spores (2×10⁹ CFU) 2-3 times daily as oral suspension. AAD p

Bifidobacterium longum

Stress reduction and emotional regulation (psychobiotic effects)

1–10 billion CFU/day; 1714 strain studies use 1 billion CFU/day for psychobiotic effe

Anti-inflammatory and pain relief

200–400 mg/day (500–2,000 GDU) for anti-inflammatory; 400–800 mg/day with meals for d

Cran-d'Or® (Cranberry Extract)

Urinary tract health

Commonly around 500 mg of cranberry concentrate per day.

Cran-Gyn PRO® (Cranberry for Urinary and Feminine Health)

Urinary tract health

Commonly around 500 mg of cranberry concentrate per day.

ImmuseLC-Plasma (Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma)

Plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation

100 billion (10¹¹) heat-killed L. lactis strain Plasma/day standard RCT dose. Kirin i

LactoSpore® (Heat-Stable Bacillus coagulans Probiotic)

Studied in people with IBS and in adults with gas and bloating

1–4 billion CFU/day LactoSpore® Bacillus coagulans; IBS and gut health: 2 billion CFU

Neem (Azadirachta indica)

Plaque and Gingivitis Reduction (RCT-Confirmed)

PINGALI 2020 T2DM: 125/250/500 mg standardized neem BID = 250-1000 mg/day × 12 wk + m

Selenium Yeast (High-Selenium Yeast)

What the Cancer Trials Actually Found

100-200 µg of elemental selenium a day is the range used in research; the adult tolerable upper limit is 400 µg a day, and 300 µg a day for five years was linked to increased mortality.

Zinc Picolinate

Bioavailability

15–50 mg elemental zinc/day; for short-term immune/skin: up to 50 mg/day for 4–8 week

Better vitamin C retention in one small single-dose study (n=6)

UCHIDA 2011 BIOAVAILABILITY: 50 mg vit C from acerola juice. COMMERCIAL: 100-500 mg p

Akkermansia muciniphila

GLP-1 secretion via P9 protein (mechanistic)

Depommier 2019: 10¹⁰ CFU/day pasteurized × 3 months. Most products: 10⁸-10⁹ CFU/day.

Beef Liver (Desiccated)

Highest natural source of preformed vitamin A (retinol)

Typical supplementation: 3-6 g/day (4-8 capsules at 750 mg each) desiccated beef live

BLIS M18® (Streptococcus salivarius for Oral Health — Stratum Nutrition)

Dental Health Support

1 billion CFU/day BLIS M18 (research-validated)

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)

Migraine prevention

Migraine trial: 2 capsules of 25 mg twice daily of a PA-free standardized extract; market doses and extract strengths vary widely.

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

Topical use during cancer radiotherapy (supportive care, not a consumer use)

Topical only. Ointment or gel 2 to 5 percent applied to the skin 2 to 4 times a day. No established oral dose; no cited trial tested swallowing calendula.

Superior antioxidant effect vs isolated vitamin C

70 mL of 100% camu camu juice per day (about 1,050 mg vitamin C) for 7 days is the only tested dose; powder supplements at 100-500 mg per day are far smaller and untested.

CaroCare® (Natural Beta-Carotene — DSM)

Vitamin A support

Commonly providing a few milligrams of beta-carotene per day.

Carotex® (Natural Beta-Carotene and Carotenoids — Zeus Hygia)

Vitamin A and antioxidant support

Typical carotenoid supplements supply a few milligrams per day; the cited trial did not name Carotex or state a dose, so treat this as a general range, not a studied dose.

Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588 / MIYA-BM® / Butirrisan®)

Butyrate production in the gut

20-80 mg/day MIYA-BM powder (1-4×10⁸ CFU) is the range cited for the Japanese prescription product. No adult dose is established here: the diarrhea study was in children and the cancer trials were supervised.

Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen / Poor Man's Ginseng)

Traditional use for tiredness, with no human trial of Codonopsis alone

TCM TYPICAL: 9-15 g/day root decoction. oncology adjunct: oral liquid (approved Chine

Cranbey® (Cranberry Extract)

Urinary tract health

No dose has been established for this product; questions remain about dose and duration.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (Next-Generation Probiotic)

Anti-inflammatory effects in IBD

Clinical trial doses: typically 1-10 billion CFU/day in oxygen-protected formulations

Ferrous Gluconate

Often Chosen for Sensitive Stomachs

A 325 mg ferrous gluconate tablet supplies about 38 mg of elemental iron; no adult dose was tested in the cited studies, so the daily amount should be set by a doctor.

GliSODin® (Vegetal SOD with Gliadin — Isocell)

Antioxidant blood markers in a 19-person athlete trial

Around 250 mg per day.

Heme Iron Polypeptide (HIP)

Absorbed by a Different Route Than Iron Salts

Trial doses ran from 10 to 94.5 mg/day of heme iron; Proferrin supplies 10.5 mg per tablet; the folic acid in Forte can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency, so check B12 first.

Iron Polysaccharide Complex (Niferex®)

Better GI Tolerability

150-300 mg elemental iron/day (Niferex® Forte = 150 mg elemental iron per capsule)

IBS-D and post-infectious IBS — strongest gut evidence

Gut barrier: 15 g/day (3x5g); permeability studies used more than 30 g/day for under 2 weeks.

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (Lc40 / Hereditum®)

Studied for breast health during breastfeeding

3×10⁹ CFU/day in the lactation trials (16 weeks in the 625-woman prevention trial, 3 weeks in treatment trials). Consumer Hereditum supplies about 1 to 3 billion CFU/day.

Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (NCC533 / CNCM I-1225)

Cell-free La1 liquid partly lowered H. pylori in 20 adults

The 1999 study tested a cell-free liquid from La1 cultures, roughly 10^9 CFU per mL of starting culture, with no live bacteria. Other work used about 10^10 CFU a day; doses were not consistent.

Lactobacillus salivarius (Multi-Strain)

Caries risk reduction (WB21)

Oral health (WB21): 2.0×10⁹ CFU/day; periodontal (CP3365): three tablets a day, 4.4 billion cells each, heat-killed. Match strain to indication.

Myrrh (Commiphora molmol)

Anti-inflammatory Activity (Mechanistic / Preclinical)

Supplement 250-500 mg extract 2-3x/day with food; no antiparasitic dose is listed, and a suspected parasitic infection needs diagnosis and prescription treatment from a doctor.

Optibiome® BS50 (Bacillus subtilis MB40 — BIO-CAT Microbials)

Decreased gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults

Per BIO-CAT Optibiome BS50 product specification

Oregano Oil (Origanum vulgare)

Enteric Parasite Activity (Limited Human Evidence)

600 mg/day emulsified oregano oil for enteric parasites; consumer softgels 100-300 mg/day; no dose has been established, and no study has tested dosing beyond six weeks.

Rosmarinic Acid

Studied in people with seasonal hay fever

One hay fever trial used a Perilla frutescens extract supplying 50 mg or 200 mg of rosmarinic acid a day for 21 days; doses for cognition or anxiety are not established here.

Cholesterol effects are unsettled — squalene is a cholesterol precursor that can raise…

CV: 860 mg/day × 20 wk hypercholesterolemia. STRANDBERG 1990: 900 mg/day. PK: 500 mg

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Acute Bronchitis Cough Reduction (Thyme-Ivy Combination)

BRONCHIPRET® THYME-IVY: 5.4 mL × 3/day × 11 d. BRONCHIPRET® TP: 1 tablet × 3/day × 11

Verilla® (Perilla Extract for Seasonal Allergy)

Seasonal allergy comfort

Around 50 to 200 mg of rosmarinic acid per day.

Beef Kidney (Desiccated)

Exceptional selenium concentration

Typical supplementation: 1.5-3 g/day (2-4 capsules at 750 mg each) desiccated beef ki

BiAloe® (Aloe Vera Polysaccharides)

Digestive support

Commonly a few hundred milligrams per day, near the 500 mg per day of a different aloe inner-leaf extract used in the irritable bowel studies.

BioEcolians® (Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide — Solabia)

Fermented by bifidobacteria in laboratory cultures

8 g/day for eight weeks in the only human study, taken alongside a probiotic; no dose has been shown to work when taken on its own.

Cold sores: what the cited research actually found

Commonly sold at 500 to 3,000 mg a day. Cold-sore users typically take 1,000 to 3,000 mg a day, but the review cited found no evidence lysine prevents cold sores.

NaturSYN® Defense (Rye and Oyster Mushroom Blend)

Inflammatory mediators: laboratory testing only

Per the product specification.

TruServ® (whole-food fruit & vegetable servings — FutureCeuticals)

Helps bridge the produce gap

No dose has been studied in humans. TruServ is sold by serving-equivalence, an accounting of how much produce went into the powder, not a tested dose.