Immune Modulation

Nutrients connected to Immune Modulation

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• Reishi (lingzhi)Preliminary or mixed

  Immune effects are the most studied property: beta-glucans act on immune cells in the lab, and small rises in some immune markers were seen in poor-quality cancer trials. Clinical benefit is not shown.

• MaitakePreliminary or mixed

  Human studies show maitake preparations change immune measures up and down. The authors of the breast cancer trial warn it may depress as well as enhance immune function.

• Vitamin EEstablished role

  Vitamin E helps the immune system defend against viruses and bacteria. No source we read shows extra supplements boost immunity when intake is adequate.

• ZincEstablished role

  Zinc supports normal immune function. Evidence of extra effect from supplements in people with adequate zinc was not read.

• CordycepsPreliminary or mixed

  Cell, animal and small human studies report immune effects of C. militaris; the human data are lab markers only.

• Turkey tailLab or animal research only

  Immune activity of the protein-bound polysaccharides is mainly shown in cells and animals; human trials measured markers or cancer outcomes of the PSK extract.

• ShiitakePreliminary or mixed

  Lentinan acts as a biological response modifier in lab work and the injected medicine is approved in Japan and China; evidence for eaten shiitake is limited to small marker studies.

• Almond mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens)Preliminary or mixed

  Small trials and lab work suggest immune effects, but results are mixed (a lung-cancer surgery pilot did not significantly improve natural-killer-cell recovery) and most evidence is preclinical.

• TremellaLab or animal research only

  Reported mostly in cell and animal studies.

• Cauliflower mushroomPreliminary or mixed

  Described as shifting immune balance toward Th1 activity in mice; natural killer cell activity rose in healthy men in an uncontrolled report.

• Phellinus and SanghuangPreliminary or mixed

  Polysaccharides and extracts changed immune cells in cell and animal studies; one human trial showed a small NK-activity change in healthy adults.

• Split gill mushroomLab or animal research only

  Schizophyllan stimulates immune cells in lab and animal work; no human trial of the mushroom was found.

• Zhu ling (polyporus)Lab or animal research only

  Polysaccharide activates macrophages via TLR4 in cells and mice; not shown in people.

• False tinder conk (willow bracket)Preliminary or mixed

  Raised CD4+/CD8+ ratio and natural killer cell percentage versus placebo in one small trial; mechanisms are hypothetical.

• Tiger milk mushroomLab or animal research only

  Hot-water extracts and polysaccharide-protein complexes activated immune cells in cell and mouse studies.

• AlfalfaLab or animal research only

  Reviews describe alfalfa activating immune cells in laboratory and animal work. This is a safety concern for autoimmune disease, not a shown benefit.

• Orange cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)Preliminary or mixed

  Immune markers changed in two small human trials and in many cell and animal studies; clinical meaning is unknown.

• Korean Sanghuang (Sanghuangporus baumii)Lab or animal research only

  Immune markers changed in immune-suppressed mice; no human trial of this species.

• Mistletoe (European)Lab or animal research only

  Some lab and animal studies suggest immune stimulation; human benefit is not established.

• Thunder god vinePreliminary or mixed

  Used in autoimmune disease in clinical studies, but it suppresses immune function and carries toxicity; evidence limited.

• Cat's Claw TeaLab or animal research only

  Immune effects are shown in cells; NCCIH warns it might raise immune activity. No human proof for tea.

• GlutathionePreliminary or mixed

  Natural killer cell activity rose in a trial of oral glutathione; clinical benefit is not shown.

• AmlaLab or animal research only

  Immunomodulatory effects are reported in laboratory and animal studies only.

• Black seedLab or animal research only

  Lab and animal studies describe immune-modulating effects. This has not been shown to benefit people.

• Asian ginsengPreliminary or mixed

  Small studies suggest possible immune effects; may worsen autoimmune disorders.

• CleaversLab or animal research only

  A cleavers infusion stimulated immune cells (lymphocytes) in a cell-based study. No human trial was found.

• ForsythiaPreliminary or mixed

  Used in immune-related cold formulas; evidence is limited and formula-level.

• ChagaLab or animal research only

  Immune-modulating effects are reported in cell and animal studies. Seen in laboratory and animal studies only; no human trial found.

• Oyster mushroomPreliminary or mixed

  Pleuran, a beta-glucan from this species, changed immune measures and infection counts in children's trials; not shown for the whole mushroom.

• AgarikonLab or animal research only

  Agarikon mycelium changed immune-cell gene activity in laboratory cells; benefit in people is unproven (one small trial of a blend).

• Red-Belted ConkLab or animal research only

  A mouse study cited in a review reported increased phagocytic rate and lymphocyte transformation for one compound; no human data were found.

• EnokiLab or animal research only

  Enoki polysaccharides and the protein FIP-fve modulate immune cells in lab and mouse studies; not shown in people.

• Platycodon (balloon flower)Preliminary or mixed

  One trial showed raised NK cell activity and interferon-gamma; lab reviews describe immune-cell effects. Clinical meaning is unproven.

• Poria (fu ling)Lab or animal research only

  Immune effects of polysaccharides and triterpenes are reported in the lab; the one small human blend trial cannot isolate poria.

• NamekoLab or animal research only

  Nameko polysaccharides changed signalling in mouse immune cells in the laboratory. No human trial was found, so this is a research lead only.

• Houttuynia (yu xing cao)Lab or animal research only

  Immune effects are reported in cell and animal studies only.

• Black trumpetLab or animal research only

  A purified polysaccharide raised immune markers in cells and in mice; no human data.

• Dendrobium (shi hu)Preliminary or mixed

  A small trial reported immune-system changes with a dendrobium extract, including lower vaccine antibody levels; reviews call the evidence limited.

• Pioppino (black poplar mushroom)Lab or animal research only

  Polysaccharides and lectins act on immune cells in cells and mice; no human trial found.

• Culinary trufflesLab or animal research only

  Polysaccharide fractions stimulated immune cells and slowed cancer cells in dishes. No human data.

• King strophariaLab or animal research only

  Polysaccharides from the mushroom changed immune measures in mice given an immune-suppressing drug. This is animal work on extracts; no human data were found.

• Honey mushroomLab or animal research only

  Polysaccharides from Armillaria species changed immune measures in cells and mice; no human data.

• Antrodia camphorataLab or animal research only

  T-cell activation in an early safety study; polysaccharide immune effects in cells.

• Hemlock reishiLab or animal research only

  Extracts and purified polysaccharides changed immune-cell signals in dishes and mice. No human result was found.

• Cicada cordycepsLab or animal research only

  A spore polysaccharide raised several immune measures in immunosuppressed mice.

• Slippery jackLab or animal research only

  A purified polysaccharide changed immune measures in tumour-bearing mice; nothing in people.

• Bamboo mushroomLab or animal research only

  Glucans stimulate macrophages and cytokines in cell dishes; animal data only.

• Sheep polyporeLab or animal research only

  Its beta-glucan particles bound a human immune receptor in reporter cells; no human or animal outcome seen.

• Hairy wood earLab or animal research only

  A water extract and crude polysaccharides raised immune-signalling in human cell lines; no human trial was found.

• Purple reishiLab or animal research only

  Purified polysaccharides activated mouse immune cells in dishes. A purified polysaccharide tablet is approved in China as an add-on during cancer treatment; this is not the mushroom. No human result for the mushroom was found.

• King tuber mushroomLab or animal research only

  Extract and beta-glucan fraction changed immune responses in mice and cells.

• Bailing mushroomLab or animal research only

  Polysaccharides from this mushroom raised immune-cell activity in mice made immune-deficient; no human data were found.

• Chinese truffleLab or animal research only

  Extracted polysaccharides from Tuber indicum shifted immune-cell proportions in mice with drug-suppressed immunity. No human study was found, and it does not show that eating truffle changes immunity.

• ChlorellaPreliminary or mixed

  A scoping review found chlorella has immune-stimulating properties across human, animal and lab studies. Whether this helps or harms health in a given person was not established.

• Cs-4 and cultured Cordyceps myceliumPreliminary or mixed

  A Korean P. hepiali extract raised natural killer cell activity in 79 healthy adults; no infection or illness outcome was tested.

• Mossy maze polyporeLab or animal research only

  In cell culture a mycelial sugar-chain fraction made macrophage-type cells release TNF-alpha and IL-6. No animal or human immune study was found.

• Mustard yellow polyporeLab or animal research only

  Mycelium in piglet feed raised innate-immunity blood markers; animal study only, effect in people unknown.

• Perilla (shiso)Preliminary or mixed

  One small hay fever trial; lab data on rosmarinic acid. Not confirmed.

• Wild indigoLab or animal research only

  Mouse cell and animal findings suggest immune stimulation; human trials of mixtures were mixed.

• Milky mushroomLab or animal research only

  A fruiting-body glucan stimulated mouse immune cells in a dish; nothing in people.

• Lumpy bracketLab or animal research only

  A polysaccharide fraction activated an immune-signalling receptor in engineered cells; no animal or human evidence was found.

• Scaly hedgehogLab or animal research only

  Extracts and polysaccharides were immune-active in cell and mouse studies only; no human data.

• Lapacho (Pau d'Arco) TeaLab or animal research only

  Immune effects are described only in cells and animals; no human trial of the tea.

• Japanese GinsengLab or animal research only

  Shown only in cells or animals; no human trial found. Findings in cells and animals often do not carry over to people.

• Cynomorium (Suo Yang)Lab or animal research only

  Mouse and cell studies of polysaccharides.

• Korean Red GinsengLab or animal research only

  Differences between red and white ginseng were described mainly for immunomodulation in laboratory work.

• MozukuPreliminary or mixed

  NK-cell activity rose in a pilot trial of a mozuku fucoidan drink; reviews call fucoidan effects modest and inconsistent.

• EuglenaPreliminary or mixed

  Paramylon-rich Euglena changed immune markers in humans; mouse studies suggest wider effects.

• FucoidanPreliminary or mixed

  NK-cell activity and cytokine changes in small trials; not consistent.

• UC-II (Undenatured Type II Collagen)Lab or animal research only

  The proposed way UC-II works, oral tolerance, is an immune effect; shown in animal arthritis models, not proven in people.

• Immune Support FormulasLab or animal research only

  Echinacea and mushrooms are described as acting on immune cells, mostly in lab work; this is not proof of fewer infections.

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