Ginseng – Chemotherapy

• In 2012 the Journal of Ginseng Research published a study involving 30 children who were treated for leukemia and solid cancer with chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation. Compared to a control group of 11 patients, 19 patients who received Korean red ginseng for one year saw a more rapid decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines. [Source]

Ginseng – Immune function

• In 2010 the American Journal of Chinese Medicine published an in vitro study which showed that panax ginseng triggered immune responses. [Source]

Ginseng – Influenza A

• In 2012 the Journal of Ginseng Research published an animal study which found that Korean red ginseng combined with the influenza vaccine improved the survival rate among mice when compared with the vaccine alone. [Source]
• In 2014 Nutrients published a two-part study which showed that treatment with Korean red ginseng reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory human genes in an in vitro setting and stimulated antiviral cytokine production in mice infected with the influenza virus. [Source]
• In 2012 the Public Library of Science published a study which showed that daily treatment with Panax ginseng moderately enhanced survival rates in mice infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus. [Source]

Ginseng – Immune function – Pseudomonas

• In 2002 the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published an animal study which showed that Gerimax ginseng stimulated immune function in rats, promoting the clearance of pneumonia aeruginosa. [Source]

Ginseng – Immune function – respiratory syncytial virus

• In 2015 Nutrients published an animal study which found that red ginseng extract helped protect against respiratory synctial virus (a common infection that causes mild cold-like symptoms) in mice through multiple mechanisms including improving cell survival and inhibiting viral replication. [Source]

Ginseng – Immune function – Foot and mouth vaccine

• In 2016 Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology published an animal study which found that ginseng leaf saponins significantly enhanced the immune response in mice to foot-and-mouth disease. [Source]

Ginseng – Immune function – Cold prevention

• In 2005 the Canadian Medical Association Journal published a double-blind study in which 279 subjects with a history of at least two colds in the previous year took either 2 capsules of North American ginseng or placebo daily for a period of 4 months. The results showed that subjects in the ginseng group had a significant reduction in number of colds and severity of cold symptoms during the study period. [Source]

Ginseng

• In 2016 the Journal of Ginseng Research published an animal study which found that Korean red ginseng had immunological benefits in mice during cyclosporine (immunosuppressive drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis) treatment. [Source]

Stress – Impaired immune response in children

• In 2014 the Journal of Immunology published a study based on 78 children which found that 5-year-old children with higher stress levels due to parental worries, lack of support, parenting stress and serious life events had an imbalance in immune responses compared to 5-year-old children with no family related stress. [Source]

Astaxanthin

• In 2010 Nutrition and Metabolism published a double-blind clinical trial involving 14 healthy young females which found that 8 weeks of dietary astaxanthin increased the activity of a specific type of white blood cell – natural killer cells – and lead to decreased DNA damage and enhanced immune response. [Source]
• In 2010 the European Journal of Nutrition published an in vitro trial which found that astaxanthin was able to increase the effectiveness of neutrophils – a type of white blood cell responsible for protecting the body against disease and illness. [Source]

Astaxanthin – Immunity During Exercise

• In 2015 Evidence-Based and Complementary Alternative Medicine published a study in which 40 trained soccer players were given 4 mg/day astaxanthin for 90 days. Results showed that astaxanthin improved the body’s immune response by increasing the body’s antibody activity during exercise – a time when the body undergoes increased oxidate stress and inflammation. [Source] 

Wheatgrass

• In 2013 the Journal of Biological Chemistry completed a structural analysis of wheatgrass and determined that it possess components which have the ability to stimulate immune function. [Source] 

Probiotics

• In 2012 The British Journal of Nutrition published a double-blind, placebo-controlled study which administered either a probiotic capsule, a probiotic drink or a placebo to 211 subjects for a 6-week period, while injecting all subjects with a flu vaccine after 2 weeks. Both probiotic groups showed significantly greater increases in flu-specific antibodies as well as total antibody concentrations suggesting that probiotics supplementation may improve immune function. [Source]
• In 2007 Military Medicine published a study which tested the effects of probiotics compared with a placebo on cadets undergoing military training. The findings suggested that probiotics may help prevent infections from spreading in high stress-environments. [Source]
• In 2013 Poultry Science published an animal study which found that probiotics were able to stimulate T-cells – a type of white blood cell key to immune function – in chickens. [Source]

Sea buckthorn oil

• In 2016 the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology published an animal study which found that seabuckthorn oil suppressed stress hormones and increased immune cell function in chronically stressed rats. [Source]
• In 2010 Veterinary Medicine International published an animal study which found that seabuckthorn berries protected 15-day old chicks from toxin-induced immune suppression. [Source]

Black elderberry

• In 2002 The Israel Medical Association Journal published an in vitro study which showed that black elderberry was effective in activating anti-inflammatory immune responses much more than formulas containing propolis and echinacea. [Source]

Black elderberry – Flu-virus

• In 2012 BioScience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry published an animal study which showed that black elderberry extract stimulated the immune system of mice and suppressed the replication of human influenza virus A. [Source]

Ashwagandha

• In 2009 the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study in which 6 mL ashwagandha root extract was consumed twice daily by 5 participants for 4 consecutive days. Blood samples showed a significant increase in immune cell activation. [Source]

Chlorella – Immunity During Exercise

• In 2012 Nutrition Journal published a study involving 10 kendo athletes that found that, compared to a placebo, chlorella helped maintain antibody levels (substances that protect the body from sickness) during an athletic training camp (as measured by Salivary SIgA secretion rates). [Source]

Chlorella

• In 2012 Nutrition Journal published a double-blind trial in which 46 subjects were assigned to either 5 grams/day chlorella or a placebo for 8 weeks. Results showed chlorella increased concentrations and activity of immune cells, including natural killer cells (a type of white blood cell that kills viruses and cancer cells). [Source]

Garlic

• In 2016 the Journal of Nutrition published a meta-analysis which included 20 studies and 970 participants on the effects of garlic on blood pressure. The authors of the review concluded that garlic supplements have the potential to lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, to regulate elevated cholesterol levels and stimulate the immune system. [Source]

Garlic – Prevents the Common Cold

• On 2001 Advances in Therapy published a study including 146 volunteers who received either an allicin-containing garlic supplement or a placebo for a 12-week period between November and February (cold season). The garlic group contracted significantly fewer colds and recovered faster if infected, leading researchers to conclude that allicin-contain garlic supplements can help prevent common cold virus infections. [Source]
• In 2012 Clinical Nutrition published a 120-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study which tested 2.56 grams of aged garlic extract per day on the body’s immune response to the common cold virus. After 45 days the garlic group had greater concentrations of natural killer cells (white blood cells vital to immune function) and experienced reduced severity in cold symptoms. [Source]

Royal jelly – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE

• In 2016 Food and Nutrition Research published a study in which 20 children with SLE received 2 grams of royal jelly daily for 12 weeks. Compared to baseline levels and to a control group, the children in the treatment group saw significant improvements in a number of immune system markers. [Source]

Chlorella – Graves’ Disease

• In 2006 Endocrine published an in vitro study which found that royal jelly may possess drug-like anti-thyroid and immune modulating effects, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of Graves’ disease. [Source]

Vitamin A – Improved immune function in vitamin A deficient children

• In 2010 the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research published a study in which 52 children who were deficient in vitamin A saw increases in immune cell counts after being treated with 200,000 IU vitamin A for 2 months. [Source]

Artificial food dyes

• In 2007 the Brazilian Journal of Biology published a study which tested the effects of tartrazine – also known as FD&C Yellow No 5 – on 45 rats for a period of 10 months. The researchers found a significant increase in the number of white blood cells in these rats, signifying a possible immune response to tartrazine. [Source]