Vitamin A (VitA) is a micronutrient that is crucial for maintaining vision, promoting growth and development, and protecting epithelial tissue and mucus integrity throughout the body. VitA plays a heavy role in the regulation of immune responses and research has shown that crucial immune organs need constant dietary intake of VitA to maintain levels and aid in proliferation and aggregation of immunocompetent cells. VitA is also a key player in the regulation of bone marrow homeostasis and likely regulates the bone marrow population by binding to retinoic acid receptors in bone marrow nucleus.

Vitamin C is essential as it has functions related to its ability to donate electrons. This quality makes it a potent antioxidant that aids in enzymatic regulation. Vitamin C supports both innate and adaptive immune system responses, by supporting various epithelial barriers to fight against pathogens and promoting oxidant-scavenging activities of the skin. Vitamin C is also needed for apoptosis which is the process of clearing dead and malfunctioning cells from the body. Vitamin C deficiency has been proven to impair immunity and make humans more susceptible to infections and other ailments. 100-200mg has been shown to saturate plasma levels in healthy adults, but much more significant doses are required to treat an ongoing disease.

Recent discoveries have shown that Vitamin D (VitD) receptors are expressed on immune cells and those immune cells are modulated by VitD helping with the adaptive immune response. In addition to these new discoveries, VitD also boasts well-known effects on calcium and its support of bone homeostasis and development. VitD has shown to be helpful in individuals with autoimmune diseases as it helps to regulate the cellular targeting of the immune system.

Zinc deficiencies have been tied to immune dysfunction going back roughly 40 years. Additionally, Zinc deficiency can cause decreased testosterone levels, oligospermia, malfunctioning helper T cells, hyperammonemia, neurosensory disorders, and a decrease in lean body mass. In addition to combating the listed issues, Zinc is an anti-inflammatory agent and has been shown to decrease oxidative stress markers in human testing. Zinc is also heavily used to fight macular degeneration, although the effects have yet to be concretely proven.

Selenium is a nutritional antioxidant that carries out biological functions by its incorporation into selenoproteins. These protein regulators reactive oxygen species and perform redox events in nearly all body tissues. Selenium has been shown to “boost” immune system and help aid an aging immune system.

• Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as an herbal medicine for millennia but only recently has scientific testing been performed to try and substantiate these claims. One proven effect of garlic is the modulation of cytokine profiles and the stimulation of immune cells. Animal models have shown indisputable evidence that garlic stimulates immune cells.

• Ginkgo aglucone flavone is a type of effective natural antioxidant. Lots of research shows that ginkgo has various biological activities, and is highly effective as an antioxidant, is anti-aging, and is adept at free radical scavenging and immunoregulation.

• Cordyceps have been related with cytokine production such as interleukin (which is a tumor necrosis factor), phagocytosis stimulation in immune cells, and nitric oxide production. Cordyceps has been used as an anti-cancer, anti-aging, and antihyperlipidemic substance. These factors are correlated to the bioactive compounds present in cordyceps. Use of cordyceps for all these functions are now beginning to be accepted by modern western medicine and as of 2020, clinical trials have been started to substantiate all the above claims.

• Cayenne is helpful in the immune system because of the Capsaicin, which is the pungent heat-producing agent in peppers. Capsaicin has anticancer activity against highly malignant tumors and can cause apoptotic deal in PEL cells. This, in combination with other agents, can be highly effective in the immune system.

• Echinacea are nonspecific immunomodulatory agents. In mice, echinacea has been shown to significantly increase cytokine production as well as interferon-y productions but inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factors. These mice demonstrated significantly higher productions of IL-4 and IL-10. Taken together, these findings in mice show that echinacea is a wide spectrum immunomodulator that supports both innate and adaptive immune responses.

• Astragalus Extract plays a large role in macrophage migration and immune response mediator release. The activity of heparinase (HPA) increases with Astragalus Extract and is a key player in macrophage activity and our bodies immune response.

• Olive Leaf Extract (OLE) has been shown, in vitro, to modify healthy human immune response by increasing IFN-γ production, which is associated with higher levels of CD8+ and NK cells that suggests anti-tumor activity. OLEs are also vasodilators that help with treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases and are thought to help prevent cardiovascular events.

• Myrrh (Commiphora molomol) has been studied and shown to participate in the activation of leukocyte proliferation prior to and post skin injury and gastric ulcer. Because myrrh helps to maintain the relative rise of leukocyte counts throughout the healing period it can be implied that it activates late steps of both proliferation and differentiation pathways for all types of leukocytes.

• Inositol hexaphosphate (IP(6)) is a naturally occurring poly phosphorylated carbohydrate, abundantly present in many plant sources and in certain high-fiber diets, such as cereals and legumes. In addition to being found in plants, IP(6) is contained in almost all mammalian cells, although in much smaller amounts, where it is important in regulating vital cellular functions such as signal transduction, cell proliferation, and differentiation. For a long time, IP(6) has been recognized as a natural antioxidant. Recently IP(6) has received much attention for its role in cancer prevention and control of experimental tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. In addition, IP(6) possesses other significant benefits for human health, such as the ability to enhance the immune system, prevent pathological calcification and kidney stone formation, lower elevated serum cholesterol, and reduce pathological platelet activity.

• Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa) has been studied for decades and is a proven factor in immune defense stimulation. Maitake is shown to stimulate both the humoral and cellular branches of immune reactions. It does this by stimulating and simulating glucans while strongly stimulating immune defense responses.

• Reishi (Cordyceps sinensis) in combination with Maitake mushroom has been shown to aid in myelosuppression which helps in anticancer immunological mechanisms. Maitake and Reishi work in very similar ways, although they have been shown to be more potent when used in combination.

• Arabinogalactan is a long, densely branched, high-molecular weight polysaccharide that enhances the body’s natural killer cells and macrophages as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Arabinogalactan’s main use is to defend against the common cold infection. Studies show large arabinogalactan can decrease the incidence of cold episodes by 23%.

• Grape root contains berberine which has been shown to ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, as well as other stomach issues, like gut inflammation. Berberine has also been shown to treat type 2 diabetes and to be a potent hypoglycemic agent with beneficial effects on lipid metabolism.

Fenugreek seed extract (FSE) as well as horehound have been shown in avian research studies to regulate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and raise serum immunoglobulins. FSE has also been shown to regulate the body’s cytokines, a key component of immune defense response. Both fenugreek and horehound have been used as herbal remedies for generations and are touted for the cough suppression and other breathing problems.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has been used in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, mild analgesic, to cure intercostal neuralgia, headaches, migraine, insomnia, and depression. In modern western medicine rosemary has mostly been studied for its neuropharmacological properties. Various studies show rosemary is viable for treating inflammation, and is analgesic, anti-anxiety, and memory boosting.