Rankings / Immune & Inflammation
Immune & Inflammation
Vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, microbiome agents, and anti-inflammatory compounds. The microbiome-immune axis sits alongside more classical immune support.
| # | Compound | Ev | Bn | Sf | Grade · Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rifaximin (Xifaxan) Gut-selective antibiotic | 8 | 8 | 9 | A+ 8.4 |
| 2 | Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Anti-inflammatory / antiemetic | 8 | 5 | 9 | A 8 |
| 3 | Probiotics (multi-strain) Live microbial supplement | 8 | 5 | 9 | A 8 |
| 4 | Saccharomyces boulardii Probiotic yeast | 8 | 5 | 9 | A 8 |
| 5 | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Essential vitamin / antioxidant | 8 | 5 | 9 | A 8 |
| 6 | FMT (fecal microbiota transplantation) Microbiome transplant | 10 | 8 | 5 | A- 7.7 |
| 7 | Butyrate (tributyrin / sodium butyrate) Short-chain fatty acid | 6 | 5 | 9 | B+ 7.1 |
| 8 | Lactoferrin (bovine) Iron-binding glycoprotein | 6 | 5 | 9 | B+ 7.1 |
| 9 | 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL human milk oligosaccharide) Human milk oligosaccharide / prebiotic | 6 | 3.5 | 9 | B 6.8 |
| 10 | Akkermansia muciniphila (pasteurized) Next-generation probiotic | 6 | 3.5 | 9 | B 6.8 |
| 11 | Lactobacillus acidophilus Probiotic strain (lactic acid bacterium) | 6 | 3.5 | 9 | B 6.8 |
| 12 | Prebiotics (inulin / FOS / GOS / partially hydrolyzed guar gum) Fermentable fibers | 6 | 5 | 7 | B- 6.3 |
| 13 | Beta-glucans (yeast / mushroom) Polysaccharide PAMP mimetic | 4.5 | 3.5 | 9 | B- 6.2 |
| 14 | Colostrum (bovine) Immunoglobulin-rich milk | 4.5 | 3.5 | 9 | B- 6.2 |
| 15 | Echinacea Herbal immune modulator | 4.5 | 3.5 | 9 | B- 6.2 |
| 16 | Lycopene Carotenoid antioxidant | 4.5 | 3.5 | 9 | B- 6.2 |
| 17 | Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Medicinal mushroom / beta-glucan | 6 | 3.5 | 7 | B- 6 |
| 18 | Astragalus Adaptogen / TA-65 source | 3 | 3.5 | 9 | C+ 5.5 |
| 19 | Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Anthocyanin-rich extract | 3 | 3.5 | 9 | C+ 5.5 |
| 20 | Quercetin Flavonoid | 3 | 3.5 | 9 | C+ 5.5 |
| 21 | Maitake (Grifola frondosa) Medicinal mushroom / beta-glucan | 3 | 2 | 9 | C+ 5.3 |
| 22 | Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Medicinal mushroom / beta-glucan | 4.5 | 3.5 | 5 | C 4.6 |
| 23 | Systemic glucocorticoids (prednisone / dexamethasone / triamcinolone) Glucocorticoid / anti-inflammatory steroid | 6 | 5 | 2 | C- High-risk profile 4.3 |
| 24 | Larazotide acetate (AT-1001) Tight junction regulator | 3 | 3 | 4 | D+ 3.4 |
"Immune boosting" is mostly a marketing frame. Evidence in this category is concentrated in correction of deficiencies and in interventions studied for specific inflammatory outcomes. The rankings distinguish those contexts from broader, weakly supported immune claims.
Where evidence is concentrated
Vitamin D findings are strongest for correction of deficiency; meta-analyses report a small reduction in respiratory infections, larger in people who began deficient. Zinc trials report modestly shorter cold duration when treatment begins early. Adequate protein, fibre, and sleep have broader relevance to immune function than most single-supplement claims.
The gut-immune axis
Probiotic findings are strain-specific: evidence for one strain does not generalise to another, and "multi-strain" on a label is not a quality guarantee. Better-supported uses are narrow, such as Saccharomyces boulardii for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Dietary fibre has a broader evidence base for supporting the existing microbiome.
Anti-inflammatory, with caveats
Curcumin has a genuine anti-inflammatory signal but poor oral bioavailability, and regulators in Italy added hepatotoxicity warning labels in 2024–25 — quality and dose matter. EPA-heavy omega-3 lowers inflammatory markers. On the prescription side, colchicine showed cardiovascular benefit by targeting chronic inflammation (LoDoCo2, 2020); low-dose naltrexone is popular off-label but rests on thin evidence and scores accordingly.
Frequently asked
Does vitamin D boost immunity?
Mainly by correcting deficiency. Meta-analyses show a small reduction in respiratory infections, larger in people who were deficient. It is not a general immune amplifier for people who are already replete.
What does the evidence show for probiotics?
It depends on the strain. Some strains have good evidence for specific uses, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, but benefits do not generalise across products. Dietary fibre has a broader evidence base for microbiome-related outcomes, with its own population and tolerability context.
What safety findings are reported for curcumin?
It has an anti-inflammatory signal but poor absorption, and several regulators added liver-toxicity warnings in 2024–25. Formulation and dose affect both exposure and the reported safety profile, especially for high-bioavailability products.
Scores reflect the published evidence, not a recommendation to use any compound or protocol. Nothing here is medical advice. How we score →