Condition
Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, causing inflammation in places like the joints, thyroid, gut or nerves. Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids have the strongest evidence among supplements for calming immune activity, while a review found thunder god vine strongly suppressed immune function in autoimmune conditions. That effect carried serious side-effect risks, and options like idebenone and punarnava rest mostly on animal or lab work.
Sources: PMID 23957087
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 3
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function Suppression A review of clinical and laboratory findings confirmed Lei Gong Teng's potent immunosuppressive properties, with mechanisms including T-cell suppression and NF-κB inhibition. Multiple human studies in autoimmune conditions demonstrate clinically significant immunosuppression, which underlies both therapeutic effects and serious adverse event risk. | Changes; see studies | Large effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured immune function suppression | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoimmune Inflammation in Lupus In a murine lupus model, idebenone improved mitochondrial metabolism and reduced inflammation (PMID:31566908). A review of CoQ10 analogs discussed immunomodulatory potential in systemic autoimmune diseases (PMID:33924642). No human clinical trial data for autoimmune indications. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | |||
Key findings
- Immune Function SuppressionChanges; see studies
- Autoimmune Inflammation in LupusImproves (the measure goes down)
- ImmunosuppressionChanges; see studies
Safety notes in the studies
- Multiple human studies in autoimmune conditions demonstrate clinically significant immunosuppression, which underlies both therapeutic effects and serious adverse event risk.
- This immunosuppressive effect could theoretically benefit autoimmune conditions but poses risk during infections.
The Autoimmune Disease General Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- Vitamin D2,000–5,000 IU daily (target 40–60 ng/mL; higher may be needed)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids3–4 g EPA+DHA daily
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Autoimmune Disease. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
The collection holds the supplements we grade A or B for its theme, in third-party tested products where the catalog has them. It opens in our Fullscript store. You can look through it without signing in; Fullscript asks for a free account to order.
We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure
Studies cited
37 studies from PubMed
- A novel SPE-LC-MRM strategy for serum demethylzeylasteral quantitation developed with an 18O-labeled internal standard
- Ethnomedicinal values of Boerhaavia diffusa L. as a panacea against multiple human ailments: a state of art review.
- Cytoprotective Effect of Idebenone through Modulation of the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptosis in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Exposed to Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide.
- A pilot study of idebenone in the treatment of patients with hereditary myopathies.
- Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: new and emerging therapies.
- Developments in the Treatment of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy.
- Therapeutic Potential and Immunomodulatory Role of Coenzyme Q(10) and Its Analogues in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.
- Coenzyme Q10 effects in neurological diseases.
- Esculetin and idebenone ameliorate galactose-induced cataract in a rat model.
- Idebenone Has Distinct Effects on Mitochondrial Respiration in Cortical Astrocytes Compared to Cortical Neurons Due to Differential NQO1 Activity.
- Idebenone protects mitochondrial function against amyloid beta toxicity in primary cultured cortical neurons.
- Idebenone has preventative and therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis via preferential suppression of fibroblast activity.
- Mitochondrial biogenesis and neural differentiation of human iPSC is modulated by idebenone in a developmental stage-dependent manner.
- Celastrol inhibits dengue virus replication via up-regulating type I interferon and downstream interferon-stimulated responses
- Toxic effects of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on the reproductive system of adolescent male rats
- Both idebenone and idebenol are localized near the lipid-water interface of the membrane and increase its fluidity.
- Pharmacological effect of a new idebenone formulation in a model of carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain.
- Celastrol blocks binding of lipopolysaccharides to a Toll-like receptor4/myeloid differentiation factor2 complex in a thiol-dependent manner
- Coenzyme Q10 as a therapy for mitochondrial disease.
- Review of clinical trials for mitochondrial disorders: 1997-2012.
- Traditional immunosuppression--Lei Gong Teng in modern medicine
- Antioxidants and other pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia.
- Nanostructured lipid carriers improve skin permeation and chemical stability of idebenone.
- Idebenone-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery to the skin: in vitro evaluation.
- Triptolide inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and down-regulates SUMO-specific protease 1 expression
- Idebenone and resveratrol extend lifespan and improve motor function of HtrA2 knockout mice.
- Pharmacokinetic evaluation of idebenone.
- Report of 12 cases of ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with Tripterygium wilfordii
- Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of idebenone in healthy male subjects.
- Low-dose idebenone treatment in Friedreich's ataxia with and without cardiac hypertrophy.
- Antioxidants and other pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia.
- Antioxidant protection against acoustic trauma by coadministration of idebenone and vitamin E.
- Idebenone in Friedreich's ataxia.
- Determination of the antioxidative capacity of an antioxidant complex and idebenone: an in vitro rapid and sensitive method.
- Protective properties of idebenone in noise-induced hearing loss in the guinea pig.
- Dramatic improvement in mitochondrial cardiomyopathy following treatment with idebenone.
- Antioxidant properties of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (idebenone).