Condition
Autoimmune Health
Autoimmune conditions arise when the immune system, which normally defends against germs, mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues and causes ongoing inflammation. Among supplements, yeast mannan has the most research behind it, and animal studies in fish, mice and poultry found stronger immune responses; Dang Shen and Dendrobium showed similar effects in lab work. Still, this evidence is limited, nearly all of it comes from animals or cell studies, and no human trials have confirmed it.
Sources: PMID 17766145; PMID 29723205; PMID 19715751
- Updated
- How we grade
- 70 studies cited
- Supplements studied
- 6
- Graded outcomes
- 6
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function Multiple animal studies across fish, mice, and poultry consistently demonstrate immune-modulatory effects of MOS, including enhanced innate immune parameters and improved immune responses to pathogen challenge. A mouse study (PMID:29723205) confirmed immune-modulatory properties of dietary yeast-derived MOS, though no human clinical trials exist. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured immune function
| ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function Dendrobium polysaccharides show immunomodulatory effects in animal models, enhancing aspects of both innate and adaptive immunity. No human immunological trials exist. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 5 studies | |||
Studies that measured immune function
| ||||||
Longan
- Immune Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function In immunosuppressed mice, longan pulp polysaccharide-protein complex (100 mg/kg/day) significantly increased antibody production, splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, and NK cell cytotoxicity, with efficacy comparable to ganoderan. In vitro, a novel longan polysaccharide (LP4) activated macrophages via TLR2/4-mediated PI3K/AKT and MyD88/TRAF6 pathways. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
Omega-6 Fatty Acids
- Immune Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function Animal studies demonstrate dose-dependent modulation of spleen lymphocyte function by dietary GLA. Cyclic vs continuous enteral feeding with GLA altered immune cell phospholipid fatty acid composition in rat lung and liver. Reviews highlight the importance of n-6/n-3 balance in immune regulation, autoimmunity, and the essentiality of n-6 for normal immune function. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured immune function
| ||||||
Valine
- Immune Cell Modulation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Cell Modulation In vitro studies showed BCAAs influenced immune properties of microglial cells and their responsiveness to pro-inflammatory signals. A separate study found BCAAs improved mesenchymal stem cell proliferation while reducing NF-κB expression and modulating inflammatory properties. These are preclinical cell-culture findings with no human data for isolated valine. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured immune cell modulation | ||||||
Dang Shen
- Immune Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Function In vitro and animal studies suggest Codonopsis polysaccharides enhance immune cell function, including stimulation of macrophage activity and cytokine production. No controlled human trials have confirmed these effects. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Key findings
- Immune FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Immune Cell ModulationImproves (the measure goes up)
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Studies cited
70 studies from PubMed
- Comparative effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mannan-oligosaccharides, and their synbiotic on growth performance, gut morphology, immune responses, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens.
- Longan Aril polysaccharides ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD mice via restoration of the immune phagocytosis of microglia
- Response of broiler chickens to dietary different yeast cell wall components challenged with Salmonella typhimurium.
- Dendrobium as a new natural source of bioactive for prevention and treatment of digestive tract diseases
- Bioactivities and mechanism of actions of Dendrobium officinale: a comprehensive review
- Network pharmacologic analysis of Dendrobium officinale extract inhibiting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells
- Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Aril ameliorates cognitive impairment in AD mice induced by combination of D-gal/AlCl3 and an irregular diet via RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway
- Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Function by Amino Acids.
- Short-Term Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acids-Enriched Dialysis Fluid on Branched-Chain Amino Acids Plasma Level and Mass Balance: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.
- Branched-Chain Amino Acid Catabolism Promotes Thrombosis Risk by Enhancing Tropomodulin-3 Propionylation in Platelets.
- A Novel Dietary Intervention Reduces Circulatory Branched-Chain Amino Acids by 50%: A Pilot Study of Relevance for Obesity and Diabetes.
- Branched chain amino acids improve mesenchymal stem cell proliferation, reducing nuclear factor kappa B expression and modulating some inflammatory properties.
- Dried yeast cell walls high in beta-glucan and mannan-oligosaccharides positively affect microbial composition and activity in the canine gastrointestinal tract in vitro.
- Branched-chain amino acids promote endothelial dysfunction through increased reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation.
- Diabetes and branched-chain amino acids: What is the link?
- Branched-chain amino acids in health and disease: metabolism, alterations in blood plasma, and as supplements.
- Branched Chain Amino Acids: Beyond Nutrition Metabolism.
- Dietary yeast-derived mannan oligosaccharides have immune-modulatory properties but do not improve high fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance.
- Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Brain Metabolism.
- Bioactive phenanthrene and bibenzyl derivatives from the stems of Dendrobium nobile
- Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Fruit Extract Stimulates Osteoblast Differentiation via Erk1/2-Dependent RUNX2 Activation
- Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nitric oxide production in macrophages by suppressing NF-kB and AP-1 signaling pathways
- Evaluation of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Potential and In vivo Hypouricemic Activity of Dimocarpus longan Lour. Extracts
- Anti-inflammatory effect of longan seed extract in carrageenan stimulated Sprague-Dawley rats
- Insulin resistance and the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids.
- Branched-chain amino acids influence the immune properties of microglial cells and their responsiveness to pro-inflammatory signals.
- Neuroprotective effects of Codonopsis pilosula
- Neuroprotective Effects of Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Flower Water Extract on MPP+-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rat Brain
- Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Pericarp
- Longan seed extract reduces hyperuricemia via modulating urate transporters and suppressing xanthine oxidase activity
- In vitro antifungal activities of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) seed extract
- Safety evaluation of longan seed extract: acute and repeated oral administration
- Potential roles of longan flower and seed extracts for anti-cancer
- Effects of yeast cell wall-derived mannan-oligosaccharides on jejunal gene expression in young broiler chickens.
- Chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Codonopsis species
- Immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide-protein complex of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) pulp
- Branched-chain amino acids as pharmacological nutrients in chronic liver disease.
- Reduced gut bacterial translocation in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed mannan oligosaccharides (MOS).
- The memory-enhancing effects of Euphoria longan fruit extract in mice
- Control of Fatty Acid Intake and the Role of Essential Fatty Acids in Cognitive Function and Neurological Disorders.
- Immunomodulatory effects of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides
- Co-supplementation of healthy women with fish oil and evening primrose oil increases plasma docosahexaenoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid levels without reducing arachidonic acid concentrations.
- Bioactive bibenzyl derivatives and fluorenones from Dendrobium nobile
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
- Immune stimulation and improved infection resistance in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed mannan oligosaccharides.
- Application of branched-chain amino acids in human pathological states: renal failure.
- Branched-chain amino acids: enzyme and substrate regulation.
- Overexpression and hyperactivity of breast cancer-associated fatty acid synthase (oncogenic antigen-519) is insensitive to normal arachidonic fatty acid-induced suppression in lipogenic tissues but it is selectively inhibited by tumoricidal alpha-linolenic and gamma-linolenic fatty acids.
- Fatty acids, the immune response, and autoimmunity: a question of n-6 essentiality and the balance between n-6 and n-3.
- Modulation of cholesterol concentration in Caco-2 cells by incubation with different n-6 fatty acids.
- Effect of a keto acid-amino acid supplement on the metabolism and renal elimination of branched-chain amino acids in patients with chronic renal insufficiency on a low protein diet.
- Effects of oral supplementation with evening primrose oil for six weeks on plasma essential fatty acids and uremic skin symptoms in hemodialysis patients.
- Dose-dependent effects of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on rat spleen lymphocyte functions.
- Effects of gamma-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in formulae on brain fatty acid composition in artificially reared rats.
- Attenuation of the protein wasting associated with bed rest by branched-chain amino acids.
- Importance of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition.
- The effects of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the expression of nm-23 in human cancer cells.
- Effects of supplementation with unsaturated fatty acids on plasma and membrane lipid composition and platelet function in patients with cirrhosis and defective aggregation.
- Effect of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on growth and lipid composition of neoplastic and non-neoplastic canine prostate epithelial cell cultures.
- Gamma linolenic acid regulates expression of maspin and the motility of cancer cells.
- Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid rich oils on nerve conduction and blood flow in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
- gamma-Linolenic acid-containing diet attenuates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters.
- Cyclic vs continuous enteral feeding with omega-3 and gamma-linolenic fatty acids: effects on modulation of phospholipid fatty acids in rat lung and liver immune cells.
- (n-6)-Fatty acids in plasma lipids of children with atopic bronchial asthma.
- Effects of linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid on the growth and metastasis of a human breast cancer cell line in nude mice and on its growth and invasive capacity in vitro.
- Effect of dietary supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid on the growth of a human lung carcinoma implanted in nude mice.
- Effects of dietary alpha- and gamma-linolenic acids on liver fatty acids, lipid metabolism, and survival in sepsis.
- Intratumoral gamma-linoleic acid therapy of human gliomas.
- Tumoricidal action of cis-unsaturated fatty acids and their relationship to free radicals and lipid peroxidation.
- Fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism in children with diabetes mellitus. II. The effect of evening primrose oil supplementation on serum fatty acid and plasma prostaglandin levels.