Condition
Respiratory Health
Respiratory health is how well your lungs and airways move oxygen and how well your immune defenses handle infections and irritants. The evidence is strongest for vitamin D and N-acetyl cysteine, and in a trial of a tyrothricin throat lozenge, more people with acute pharyngitis reached complete remission by 72 hours than on placebo. A study of about 5,700 people found no clear difference for vitamin D in lower respiratory infections.
Sources: PMID 23032549; PMID 30329199
- Supplements studied
- 10
- Medicines and peptides
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 10
- Trials
- 6
- People studied
- 29,533
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | 40 people | ||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 32 people | |||
Studies that measured lung function | ||||||
| Metabolic Rate | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured metabolic rate | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-COVID Olfactory Recovery Systematic review and meta-analysis (5 studies, n=441): PEA+luteolin (CoUltraPEALut) combined with olfactory training showed superior olfactory recovery compared to olfactory training alone in patients with post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Resveratrol
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 39 people | |||
Studies that measured upper respiratory tract infection risk | ||||||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 39 people | ||||
Shirazi thyme
- Cough
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cough No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 394 people | |||
Vitamin D
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Risk No effect | NoneNo effect | 5,724 people | ||||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk | Changes; see studies | 13 studies | 5,724 people | |||
Studies that measured upper respiratory tract infection risk
| ||||||
Vitamin C
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 24 studies | 252 people | |||
Studies that measured upper respiratory tract infection symptoms | ||||||
Coleus forskohlii
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 12 people | |||
Black seed
- Lung Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 40 people | |||
Studies that measured lung function | ||||||
Ginkgo Biloba
- 6-Minute Walking Test Performance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-Minute Walking Test Performance | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 134 people | |||
Studies that measured 6-minute walking test performance | ||||||
Vitamin A
- Pneumonia Symptoms: improves
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Risk
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 1,713 people | |||
Studies that measured pneumonia symptoms | ||||||
| Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Risk | Small effect | 554 people | ||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Tyrothricin
- Antimicrobial Resistance: improves
- Acute Pharyngitis: improves
- Oropharyngeal Infections: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial Resistance Decade-long surveillance: No significant resistance development after 60+ years of clinical use. Multiple mechanisms in peptide mixture prevent single-step resistance. Unique resistance profile among antibiotics. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 6 studies | |||
| Acute Pharyngitis DoriPha RCT (n=321): Tyrothricin/benzocaine/benzalkonium lozenges showed 64% improved complete remission vs placebo at 72 hours. Rapid analgesic effect. Effective for severe throat pain and difficulty swallowing. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 5 studies | |||
| Oropharyngeal Infections Multiple lozenge products (Tyrozets, Lemocin, Dorithricin, Anginovag) for pharyngitis treatment. Combined with local anesthetics and antiseptics. Standard OTC sore throat therapy in many countries. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 5 studies |
Gramicidin
- Sore Throat Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sore Throat Symptoms Systematic review: Limited evidence for topical antibiotics in sore throat. Gramicidin lozenges used historically. Double-blind study (n=468): Gramicidin/cetylpyridinium combination tested. Evidence quality remains low. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 6 studies |
Plitidepsin (Aplidin)
- COVID-19 Antiviral Activity: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Antiviral Activity In vitro and animal models: Significant reductions in SARS-CoV-2 viral load and pulmonary inflammation. Mechanism via eEF1A2 inhibition blocking viral replication. Clinical trials for COVID-19 application. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 5 studies |
Key findings
- Heart RateImproves (the measure goes down)
- Post-COVID Olfactory RecoveryImproves (the measure goes up)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
The Respiratory Health General Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (target 40–60 ng/mL)
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)600–1,200 mg twice daily
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Fullscript collectionImmune support: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript
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.
Or shop one supplement
The supplements graded A or B for Respiratory Health. Each opens third-party tested products for that supplement.
- Grade B
- Grade B
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
100 studies from PubMed
- Lipid Composition of Nanocarriers Shapes Interactions of Cyclic Antimicrobial Peptide Gramicidin S with Their Membranes.
- Discovery of a potent ornithine-modified gramicidin S analogue against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with minimal red blood cell toxicity.
- Machine-Learning Approach to Increase the Potency and Overcome the Hemolytic Toxicity of Gramicidin S.
- Marine-Derived Compounds: A New Horizon in Cancer, Renal, and Metabolic Disease Therapeutics.
- Targeting eEF1A reprograms translation and uncovers broad-spectrum antivirals against cap or m(6)A protein synthesis routes.
- Functional characteristics of plitidepsin as an antiviral treatment against monkeypox virus infection.
- Can plitidepsin be used as an antiviral against RSV?
- Effect of vitamin D supplementation for major adverse cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis based on randomised controlled trials.
- Modifying Membranotropic Action of Antimicrobial Peptide Gramicidin S by Star-like Polyacrylamide and Lipid Composition of Nanocontainers.
- A New Gramicidin S Analogue with Potent Antibacterial Activity and Negligible Hemolytic Toxicity.
- Luteolin Is More Potent than Cromolyn in Their Ability to Inhibit Mediator Release from Cultured Human Mast Cells
- Luteolin: A promising multifunctional natural flavonoid for human diseases
- Luteolin for neurodegenerative diseases: a review
- Plitidepsin as an Immunomodulator against Respiratory Viral Infections.
- Potential anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of luteolin in a chronic constriction injury rat model of neuropathic pain: Role of oxidative stress, neurotrophins, and inflammatory factors
- Outcomes and clinical characteristics of the compassionate use of plitidepsin for immunocompromised adult patients with COVID-19.
- Luteolin reduces fear, anxiety, and depression in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder
- Unraveling the antiviral activity of plitidepsin against SARS-CoV-2 by subcellular and morphological analysis.
- Marine Cyclic Peptides: Antimicrobial Activity and Synthetic Strategies.
- Resveratrol: A Potential Therapeutic Natural Polyphenol for Neurodegenerative Diseases Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Resveratrol: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Human Cancer Prevention and Treatment
- Electrospun fibers loaded with antimicrobial peptides for treatment of wound infections.
- Neuroprotective effects of flavone luteolin in neuroinflammation and neurotrauma
- Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A
- Plitidepsin: Mechanisms and Clinical Profile of a Promising Antiviral Agent against COVID-19.
- Resveratrol and Its Analogs: Potent Agents to Reverse Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Tumors
- Resveratrol and Sirtuins: A Story of Living Long Healthy Life
- Therapeutic Potential of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of the Evidence
- Resveratrol as a Chemopreventive Agent: A Promising Molecule for Fighting Cancer
- Effects of Nigella sativa on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo biloba in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis
- Efficacy of topical drugs in the treatment of patients with acute inflammatory diseases of the pharynx
- Plitidepsin to treat multiple myeloma
- Generation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibition of autophagy by plitidepsin induces proteotoxic apoptosis in cancer cells.
- Resveratrol and Health - A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Trials
- Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits
- Resveratrol and Caloric Restriction: The Role of Sirtuins in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
- The Multitarget Activity of Natural Bioactive Compounds in Parkinson's Disease: Role of Resveratrol
- Resveratrol: A New Treatment for Diseases Associated with Oxidative Stress
- Black Seed and Its Active Component Thymoquinone: Clinical Applications
- Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone: A Therapeutic Promise for COVID-19 and Beyond
- Nigella sativa for Diabetes Management: A Review of Clinical Studies
- Safety and Efficacy of Nigella sativa in Clinical Practice
- Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Outcomes
- Ginkgo biloba L. Historical Background and Current Applications in Medicine
- Ginkgo biloba and Brain Health: A Comprehensive Review
- Safety Profile of Ginkgo biloba Extract: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- Topical (local) antibiotics for respiratory infections with sore throat: An antibiotic stewardship perspective
- Resveratrol-Based Compounds and Neurodegeneration: Recent Insight in Multitarget Neuroprotection
- An Overview of the Anticancer Properties of Resveratrol
- Optimal Vitamin D Status: Evidence and Guidelines
- Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention: A Comprehensive Review
- Nigella sativa (Black Seed): A Comprehensive Review of Its Biological Effects
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Nigella sativa: A Systematic Review
- Nigella sativa (Black Seed) and Blood Pressure: A Comprehensive Review
- Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Ginkgo biloba Extract
- Neuroprotective Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract: A Review
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on Peripheral Arterial Disease: Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Meta-Analysis
- The Multifaceted Antibacterial Mechanisms of the Pioneering Peptide Antibiotics Tyrocidine and Gramicidin S
- Gramicidin Lateral Distribution in Phospholipid Membranes: Fluorescence Phasor Plots and Statistical Mechanical Model.
- Luteolin as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent: A brief review
- An Update on Resveratrol and Diabetes: From Metabolism to Clinical Trial Results
- Efficacy and safety of a triple active sore throat lozenge in the treatment of patients with acute pharyngitis: Results of a multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial (DoriPha)
- Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D and Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D and Immune Function: A Review
- Vitamin D Supplementation for Prevention of Mortality: A Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy: Safety and Efficacy Review
- Therapeutic Properties of Nigella sativa: A Clinical Review
- Therapeutic Effects of Nigella sativa in Metabolic Syndrome: A Review
- Antioxidant and Anti-Cancer Effects of Nigella sativa: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Cochrane Review Summary
- Ginkgo biloba for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Special Extract EGb 761 in Dementia: A Review
- Plitidepsin: design, development, and potential place in therapy
- Vitamin D Supplementation: A Comprehensive Review of Efficacy for Various Health Outcomes
- Vitamin D Deficiency: Global Health Perspective
- Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Evidence
- Vitamin D and Bone Health in Adults: A Systematic Review
- Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba in Treating Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
- Structure, toxicity and antibiotic activity of gramicidin S and derivatives.
- Tyrothricin--An underrated agent for the treatment of bacterial skin infections and superficial wounds?
- Chitosan-Based Film of Tyrothricin for Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity against Common Skin Pathogens Including Staphylococcus aureus.
- Reduction of Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Lesions with Topical Tyrothricin 0.1% in the Treatment of Mild to Severe Acne Papulopustulosa: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
- Evaluation of plitidepsin in patients with primary myelofibrosis and post polycythemia vera/essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis
- Evaluation of plitidepsin in patients with primary myelofibrosis and post polycythemia vera/essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis: results of preclinical studies and a phase II clinical trial.
- Decade-long use of the antimicrobial peptide combination tyrothricin does not pose a major risk of acquired resistance with gram-positive bacteria and Candida spp
- Vitamin D3 supplementation does not modify cardiovascular risk profile of adults with inadequate vitamin D status
- Nano-encapsulation of plitidepsin: in vivo pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and efficacy in a renal xenograft tumor model.
- An open-label pilot study of a formulation containing the anti-inflammatory flavonoid luteolin and its effects on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders
- Luteolin inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation
- Resveratrol Blunts the Positive Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Health in Aged Men
- Polycationic gramicidin S analogues with both high antibiotic activity and very low hemolytic activity.
- 'Inverted' analogs of the antibiotic gramicidin S with an improved biological profile.
- Plitidepsin has a safe cardiac profile: a comprehensive analysis
- CXCR4-independent rescue of the myeloproliferative defect of the Gata1low myelofibrosis mouse model by Aplidin.