Best Supplements for Improved Quality of Life
Ranked by research evidence. Compare 106 supplements across 159 papers from the biomedical literature, with effect direction, evidence strength, and dose range for each.
Top picks by evidence
- Moderate evidence8 studies
Across 8 studies, 7 reported beneficial effects on quality of life, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The most consistent evidence comes from clinical populations, particularly patients with chronic urticaria and fibromyalgia, where a moderate effect was observed in larger meta-analyses. Dosing was reported in one systematic review as 4000 IU/day or 60000 IU/week, but study durations and forms were not consistently noted.
Dose: 4000 IU/day or 60000 IU/weekProduct matchViva Naturals — Vitamin D3 with Organic Liquid Coconut Oil125 mcg · $15.16 · ★5.0 (208) - Moderate evidence6 studies
Across 6 studies, 4 reported beneficial effects (primarily small to moderate in magnitude) of turmeric/curcumin on quality of life, with 2 showing neutral results. The most studied dose (where reported) was 1 g/day (95% curcuminoids with 1% piperine), and effects were typically observed over 8–12 weeks in clinical populations such as functional dyspepsia, chronic lower back pain, and breast cancer.
Dose: 1 g/day (e.g., 500 mg curcuminoid + piperine twice daily) - Moderate evidence3 studies
Across 3 randomized controlled trials, 2 reported beneficial small-sized effects on quality of life, while 1 reported neutral effects. The most-studied dose range was 250–1000 mg/day, and effects were typically observed at 8–12 weeks (median 84 days). Populations included clinical groups (hypertension, gastrointestinal discomfort) and postmenopausal women.
Dose: 250–1000 mg/day
- ModerateVitamin DAcross 8 studies, 7 reported beneficial effects on quality of life, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The most consistent evidence comes from clinical populations, particularly patients with chronic urticaria and fibromyalgia, where a moderate effect was observed in larger meta-analyses. Dosing was reported in one systematic review as 4000 IU/day or 60000 IU/week, but study durations and forms were not consistently noted. · Dose: 4000 IU/day or 60000 IU/week7 beneficial1 neutral8 studies
- ModerateTurmericAcross 6 studies, 4 reported beneficial effects (primarily small to moderate in magnitude) of turmeric/curcumin on quality of life, with 2 showing neutral results. The most studied dose (where reported) was 1 g/day (95% curcuminoids with 1% piperine), and effects were typically observed over 8–12 weeks in clinical populations such as functional dyspepsia, chronic lower back pain, and breast cancer. · Dose: 1 g/day (e.g., 500 mg curcuminoid + piperine twice daily)4 beneficial2 neutral6 studies
- LowL-CarnitineAcross 5 studies (3 beneficial, 2 neutral), L-carnitine shows mixed evidence for improving quality of life, with predominantly small effects. Effects were observed in clinical populations over a median study duration of 77 days. The most-studied dose was 2 g/day in one study, but doses varied widely.3 beneficial2 neutral5 studies
- LowL-ArginineAcross 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial effects and 1 found neutral results, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The evidence suggests L-arginine may improve quality of life in clinical populations, particularly in patients with COPD, head and neck cancer, and PCOS, typically over 4–26 weeks. The most commonly studied dose was 1.66 g twice daily to 5 g daily, but dose reporting was inconsistent. · Dose: 1.66 g twice daily to 5 g daily3 beneficial1 neutral4 studies
- LowLactobacillus plantarum 299vBased on 4 studies (3 beneficial, 1 neutral), Lactobacillus plantarum 299v shows moderate evidence for improving quality of life, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. Two of the 4 studies reported statistically significant findings, and the median study duration was 84 days. Most studies used doses around 1×10^10 CFU daily in clinical populations such as patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer receiving home enteral nutrition. · Dose: 1×10^10 CFU/day3 beneficial1 neutral4 studies
- LowLactobacillus casei PXN 37Across 3 systematic reviews, all reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus casei PXN 37 on quality of life, with predominantly moderate effect sizes. However, none of the included studies reported statistically significant findings, and doses, forms, and durations were not consistently described. The evidence base is small and preliminary.3 beneficial3 studies
- LowBifidobacterium plantarumAcross 3 studies (all systematic reviews), all reported beneficial effects on quality of life, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The evidence primarily comes from a meta-analysis in adult IBS patients and two reviews in dermatological conditions (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, etc.). No consistent dose or duration data were reported.3 beneficial3 studies
- ModerateOliveAcross 3 randomized controlled trials, 2 reported beneficial small-sized effects on quality of life, while 1 reported neutral effects. The most-studied dose range was 250–1000 mg/day, and effects were typically observed at 8–12 weeks (median 84 days). Populations included clinical groups (hypertension, gastrointestinal discomfort) and postmenopausal women. · Dose: 250–1000 mg/day2 beneficial1 neutral3 studies
- LowAcetyl-CarnitineAcross 3 studies, 2 reported beneficial small-sized effects of acetyl-carnitine on quality of life, while 1 found neutral results. The median study duration was 182 days, and effects were observed in clinical populations such as women with PCOS and patients with chronic neuropathic pain, with a suggested dose of 1,000 mg/day. · Dose: 1,000 mg/day2 beneficial1 neutral3 studies
- Very lowSaw PalmettoAcross 3 studies, 1 reported a small beneficial effect on quality of life (QoL), while 2 found neutral effects with small effect sizes. The evidence base is small and mixed, with the largest meta-analysis (n=853) reporting uncertain results. The most-studied dose was 320 mg once daily, primarily in clinical populations of men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, with a median study duration of approximately 7.7 years—effects typical of long-term use. · Dose: 320 mg once a day1 beneficial2 neutral3 studies