Best Supplements for Reduced Mortality Risk
Ranked by research evidence. Compare 29 supplements across 51 papers from the biomedical literature, with effect direction, evidence strength, and dose range for each.
Top picks by evidence
- Low evidence8 studies
Across 8 studies, half reported beneficial large effects on reduced mortality, while half found no significant effect. The beneficial effects were observed in meta-analyses of acute conditions such as COVID-19, rodenticide poisoning, and non-acetaminophen acute liver injury, with risk reductions of 41–53%. Neutral results came from studies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a pediatric surgical population, and acetaminophen overdose, suggesting the mortality benefit is context-specific and not generalizable.
- Low evidence3 studies
Across 3 studies, L-carnitine supplementation was associated with reduced mortality risk, with 2 studies reporting beneficial large effects and 1 reporting a neutral small effect. The evidence is preliminary due to the small number of studies and varying populations (critically ill patients, COVID-19 patients, liver transplant candidates). The most common dose was 3000 mg/day, and the median study duration was only 7 days, which is too short to reliably assess mortality outcomes.
Dose: 3000 mg/day - Low evidence7 studies
Across 7 studies on vitamin C and mortality risk, the evidence is predominantly neutral with 5 studies reporting small null effects, 1 beneficial meta-analysis showing a moderate reduction in mortality risk (OR=0.64, 95% CI 0.51-0.80), and 1 harmful review citing harm from high-dose vitamin C in sepsis and COVID-19. The most-studied populations are clinical patients with sepsis, septic shock, or COVID-19. Median study duration was 4 days among the one study that reported duration, limiting insight into long-term effects.
- LowN-Acetyl CysteineAcross 8 studies, half reported beneficial large effects on reduced mortality, while half found no significant effect. The beneficial effects were observed in meta-analyses of acute conditions such as COVID-19, rodenticide poisoning, and non-acetaminophen acute liver injury, with risk reductions of 41–53%. Neutral results came from studies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a pediatric surgical population, and acetaminophen overdose, suggesting the mortality benefit is context-specific and not generalizable.4 beneficial4 neutral8 studies
- LowL-CarnitineAcross 3 studies, L-carnitine supplementation was associated with reduced mortality risk, with 2 studies reporting beneficial large effects and 1 reporting a neutral small effect. The evidence is preliminary due to the small number of studies and varying populations (critically ill patients, COVID-19 patients, liver transplant candidates). The most common dose was 3000 mg/day, and the median study duration was only 7 days, which is too short to reliably assess mortality outcomes. · Dose: 3000 mg/day2 beneficial1 neutral3 studies
- LowVitamin CAcross 7 studies on vitamin C and mortality risk, the evidence is predominantly neutral with 5 studies reporting small null effects, 1 beneficial meta-analysis showing a moderate reduction in mortality risk (OR=0.64, 95% CI 0.51-0.80), and 1 harmful review citing harm from high-dose vitamin C in sepsis and COVID-19. The most-studied populations are clinical patients with sepsis, septic shock, or COVID-19. Median study duration was 4 days among the one study that reported duration, limiting insight into long-term effects.1 beneficial5 neutral1 harmful7 studies
- Very lowVitamin DAcross 3 studies, 1 reported beneficial moderate-sized effects on reduced mortality risk, while 2 found neutral effects. The predominant effect size was mixed, with the single beneficial study showing a moderate effect and the neutral studies showing small effects. The most-studied population was preterm infants (one large meta-analysis with 4,357 participants), and the only specified dose was ≥800 IU/day of vitamin D, which showed no significant benefit. · Dose: ≥800 IU/d1 beneficial2 neutral3 studies
- Very lowVitamin B1Across 3 studies, all reported neutral small-sized effects of vitamin B1 (thiamine) on reduced mortality risk in critically ill patients, including those with sepsis or septic shock. The evidence primarily comes from meta-analyses and systematic reviews involving intravenous thiamine, often in combination with other agents, with no statistically significant reductions in mortality observed.3 neutral3 studies