Best Supplements for Reduced Upper Respiratory Infections
Ranked by research evidence. Compare 17 supplements across 22 papers from the biomedical literature, with effect direction, evidence strength, and dose range for each.
Top picks by evidence
- Moderate evidence6 studies
Across 5 of 6 studies, BB-12 shows beneficial effects on reducing upper respiratory infections, with effect sizes ranging from small to large; the predominant effect size is moderate. Evidence includes one meta-analysis and several RCTs, with the most consistent benefit observed in healthy infants and young children. Doses were not consistently reported, but one study used 10 billion CFU/day.
Dose: 10 billion CFU/day (based on one study; other studies did not report dose)
17 supplements
- ModerateBifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12Across 5 of 6 studies, BB-12 shows beneficial effects on reducing upper respiratory infections, with effect sizes ranging from small to large; the predominant effect size is moderate. Evidence includes one meta-analysis and several RCTs, with the most consistent benefit observed in healthy infants and young children. Doses were not consistently reported, but one study used 10 billion CFU/day. · Dose: 10 billion CFU/day (based on one study; other studies did not report dose)5 beneficial1 neutral6 studies