Increasing evidence demonstrates a strong association between vitamin D signaling and many biological processes that regulate immune responses.

While most consider vitamin D the vitamin for healthy bones, there is some evidence that Vitamin D supplementation can regulate gastrointestinal inflammation and have positive impacts for the digestive tract.

Epidemiological studies show that individuals with higher serum Vitamin D have a lower incidence of IBD, particularly Crohn’s disease.

A deficiency in vitamin D leads to dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and has been reported to cause severe colitis.

The active form of vitamin D tempers the damaging inflammatory response of some white blood cells, while it also boosts immune cells’ production of microbe-fighting proteins. 

Furthermore, a new study from from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has found that people who took a vitamin D supplement (or a combination of vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil) were less likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

Carolina Total Wellness recommends 5,000 to 10,000 IU per day for autoimmune management.

Vitamin D Supplements: Options

1. Just Thrive Vitamin K2-7 plus d3: Just one daily vegetable capsule delivers 200 mcg of K2 and 5000 IU of 3. (Read more about the importance of both d3 and k2-7 HERE.)
2. Perfect Supplements has options HERE.
3. You can also get Vitamin D3 + K2 supplements from: Seeking Health and Pure Encapsulations through my online dispensary, Fullscript HERE. In addition, if you want it in the liquid form, Dr. Amy Myers has one through Fullscript as well.

Glutathione is a small protein that’s made of three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine.

It’s main claim to fame is that it assists with immunity, brain health, skin appearance and sports and injury recovery.

The reason it becomes so important for autoimmune conditions is that it addresses chronic inflammation. 

Without enough glutathione, your body can’t properly detoxify, leading to build up and storage of toxins in your tissues, causing more work for the immune system and causing disease. source

Glutathione Supplements: Options

1. Liposomal Glutathione by Pure Encapsulations
2. Liposomal Glutathione, Lemon Mint Flavor by Quicksilver Scientific (also contains phosphatidylcholine, which provides the main building block for cell membranes and mitochondria)

Purchase both through my online dispensary, Fullscript HERE.

igG stands for Immunoglobulin G and it is the most common type of antibody found in blood circulation.

igG is always there to help prevent infections. It’s also ready to multiply and attack when foreign substances get into the body. And when you don’t have enough, you are more likely to get infections.

But Tummy Soothe is the power supplement as it relates to igG because it also contains the following health benefits for those with an autoimmune condition:

• Immunolin – a serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate (SBI), the only non-dairy protein ingredient with concentrated levels of the igG antibody, intended to support the body’s natural immune defenses
• N-Acetyle-D-Glucosamine – a triple modulator of inflammation, myelination and neurodegeneration (might also help protect the lining of the stomach and intestines)
• Supports gut and systemic immune function

Tummy Soothe fosters a healthy inflammatory response in the GI tract and supports the intestinal barrier to help fight off antigens, boost digestive function and create a protective barrier within the digestive tract.

The good news is that you can get this comprehensive formula for a healthy immune system HERE + save 15% off at checkout with code AGUTSYGIRL.

In Immune Boosting Gut Health Support, I stated:

Curcumin from dried turmeric root extracts is known for its poor solubility and bioavailability.

As a result, curcumin remains in its native complexed form.

When ingested, it leads to dramatically higher levels of beneficial, free, non-metabolized curcumin in the body (up to 40X as compared with standard curcumin extracts).*

Curcumin is a biologically active polyphenolic compound in turmeric.

According to the NIH,

While there appears to be countless therapeutic benefits to curcumin supplementation, most of these benefits are due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Science Direct states,

Curcumin supplementation in doses of 250−1500 mg/day over 8–12 weeks was observed to be associated with decreases in CRP and ESR in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in comparison with the control group.

Curcumin Supplements: Options

1. Inflammation Relief from Fusionary Formulas: Potent Turmeric Supplement with Black Pepper to help reduce inflammation, give pain relief, and many health benefits. Inflammation Relief — Curcumin, an extract of turmeric, has proven effective against many inflammation-related conditions and pain. Pair with specific Ayurvedic herbs such as Guduchi and Boswellia to drive fast and real results. (Use code AGUTSYGIRL at checkout HERE to save 15%.)
2. Curcumin Phytosome from Thorne: Well-absorbed curcumin support for joint stiffness, muscle soreness, and a healthy inflammatory response* Thorne’s Curcumin Phytosome is the most clinically-studied curcumin on the market, helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the joints, muscles, GI tract, liver, brain, and nerves* (You’ll find this through my Fullscript Online Dispensary HERE.)

One of the major mechanisms of probiotic action is through the regulation of host immune response. source 

The National Institutes of Health states, “Over the past 40 years, probiotics have been shown to impact the immune system, both in vivo and in vitro. This interaction is linked to gut microbes, their polysaccharide antigens, and key metabolites produced by these bacteria.”

Probiotics physically bind to epithelial cells of the intestines (gut lining) and help stimulate a healthy immune response. 

By binding to this external lining, they strengthen the border and prevent pathogens from entering. 

Some strains of Lactobacillus have even been found to increase mucous production of the gut lining, which traps toxins.. 

More mucus means less work for the immune system!

These are proven to help fight a virus. (Code: AGUTSYGIRL at the Just Thrive checkout HERE to save 15% on anything from them. This is the probiotic I personally use.)

The NIH states,

Several randomized controlled trials have now shown that microbial modification by probiotics may improve gastrointestinal symptoms and multiorgan inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and multiple sclerosis. Future work will need to carefully assess safety issues, selection of optimal strains and combinations, and attempts to prolong the duration of colonization of beneficial microbes.

Other high-quality probiotics (with different strains) include:

1. Seed DS-01® Daily Synbiotic
2. Probiotic G.I. by Pure Encapsulations

Both of these can be found via my Fullscript Online Dispensary.

NAC is an anti-oxidant drug that improves the disease’s activity by blocking the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in T cells. An animal study also found that administering aminothiol compounds like NAC and cysteamine (CYST) improved the disease’s outcome in mouse models of lupus.

Note: you likely saw this supplement talked a lot about during C#vid.

Sources state that it does everything from supporting a healthy natural immune response to aiding in the detoxification process and even helping with heart and lung function.

One study showed the following result, “NAC corrected microbiome skewing and blocked autoimmunity.”

NAC is also a chemical precursor to glutathione (see above).

NAC Supplements: Options

1. 1200 mg NAC from Integrative Therapeutics
2. 600 mg NAC from Pure Encapsulations

The NIH states,

Among the fatty acids, it is the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which possess the most potent immunomodulatory activities, and among the omega-3 PUFA, those from fish oil-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)–are more biologically potent than alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

They continue on to say,

There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches.

When looking for high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements, you want to be sure they include EPA and DHA, as these have been found to rebalance immune function.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplements: Options

1. OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 1000 Fish Oil
2. EPA/DHA Essentials by Pure Encapsulations
3. OmegaGenics® EPA-DHA 2400 Fish Oil – Lemon (non-capsule-based)