Pneumonia
Supplements studied for pneumonia.
Overview
Zinc (WA 40; very low effect size, high evidence, medium trust) has medium-strength evidence for pneumonia in children aged 3 months to 5 years, where supplementation may reduce pneumonia incidence by about 21% and lower pneumonia-related mortality, though zinc with antibiotics generally does not speed recovery in active pneumonia. Vitamin D (WA 40; very low effect size, high evidence, medium trust) high intermittent doses did not reduce severity or recurrence in young children in one trial.
Vitamin A (WA 40; very low effect size, high evidence, medium trust) did not lower pneumonia mortality in children, with mixed findings on recovery speed. Green Tea (WA 28; very low effect size, low evidence, low trust) and Alpha-Linolenic Acid (WA 40; low effect size, evidence, and trust) have limited observational signals. The heatmap and evidence reviews below compare studies.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Eleuthero | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Zinc | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Flaxseed Oil | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Alpha-Linolenic Acid | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Saccharomyces boulardii | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
9 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Panax GinsengView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Injectable Panax ginseng has only been tested together with other ingredients for pneumonia, so it is unclear how well ginseng alone works.
- Oral Panax ginseng has not been studied for pneumonia.
- A review of several small studies in older adults with severe pneumonia found that an injection containing Panax ginseng and aconite along with usual treatment helped improve symptoms like fever and cough in more people than usual treatment alone.
- It might also lower disease severity and risk of death a little, but the studies used different doses and didn’t all measure these outcomes.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
Systematic reviewEfficacy and Safety of Shenfu Injection for Severe Pneumonia in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Western and Eastern Medicine2022n=809
A meta-analysis of elderly severe pneumonia trials found Shenfu injection (containing Panax ginseng) improved total effective rate and APACHE II scores as adjuvant therapy.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 0.1 mg/day
- Population
- Older adults
- Participants
- 809
EleutheroView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Early research in adults with pneumonia found that taking a product called ADAPT-232, which contains eleuthero, rhodiola, and schisandra, twice daily for 10–15 days along with standard medical treatment shortened the time antibiotics were needed and improved quality of life compared with standard treatment alone.
- It is not clear whether the benefit came from eleuthero, the other herbs, or their combination.
Browse 1 study
RCTImpact of Chisan (ADAPT-232) on the quality-of-life and its efficacy as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute non-specific pneumonia2005n=60
In 60 pneumonia patients over 10–15 days, adjunct Chisan (ADAPT-232) shortened antibiotic duration by ~2 days and improved quality-of-life scores 5 days after clinical recovery versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Pneumonia patients
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 18–65
Alpha-Linolenic AcidView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Eating more alpha-linolenic acid may lower the risk of getting pneumonia.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalIntake of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and fish and risk of community-acquired pneumonia in US men2005n=38,378
10-year cohort of 38,378 men aged 44-79 found higher alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid intake associated with lower community-acquired pneumonia risk.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Older adults
- Participants
- 38,378
- Ages
- 44–79
Flaxseed OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research shows that eating more alpha-linolenic acid, a nutrient found in flaxseed oil, is linked to a lower risk of developing pneumonia.
- However, it is not clear from these studies if eating flaxseed oil itself reduces pneumonia risk.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalIntake of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and fish and risk of community-acquired pneumonia in US men2005n=38,378
10-year cohort of 38,378 men aged 44-79 found higher alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid intake associated with lower community-acquired pneumonia risk.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Older adults
- Participants
- 38,378
- Ages
- 44–79
Vitamin AView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Taking vitamin A by mouth does not lower the risk of death from pneumonia in children.
- Some studies show it doesn't make symptoms or hospital stays shorter, but a few recent ones suggest it might help children recover faster when used with other treatments.
- More research is needed to be sure.
Browse 7 studies·5 meta-analyses
MetaThe Relationship of Vitamin A and Neonatal Respiratory Diseases: A Meta-Analysis2024
A meta-analysis of 24 studies found vitamin A deficiency was associated with higher neonatal respiratory disease risk (OR 4.86), while vitamin A supplementation improved outcomes for NRDS and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Infants
MetaVitamin A in children's pneumonia for a COVID-19 perspective: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 trials2022n=3,496
A meta-analysis of 3496 participants found that the Meta-analysis showed that vitamin A combined with conventional therapy improved clinical efficacy (P .05).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 3,496
MetaVitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age2022
A Cochrane meta-analysis of 47 trials (~1.22 million children ages 6–59 months) found vitamin A supplementation reduced all-cause mortality by 12% (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83–0.93) and diarrhoea mortality by 12% versus control.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 6–59 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Ages
- 6–59
Systematic reviewVitamin A supplementation for prophylaxis or therapy in childhood pneumonia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials2010
A systematic review found that vitamin A supplementation for prophylaxis or therapy in childhood pneumonia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials..
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
MetaVitamin A for non-measles pneumonia in children2005n=1,453
A meta-analysis of 1453 participants found that there was no significant reduction in the mortality associated with pneumonia in children treated with vitamin A compared to those who were not (pooled odds ratio (OR) 1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66 to 3.35).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 1,453
- Ages
- 0–15
RCTVitamin A supplementation and severity of pneumonia in children admitted to the hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania1998n=341
A randomized trial of 341 children/adolescents found that 200,000 IU (>1 y) or 100,000 IU (infants), 2 doses of the 346 children in the vitamin A group, 13 died in the hospital, compared with 8 of 341 children in the placebo group; the relative mortality was 1.63 (95% CI: 0.67, 3.97; P = 0.28).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 200,000 IU (>1 y) or 100,000 IU (infants), 2 doses
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 341
MetaPotential interventions for the prevention of childhood pneumonia in developing countries: a meta-analysis of data from field trials to assess the impact of vitamin A supplementation on pneumonia morbidity and mortality. The Vitamin A and Pneumonia Working Group1995
A meta-analysis found that the mortality reduction in the 6-11 month age group was consistent with that observed for older age groups (RR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.90), but there was no reduction for 0-5 month-olds (RR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.73, 1.29).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 6–11 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
Vitamin DView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Taking high doses of vitamin D by mouth does not reduce how severe pneumonia is in young children.
- In one study, children under 5 with repeated pneumonia who took large doses of vitamin D every three months for a year did not have fewer infections, less severe pneumonia, or fewer hospital visits compared to those who did not take it.
- It is not known whether smaller, more regular vitamin D doses, or giving vitamin D to children who are low in it, might help.
- Having low vitamin D levels is linked to a higher risk of getting pneumonia.
Browse 4 studies·1 meta-analysis
RCTEffect of Vitamin D Supplementation in the Prevention of Recurrent Pneumonia in Under-Five Children2019n=50
In a 1-year RCT of 91 under-five children, a single 300,000 IU vitamin D dose at pneumonia recovery did not reduce recurrent pneumonia versus standard treatment alone.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 1 year
- Dose
- 300000 IU/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 50
- Ages
- under 5
MetaThe association between vitamin D deficiency and community-acquired pneumonia: A meta-analysis of observational studies2019n=20,966
A meta-analysis found vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher community-acquired pneumonia risk across observational studies.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Patients
- Participants
- 20,966
RCTVitamin D supplementation for severe pneumonia--a randomized controlled trial2011n=100
In a RCT of 200 under-five children with severe pneumonia, 1,000 IU/day vitamin D for 1 year alongside antibiotics did not shorten recovery versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 1 year
- Dose
- 1000 IU/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 100
- Ages
- 2 months–5 years
RCTEffects of vitamin D supplementation to children diagnosed with pneumonia in Kabul: a randomised controlled trial2010n=453
In a RCT of 453 Afghan children with pneumonia, a single 100,000 IU vitamin D dose did not reduce time to recovery or repeat pneumonia episodes versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 1–36 months
- Dose
- 100000 IU/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 453
- Ages
- 1–36
ZincView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Giving zinc supplements to children aged 3 months to 5 years can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by about 21%, and also lowers the risk of dying from pneumonia.
- However, if a child already has pneumonia, taking zinc with antibiotics usually does not help improve symptoms or speed up recovery.
- Some studies did find that zinc helped symptoms get better faster and shortened hospital stays, but this may depend on the child’s zinc levels before treatment.
- More research is needed to understand these differences.
Browse 9 studies·3 meta-analyses
MetaEffect of zinc supplementation on mortality in under 5-year children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials2021n=237,068
A meta-analysis of 28 RCTs in 237,068 under-5 children found zinc supplementation reduced all-cause mortality by 16%, with stronger reductions at ≥10 mg/day and in low-birth-weight infants.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 11 months
- Dose
- 10 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 237,068
- Ages
- under 5
Systematic reviewEfficacy of zinc as adjunctive pneumonia treatment in children aged 2 to 60 months in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis2020
A meta-analysis of 11 RCTs found adjunct zinc did not reduce treatment failure (OR 0.95) or mortality (OR 0.64) in children aged 2–60 months with pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2–60 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Ages
- 2–60
RCTZinc as an adjunct therapy in the management of severe pneumonia among Gambian children: randomized controlled trial2018n=303
In 604 Gambian children aged 2–59 months with severe pneumonia, 7 days of adjunct zinc did not reduce treatment failure at days 5 or 10, though it modestly shortened resolution of some respiratory signs.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2–59 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 303
- Ages
- 2–59 months
MetaZinc as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of severe pneumonia in children <5 years: a meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials2016n=2,926
A meta-analysis of nine RCTs in 2,926 children under 5 found adjunct zinc did not shorten severe pneumonia recovery, reduce treatment failure, change antibiotics, or lower mortality versus standard care.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 2,926
- Ages
- <5
MetaZinc supplementation for the prevention of pneumonia in children aged 2 months to 59 months2016n=3,261
A Cochrane update of six RCTs in 5,193 children found preventive zinc reduced pneumonia incidence by 13% and prevalence by 41%, with stronger effects when diagnosis used specific clinical or radiographic criteria.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 3,261
- Ages
- 2 months–59 months
RCTA randomized controlled trial of zinc as adjuvant therapy for severe pneumonia in young children2012n=610
In 610 hospitalized children with severe pneumonia, daily zinc 10–20 mg for up to 14 days marginally accelerated recovery (HR 1.10) but did not significantly reduce treatment failure versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2–35 months
- Dose
- 10–20 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 610
- Ages
- 2–35
RCTThe efficacy of zinc supplementation on outcome of children with severe pneumonia. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial2011n=128
In 128 children aged 3–60 months with severe pneumonia, 2 mg/kg/day zinc for 5 days significantly shortened fever, respiratory distress, and hospital stay versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 5 days
- Dose
- 2 mg/kg
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 128
- Ages
- 3–60
MetaZinc supplementation as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of pneumonia in children 2 to 59 months of age2011n=3,267
A Cochrane review of four RCTs in 3,267 children found zinc added to antibiotics for pneumonia did not significantly improve clinical recovery, tachypnoea resolution, chest indrawing cessation, or hospital duration.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2–59 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 3,267
- Ages
- 2–59 months
RCTZinc for severe pneumonia in very young children: double-blind placebo-controlled trial2004n=270
In 270 Bangladeshi children aged 2–23 months with severe pneumonia, 20 mg/day zinc for up to 14 days shortened severe pneumonia duration and hospital stay by about one day versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2–23 months
- Dose
- 20 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 270
- Ages
- 2–23
Saccharomyces boulardiiView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking Saccharomyces boulardii by itself helps prevent pneumonia in people on ventilators, because studies only looked at it combined with other probiotics.
- One study in seriously injured patients on ventilators found that a probiotic mix including S. boulardii lowered the chance of pneumonia compared to placebo (12% versus 28%).
Browse 1 study
RCTA four-probiotic preparation for ventilator-associated pneumonia in multi-trauma patients: results of a randomized clinical trial2022n=59
In mechanically ventilated trauma patients, a four-probiotic formula did not significantly reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 15 days
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 59
Green TeaView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Some studies in Japanese women found that drinking green tea is linked to a lower chance of dying from pneumonia.
- Other studies in older Japanese adults in hospitals did not find a connection between drinking green tea and pneumonia.
Browse 2 studies
Clinical trialAssociation between coffee and green tea intake and pneumonia among the Japanese elderly: a case-control study2021
A Japanese case-control study in elderly adults examined coffee and green tea intake in relation to pneumonia risk.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Older adults
- Ages
- 65+
ObservationalGreen tea and death from pneumonia in Japan: the Ohsaki cohort study2009n=21,493
In the Ohsaki cohort (21,493 adults, ages 40–79), higher green tea consumption was associated with lower mortality from pneumonia over follow-up.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 21,493
- Ages
- 40–79
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | ★★★★★40% | 9 | 3 | 33% |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★40% | 7 | 5 | 26% |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★40% | 4 | 1 | 15% |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★28% | 2 | 0 | 7% |
| Alpha-Linolenic Acid | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 4% |
| Eleuthero | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 4% |
| Flaxseed Oil | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 4% |
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 1 | 4% |
| Saccharomyces boulardii | ★★★★★32% | 1 | 0 | 4% |