Resists infection
Infection resistance↑
Also searched as Infection resistance.
The Single Largest Supplement Category that had NO Outcome node. The immune node models surveillance; this models whether you actually get ill.
In depth
The capacity to clear a pathogen before it establishes. The most important caution here: defense is inflammation at the molecular level — a product that lowered inflammation and raised resistance simultaneously would be working against the mechanism.
What drives it
Skin increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Digestion increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Immune support increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Immune balance increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Micronutrient status increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Vitamin D status increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Calms body-wide inflammation reduces it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Oxidative stress reduces it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Master antioxidant increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Sleep increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Stress & cortisol reduces it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Lowers cortisol reduces it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Gut barrier increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
Innate immune sensor increases it.
The headline on this pathway is a disappointment and it must stay there: the lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice. Regular supplementation decreases cold duration by 8 percent (3-12) and severity by 15 percent (CI 9-21) - but does not reduce how often you get one. With one striking exception that defines WHO it works for: a subgroup of six studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold AND/OR physical stress experienced, on average, 50 percent reduction in common cold incidence. Extreme physical stress is the condition under which it prevents. PMC10712193
What it drives
It reduces Daily energy.
10.1177/20499361211009385 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.1177/20499361211009385
It increases Physical performance.
10.3390/covid5080140 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.3390/covid5080140
It increases Mood.
This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome).
It increases Sleep.
10.1038/nrn2576 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.1038/nrn2576
It reduces Calms body-wide inflammation.
10.3390/jcm15114030 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.3390/jcm15114030
It increases Digestion.
10.3389/fpubh.2026.1792466 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1792466
It reduces Eases allergy load.
10.1371/journal.pone.0123584 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0123584
It reduces Clears blocked nose & sinuses.
10.2147/JIR.S546308 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.2147/JIR.S546308
It increases Recovery.
10.3390/diseases13120391 — This link rests on the reviews of this outcome as a whole. No effect size specific to this arm has been reported, so it is shown at reduced weight. (from the reviews of this outcome). doi 10.3390/diseases13120391
It increases Wound healing.
The critical point is a switch, not a level: the transition from an initial inflammatory phase to a proliferative phase is a critical regulatory point that determines wound healing outcomes, and macrophages drive it by switching from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2. When proinflammatory M1 macrophages persist without transitioning to anti-inflammatory phenotypes, this contributes to impaired wound healing. Which means anti-inflammatory is not uniformly good here: an ordered and well-controlled inflammatory phase is essential for the normal progression of healing. Suppressing the M1 phase does not accelerate repair - it stalls it. The requirement is timely transition, not less inflammation. Four phases, sequence-critical: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, remodeling - for a wound to heal successfully, these four phases must occur in an appropriate sequence and time frame. And an unexpected mechanism worth keeping: disruption of the epithelium generates a directional electrical field, which helps orient keratinocytes for directed migration. doi 10.3390/cells14231850 · PMC8432991
It increases Supports airflow & lung function.
10.1183/13993003.02395-2021 — Drawn from reviews of neighboring outcomes rather than from studies of this outcome itself, which is weaker evidence, and the map marks it so. doi 10.1183/13993003.02395-2021
It reduces Candida burden.
PMC10154278 — Drawn from reviews of neighboring outcomes rather than from studies of this outcome itself, which is weaker evidence, and the map marks it so. Verbatim: “The IL-17 pathway regulates antifungal immunity through upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, neutrophil-recruiting chemokines (e.g., CXCL1 and CXCL5), and antimicrobial peptides (e.g., defensins), which act in concert to limit fungal overgrowth”. doi 10.4049/jimmunol.1500909 · PMC10154278
It reduces Heart muscle inflammation.
Phase one — the virus itself. The illness begins as an infection of the heart muscle, not as an inflammation of it. 'Viral entry into cardiomyocytes or endothelial cells initiates intracellular replication and direct cytotoxic injury' (Heart Failure Reviews 2026, doi 10.1007/s10741-026-10654-y — Post-viral myocarditis), and the cardiotropic viruses 'can directly infect cardiomyocytes by binding the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor, inducing necrosis AND/OR apoptosis through viral replication' (Front Cardiovasc Med 2026, doi 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1821475 — Myocardial inflammation in myocarditis: mechanisms and therapeutic targets). The heart muscle cell is the thing being lost, and it replaces itself poorly. That is why the damage tends to be kept. doi 10.1007/s10741-026-10654-y
Blends that modulate it
Each blend page names this pathway and carries the study behind its claim.
See it on the map
Open the causal map to follow this pathway upstream and downstream, arrow by arrow, each with its study.