The Top 6 Supplements That Can Support Your Lyme Recovery

Antibiotics are the standard treatment for Lyme disease. Some people also use herbal protocols, although these are not proven to replace antibiotics. Certain nutritional supplements may support overall health during recovery, but they should not be considered a replacement for antibiotics.

Antibiotics can kill Lyme bacteria, but they do not address all aspects of health that can be affected by infection or treatment.

• Inflammation: Lyme and co-infections can trigger an inflammatory response that can impact numerous body parts, from the brain to the gut to the joints. (1, 3)
• Nutrient deficiencies: Illness, stress, and antibiotic use can deplete nutrients such as vitamin D, magnesium, and B vitamins. The only ways to replenish these depleted nutrients are through dietary and supplement strategies.
• Gut imbalances: Lyme infection itself, not to mention antibiotic treatment, can disrupt gut bacteria, potentially leading to digestive symptoms. Probiotics can help support a healthy gut microbiota

Next, let’s talk about the six supplements that can help you reduce inflammation, replenish depleted nutrients, and help gut imbalances..

The Top Six Supplements to Support Well-Being During Lyme Disease Recovery

The following six supplements are commonly used to support overall health and wellbeing. This is not an exhaustive list, and individual needs may vary. Always discuss supplement use with a qualified health care provider before starting.

Vitamin D

Research indicates that approximately 42 percent of U.S. adults are deficient in vitamin D. (4) This is a BIG deal because vitamin D is vital for healthy immune system function and inflammation regulation (5, 6)

Vitamin D deficiency is most common in adults older than 65, those with minimal sun exposure, and those on long-term prescription medications or with poor dietary habits. Gastrointestinal issues that impair fat absorption can also contribute to vitamin D deficiency because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin.

While daily sun exposure is the best way to increase your levels of vitamin D, the reality is that most of us don’t spend enough time outdoors to make sufficient vitamin D through our skin. If your vitamin D levels are suboptimal, supplementing with vitamin D can thus have a powerful positive impact on your recovery process. It is best practice to supplement with vitamin D at a dosage that allows you to maintain a serum vitamin D level between 40-60 ng/mL. Your optimal vitamin D dosage will depend on your current serum level of vitamin D and how far away you are from the 40-60 ng/mL target. I recommend partnering with a healthcare provider who can measure your vitamin D level and determine your optimal supplemental dosage of this vitamin.

Also, it is crucial to balance your intake of vitamin D with vitamin K2, another fat-soluble vitamin that works with vitamin D to regulate calcium metabolism. The best vitamin D supplements pair vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 in an all-in-one formula.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for human health, yet research indicates that up to 50 percent of the U.S. population is deficient! Magnesium deficiency can lead to fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, lowered stress tolerance, and muscle weakness, potentially intensifying similar symptoms seen with Lyme disease. Interestingly, an optimal magnesium intake is also crucial for helping your body properly use vitamin D. (8) Increasing magnesium intake can significantly improve energy, mood, sleep, and possibly immune function.

While magnesium is available in certain foods, such as dark leafy greens and avocado, food alone is often insufficient for raising bodily magnesium levels because the amount of magnesium in our food has declined over the years due to industrial agricultural practices. This is where magnesium supplementation can be a lifesaver!

The best forms of supplemental magnesium are magnesium glycinate, magnesium malate, and magnesium threonate. Magnesium threonate helps brain function, including focus and attention, because it can cross the blood-brain barrier. Magnesium glycinate and malate have systemic effects on the body and can help improve your energy level, insomnia, anxiety, and muscle cramps.

NAC

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a supplement derived from the amino acid L-cysteine, a precursor to glutathione. Glutathione is one of the most critical antioxidant molecules in the body. Glutathione helps safeguard cells against oxidative stress and supports the body’s normal metabolic processes.

Probiotics

Antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease can wipe out beneficial bacteria, causing uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. In addition, by altering the gut microbiota, antibiotics can alter intestinal barrier function and could contribute to food sensitivities. While antibiotics are necessary for treating Lyme disease, there are measures you can take to protect your gut microbiota, including taking probiotics during treatment.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer benefits when consumed and generally improve the gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms that live in your gut. Numerous probiotic supplements are available on the market, with widely varying quality. I recommend selecting a probiotic that provides at least 10 billion CFU (colony-forming units) of probiotics from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria families, as these are the most well-studied types of probiotics. While on antibiotics, you should also consider taking Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast that inhibits the overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that commonly overgrows during antibiotic treatment, causing symptoms such as oral thrush and yeast infections in women. (11)

Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of “essential fatty acid,” meaning they cannot be synthesized by the body in adequate amounts and must therefore be consumed through food. Two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have powerful anti-inflammatory effects (12) inside the body and may alleviate inflammation in the eyes, joints, gut, and brain.

The primary source of EPA and DHA in the diet is seafood. I strongly encourage people with Lyme disease to eat wild-caught seafood several times weekly. However, even if you are eating seafood a few times a week, your body may benefit from additional omega-3 fatty acids. This is where fish oil can be quite helpful! Fish oil provides a concentrated source of EPA and DHA and has been found to improve mood, joint function, and eye health. (13, 14, 15) Be sure to choose fish oil sourced from wild-caught fish that is thoroughly screened for contaminants such as mercury and PCBs.

Sulforaphane

Sulforaphane is a phytochemical that our bodies can make when we eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. Sulforaphane has anti-inflammatory effects on the brain (16) and may thus alleviate brain inflammation caused by Lyme disease. In my nutrition practice, I've found supplemental sulforaphane extremely helpful for clearing brain fog, a common manifestation of brain inflammation. However, the amount of sulforaphane our bodies can make from cruciferous vegetables is highly variable, making sulforaphane supplementation a wise choice. Look for a product containing stabilized sulforaphane, which is more likely to provide clinically significant amounts of sulforaphane than products containing only broccoli extract.

Parting Thoughts

High-quality nutritional supplements can support your Lyme disease recovery by reducing inflammation, replenishing depleted nutrients, and supporting your gut health. One final thought on nutritional supplements: I recommend purchasing supplements from trusted brands, such as Pure Encapsulations and Thorne Research, to ensure you get what you're paying for. I have no affiliation with either of these companies, but I know they create high-quality, effective supplements that guarantee you're getting what you paid for! Be careful about ordering supplements from Amazon, as some may be adulterated with fillers and contaminants, including pharmaceutical drugs. (18) When you purchase high-quality supplements from reputable companies, you are making an investment in your health that will provide a high return over time!

Stay Connected, Make an Impact

Join our community of advocates by subscribing to our newsletter—stay informed with the latest breakthroughs in Lyme disease research and news. Ready to take the next step? Your donation to Global Lyme Alliance fuels the fight for a cure.

Subscribe Now to stay involved, or Donate Today to help us overcome Lyme disease.

The above material is provided for information purposes only. The material (a) is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor (b) does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or any of its directors, officers, advisors or volunteers. Advice on the testing, treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.