Kathryn Danzey, Founder
Your immune system does more than fight infections. It also helps clear damaged cells and coordinate repair. Trained immunity explores how some of its first responders can learn from experience, changing how they react to future challenges.
Think of an experienced emergency team. A good response depends on recognising the problem, coordinating the right help and protecting the surrounding area. Our immune system faces a similar balancing act. More activity is not always more useful activity.
What is trained immunity
Your innate immune system provides a rapid first response to possible threats. Your adaptive immune system develops more targeted responses, including antibodies and memory of particular infections. These systems work together.
Scientists once largely associated immune memory with adaptive immunity. Research now shows that some innate cells can also retain a form of memory. Previous exposures can change their energy use and the way genes are switched on, influencing responses to later challenges. This is called trained immunity. [1]
The changes are often described as metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming. In everyday language, the cell changes its working instructions without changing the letters of its DNA. Unlike an antibody that recognises one particular target, the resulting response can extend to unrelated triggers. [2]
Trained immunity vs immune boosting
“Boosting immunity” suggests turning up the volume. Immune modulation means influencing how the response is regulated. Immune resilience describes the general ability to cope with a challenge and recover afterwards.
Trained immunity explores how an initial immune response can prepare certain cells for future challenges. Beta-glucans can trigger inflammatory signals that help start this training process, alongside changes in how immune cells use energy and activate genes. These adaptations may help improve their response when a later challenge arises. The aim is to support immune readiness and resilience. There is ongoing research to understand how specific oral beta-glucan preparations influence these processes.
The goal is appropriate immune activity: responding when needed, limiting unnecessary damage and making room for recovery. That is why immune readiness and resilience are more meaningful aims than simply seeking a bigger response when you do get an infection.
How beta-glucans may influence trained immunity
Beta-glucans are chains of linked glucose molecules. Yeast-derived beta-1,3/1,6-glucans have structures recognised by immune-cell sensors, including Dectin-1. It has been found that recognition can trigger changes that alter the cells’ response to a later challenge.
A 2024 laboratory study found that a particular yeast beta-glucan preparation helped train human immune cells to respond more strongly to a later challenge. The researchers identified the cell sensors and internal signals involved, helping explain how this immune training works. These encouraging findings support further investigation into beta-glucans and immune readiness.
Immune resilience and recovery from illness
Recovery involves more than removing a germ. The body also needs to control inflammation and protect tissue while it heals.
In a mouse study, beta-glucan treatment before influenza infection improved survival by limiting lung damage, without reducing the amount of virus. Researchers called this disease tolerance: protecting the body during infection. The beta-glucan was injected, so further research needs to be carried out before applying the findings to oral supplements in people. [3]
If repeated illness is your main concern, our guide to why you keep getting sick explores everyday contributors and when to seek advice.
Tissue repair and barrier health
The skin and the linings of the gut and airways are protective boundaries. Immune cells help respond to damage and coordinate tissue protection. The influenza research illustrates why preserving a barrier can matter as much as attacking a threat.
This may help explain the interest in trained immunity and repair.
For the wider relationship between microbes, the intestinal lining and immune cells, read gut health and immunity. Healthy ageing and immune readiness Researchers are asking whether trained immunity may help preserve useful responses later in life. A study in aged mice found that beta-glucan-induced training improved resistance to a bacterial infection. Early findings in humans are encouraging, though more research is needed. [4]
Our immunosenescence guide explains immune ageing in detail. For the practical midlife picture, explore your immune system in your 40s and 50s.
Athletic recovery and inflammation
Beta-glucans have also been studied in physically active people. One small placebo-controlled study in marathon runners reported fewer self-reported upper respiratory symptoms after supplementation. [5]
Lifestyle choices that can help or harm your immune readiness
Your immune system responds to the environment your daily habits create, and its “training” can be helpful or harmful depending on the exposure.
- Lifestyle habits to avoid:
- Diets dominated by ultra-processed foods
- Disturbances in gut microbes known as dysbiosis
- Long periods of inactivity may favour persistent inflammation
- Poor sleep habits, not getting enough rest
Some of these exposures have been linked to changes in innate immune cells that leave them more reactive to later challenges. How to train your immune system naturally.
Practical ways to support healthier immune regulation include:
- Eating varied whole foods
- Nourishing your gut microbes with fibre-rich plants
- Move regularly; whether that means walking, cycling or strength exercises.
- Plan to get enough sleep.
Read our blog on how to plan to sleep better.
These habits may help your immune system to stay responsive while limiting unnecessary inflammation, although their specific effects on epigenetic immune training in people are still being studied.
Where Immune Complex fits
Rejuvenated Immune Complex contains baker’s-yeast beta-glucans, alongside vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and selenium. These vitamins and minerals contribute to the normal function of the immune system. [7]
The formula also includes Lactobacillus, turmeric, astragalus, cordyceps, elderberry and acai. Certain Lactobacillus strains have shown trained-immunity effects in preclinical research, while a laboratory study found that active vitamin D and beta-glucans together influenced macrophage activity. [8,9]
Other botanicals in the formula are being studied for their effects on immune signalling. Their roles differ from the immune memory explored in trained-immunity research. Immune Complex can sit within a nutritional support routine; further research needs to be carried out to establish any trained-immunity benefits of the finished product.
Your body already has systems for defence, regulation and repair. Supporting normal immune function begins with meeting its needs consistently. Explore Immune Complex for its full ingredient list and suitability information.
