Vitamin Boost: Why It's Important to Consume Vitamins and Supplements to Support Immunity

Many body functions, including immunity, deteriorate in case of vitamin deficiency. Changing your diet or taking supplements helps supply the body with the nutrients necessary for the immune system to function. Let's discuss vitamins and their impact on immunity.

Why Immunity Matters

Immunity reflects the ability of our body to resist infections. That's what everyone thinks about it, but it's far from the full spectrum of responsibilities of our immune system. For example, immunity constantly destroys cancer cells in the body, so when it "fails," the risk of certain oncological diseases increases. Moreover, immunity must work correctly, otherwise the likelihood of allergic and autoimmune diseases increases – when the immune system starts attacking its own tissues. There is evidence that an adequate amount of vitamin D reduces the risk of such problems.

With the multitude of functions of immunity, protection against infections is still the most important of them. If you have good immunity, then:

• you get sick easily and without complications;

• you recover quickly;

• many infections are subclinical, and you don't even notice them;

• chronic infections do not exacerbate.

But if you notice that the flu has become more severe than usual, you get sick too often, herpes constantly flares up, warts appear and grow, thrush periodically develops, it means that there is definitely something wrong with the immune system. This often happens after winter, when the body's vitamin reserves are depleted.

What can be done to support immunity? A lot: lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise, maintain a normal weight, consume varied and healthy food, quit smoking and other harmful habits.

And also, you need to give the immune system everything it needs for its work, and sometimes even give it a little boost to help the immune system perform its functions better. Vitamins and supplements can help with this.

Can Vitamins Boost Immunity?

Vitamins and minerals can both stimulate and suppress immunological reactions, as well as indirectly ensure the proper functioning of the immune system. For example, antioxidants have an indirect effect, reducing cell damage caused by free radicals, and also contribute to the normal production of T-cells.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to inadequate production of important immune factors: both cells and molecules, which in turn leads to insufficient immune response.

Numerous studies show that the correct balance of vitamins and minerals is important for the development of an effective immune response. Good immunity reduces the risks associated with viral and bacterial infections.

Which Vitamins and Micronutrients Boost Immunity

The most important for immunity are vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, β-carotene, selenium, riboflavin, zinc, and iron. Vitamin-like compounds also have a good effect on the immune system: choline, carnitine, inositol, and coenzyme Q.

It has been proven that adding deficient nutrients, such as vitamins, through changes in diet or prescribing supplements, increases resistance to infections. The most reliable evidence has been obtained regarding vitamins C and D and zinc. They have the strongest impact on immune function. You can review the evidence in this review published in the Nutrients journal.

Mechanisms of Vitamin Influence on Immunity

Many people do not know what vitamins are and what they are needed for in humans at all. These are separate chemical compounds or several substances that are responsible for various biochemical reactions.

The peculiarity of vitamins compared to other molecules involved in metabolism is that they cannot be synthesized in the body at all or cannot be produced in sufficient quantities. Therefore, they have to be obtained from food. However, it is only possible to get all vitamins and all micronutrients in sufficient doses with a healthy varied diet. Other people are advised to additionally take supplements with multivitamins.

What vitamins provide for immunity:

• Vitamin A helps regulate the production of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which activates macrophages – cells that destroy microbes.

• Vitamin D reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages.

• Vitamin E reduces the production of prostaglandin E2, which has immunosuppressive activity.

• Vitamin C modulates cytokine production and reduces histamine levels.

• Vitamin B6 participates in more than 150 enzymatic reactions. It helps regulate inflammation by producing substances with immune-modulating properties.

• Other B-group vitamins improve anti-cancer immunity, as detailed in this publication in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients.

The most important micronutrients affecting immunity are:

• Iron reduces inflammation by affecting nuclear transcription factor.

• Zinc is an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Copper is important for the adequate function of interleukin-2 and can accumulate at sites of inflammation.

Through these mechanisms, vitamins and micronutrients help us control chronic infections, increase resistance to acute infections, and aid in faster recovery. Additionally, thanks to these substances, we tolerate illness more easily.

Who Can Boost Immunity with Vitamins

Now you know what vitamins B and what vitamins C are for, how they affect immunity. They can enhance immune protection in children, adults, the elderly, and men and women, including pregnant women. Vitamins are safe and beneficial for everyone, with one exception: it is undesirable to use vitamin A in the first months of pregnancy.

At the same time, boosting immunity with vitamins has some limitations. As long as your body has enough vitamins, the immune system works fine, if there are no other reasons for its dysfunction. As soon as a vitamin deficiency develops, immunity weakens. By replenishing this deficiency, we thereby restore the functioning of the immune system.

However, it is important to understand that:

• Vitamins for boosting immunity will only work if you have a vitamin deficiency.

• They will strengthen the immune system only if a deficiency of vitamins specifically caused the "decline" in immunity.

• In individuals without vitamin deficiencies, additional intake of vitamins cannot boost immunity.

An analogy to better understand this mechanism: a car will not go faster if you pour more gasoline into it. Simply put, if there is no gasoline, the machinery will not work at all.

Immunity works the same way. You cannot overload your body with vitamins and become invulnerable to infections. But if there is a deficiency of vitamins, the immune system cannot function properly.

What to Take for Immunity

We can talk for a long time about what vitamins are, what vitamins a person needs, what vitamin A is for, what vitamin B, C, D, or E is for, but in the end, we always come to a more important practical question: what specifically to buy and swallow to make our immune system work better. We offer you a list of suitable vitamins, supplements, and functional products to enhance immune function.

"Vitamix" for the immune system. Contains vitamin C, rutin, zinc, selenium, as well as beta-glucan and echinacea extract. Just one capsule per day after meals will reduce your susceptibility to infections.

B-Complex + Folic Acid. B vitamins not only help the immune system protect us from infections but also affect protection against oncological diseases. This complex contains a full range of B-group vitamins. Just one tablet a day will satisfy the need for these substances.

And if you need to strengthen a child's immunity? Regular adult supplements are not suitable for them. For children, you can purchase such vitamin complexes in our store:

"Baby Formula" for immunity. Contains vitamins C, E, zinc, as well as extracts of sea buckthorn and elderberry. Suitable for children from three years old. These tasty lozenges will boost your child's immune defenses, reduce the frequency of colds in kindergarten or school, and help them recover faster after acute respiratory infections. These lozenges do not contain flavorings, preservatives, or artificial colors.

Jutavit Children's Multivitamins. Can be taken by children from the age of three, by dissolving or chewing the tablets. They contain vitamins A, C, D, B6, B12, folic acid, iodine, and zinc — everything needed for normal immune function.

What Else Besides Vitamins

Don't forget about functional nutrition. Many products contain vitamins to support the body and immune system function.

Immunity Grain Mix. Not only strengthens the immune system but also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improves digestion. It contains a lot of vitamin C and polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.

Some herbs can both increase overall body resistance and improve immune system function.

Lekraset Immune Stimulating Herbal Blend. Contains rhodiola, badan, licorice, rosehip, and thyme. This is a safe remedy for boosting immunity, improving mood, and productivity. Brew and drink it like regular tea, in tea bags or loose.

Tian Shan Mumijo. A source of humic acids. It has a positive effect on all body functions, including immunity.

Answers to Common Questions About Vitamins

What are vitamins?

Vitamins are molecules that are absolutely necessary for human survival and are an important part of food.

What are multivitamins?

Multivitamin is a supplement that contains not one but many different vitamins.

What are vitamins for us?

Vitamins are needed to support biochemical reactions in the body. They affect almost all aspects of health, including immunity.

What vitamins are good for what?

Let's discuss in more detail what vitamins are needed for the body. Here is a list of all vitamins and what they are used for:

• A – vision, immunity, children's growth. Deficiency leads to night blindness.

• B1 – metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates. Deficiency causes nerve problems and leads to beriberi disease.

• B2 – needed for red blood cell production, antibodies (humoral immunity), regulation of growth and reproductive functions.

• PP – affects metabolic processes, and deficiency leads to pellagra.

• B5 – required for the synthesis of many molecules, including hemoglobin, cholesterol, histamine, acetylcholine, and others.

• B6 – needed for the normal functioning of the nervous system, immunity, and metabolic processes.

• H – included in many enzymes, influencing the metabolism of glucose, lipids, collagen production.

• Folic acid – for DNA replication. Deficiency leads to anemia.

• B12 – for protein and fat oxidation, as well as the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Deficiency leads to anemia.

• C – antioxidant, needed for immunity and cell protection, collagen formation. Deficiency leads to scurvy.

• D – needed for bone health, immunity, and many other functions. Deficiency leads to rickets and osteoporosis.

• E – antioxidant, needed for cell protection and prevention of premature skin aging.

• K – for blood clotting.

Now you know all the vitamins, and their benefits for humans are beyond doubt. These are vital substances, the deficiency of which not only worsens immunity but also leads to dangerous diseases.