As another flu season begins, you might be wondering what you can do to avoid getting sick. Whether or not you choose to get a flu shot, you may opt to take supplements that are promoted for both prevention and treatment of flu. Although there isn't enough scientific evidence to support the use of most supplements for influenza, many people rely on them for protection from infection or relief of symptoms.
There is insufficient evidence to justify the use of supplements for preventing or treating influenza. In fact, some supplements could conceivably exacerbate the "cytokine storm" that was implicated in the deaths of flu victims in 2009. Therefore, alternative therapies should be used with caution during influenza epidemics or pandemics. As always, pregnant women, children and people with underlying medical conditions should not take any supplements without checking with their physicians.
Vitamins
Good nutrition is the cornerstone of optimal immune function, but you may be one of those people whose harried lifestyle interferes with healthy eating habits. If so, you might consider taking a daily multivitamin. A 2003 study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" demonstrated that daily vitamin use by adults over age 45 reduced the rate of influenza and other infections. The benefit was most notable in diabetics.
Herbs
Osha, andrographis, boneset, maitake and shiitake mushrooms, black elderberry, echinacea, goldenseal and a plethora of other herbs are popular for preventing or treating influenza. Some of these are believed to be antiviral, others stimulate immune function and still others are useful for the congestion, cough, fever, sore throat or body aches that accompany the flu. Although most herbs' reputations are based on empirical evidence rather than rigorous research, some herbs, such as black elderberry, have been subjected to scientific scrutiny. For example, in a 2001 study published by "European Cytokine Network," treatment with black elderberry shortened the duration of flu symptoms by three to four days and stimulated the immune systems of test subjects by boosting the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Immunomodulators
Probiotics, which are microorganisms that colonize your gut and help to maintain a natural microbial balance, have been shown to stimulate antibody production and immune cell activity. A 2008 review in "Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology" reported that several animal and human studies had provided "unequivocal" evidence of immunomodulating benefits from probiotics. Furthermore, probiotics were shown to decrease the frequency and severity of respiratory infections in a 2008 trial published in the "Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology." Transfer factors, a class of immune messenger molecules discovered by Dr. Sherwood Lawrence in 1949, have been shown to increase the activity of natural killer, or NK, cells, which are instrumental in mobilizing your immune response to viral infections. In 1999, Italian investigators showed that transfer factors stimulated immune activity in humans.
Homeopathy
Very few studies have evaluated the benefits of homeopathy, a medical practice based on the law of similars, or "like treating like," for influenza prevention or treatment. Depending on your constitutional type and your symptoms, a homeopathic physician might prescribe Eupatorium perfoliatum, gelsemium, ipecacuanha, eucalyptus, Nux vomica or any of several remedies for influenza. Oscillococcinum is an over-the-counter homeopathic preparation that is reputed to relieve flu symptoms.
References
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life; Barringer T, et al.; 2003
- PubMed.gov: The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines
- PubMed.gov: Probiotics, immunomodulation, and health benefits
- PubMed.gov: A new chance of preventing winter diseases by the administration of synbiotic formulations
- Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi: Dialyzable Lymphocyte Extracts Modify Soluble-Hla And Serum Lymphokine Levels
