Recommended Vitamins For Low Immunity

Your immune system is your primary line of defense against illness and disease. It is responsible for destroying fungi, bacteria, viruses and toxins that can spread throughout your body and attack healthy cells. Certain vitamins may boost low immune system function to help protect you against disease. Check with your doctor before increasing your vitamin intake to address low immune system function.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a potent vitamin for increasing immune system function. This vitamin may help stimulate the production of interferon, a chemical that helps destroy disease-causing microorganisms, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Vitamin C may also offer antioxidant benefits that prevent free radical molecules from damaging muscle, organ and bone cells. Increase your intake of vitamin C by consuming blueberries, spinach, strawberries, oranges, broccoli, kiwi fruit, grapefruit, papayas and mangoes.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A occurs in foods such as fish liver oil, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, carrots and mustard greens. This vitamin aids in the production of white blood cells, which attack and destroy bacteria, fungi and virus cells in your body. Like vitamin C, vitamin A also starves free radical molecules of the oxygen they need to attack healthy cells, according to Balch.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D supports immune system function, according to an article published in the journal "Nature Reviews Immunology." This vitamin may be particularly effective for protecting your heart against damage caused by pathogens, or disease-causing microorganisms. Vitamin D may also enhance thyroid function, helping your body metabolize other immune system-boosting nutrients. Although your body manufactures vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, you can also obtain this vitamin from salmon, tuna, eggs, dairy products, vegetable oil, beef liver and alfalfa.

Pyridoxine

Pyridoxine, or vitamin B-6, aids in the absorption of fats, protein and carbohydrates, which helps strengthen organ and tissue cells to provide protection against disease. Pyridoxine may also help increase immune system function by stimulating the production of natural antibodies, according to Balch. Boost your intake of pyridoxine by consuming foods such as green peas, fish, poultry, sunflower seeds, lentils, bananas, black beans and potatoes.