According to Merck Manual's online medical library, outbreaks of oral or genital herpes may be triggered by a lowered immune system. Taking in nutrients that bolster immunity, therefore, may help reduce the severity or frequency of mouth and genital lesions. Foods high in antioxidant vitamins may help you control your viral herpes, as may vitamin and mineral supplements. Ask your doctor about possible side effects before taking high doses of any nutrient, especially if you are taking prescription medications.
Vitamin A
One of the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin A helps fight off viruses by bolstering the immune system. Specifically, vitamin A promotes the production of the white blood cells that attack viruses. Adults should consume between 700 to 900 mcg of vitamin A daily. The daily recommended amount is sometimes represented in International Units. In this case, adults need between 2,310 and 3,000 IU each day. Nursing women should consume 1,300 mcg of vitamin A, or 4,300 IU. Foods that provide at least half of the amount of vitamin A needed each day include liver, carrots, spinach, kale and cantaloupe.
Vitamin E
Like vitamin A, vitamin E is an antioxidant nutrient that bolsters the immune system's fight against viral outbreaks. According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, adults need 15 mg of the nutrient each day, or 22.4 IU. Nursing women need 19 mg, or 28.4 IU. The NIH notes that multivitamins, which contain an average of 30 IU vitamin E, provide more than enough of the nutrient, whereas E-only supplements may contain dangerously high amounts. Foods high in vitamin E include sunflower, safflower and wheat-germ oils; nuts and seeds; fortified cereals and green vegetables.
Zinc
Zinc is an antioxidant mineral, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Taking zinc supplements or eating more zinc-rich foods may help you fight off infections. UMMC further recommends topical zinc applications for oral herpes lesions. Zinc ointment helps some herpes patients prevent future outbreaks while lessening the severity of current lesions. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, red meat, chicken, crab and shrimp. Your body doesn't absorb plant-based zinc as efficiently as it does animal foods, but the mineral also exists in legumes, whole grains and dark, leafy greens. Adults need between 8 and 11 mg each day, and breastfeeding women need 12 to 13 mg. Zinc is available as both an oral supplement and topical cream. If you take a zinc supplement, ask your doctor whether you should add a copper supplement, because adding zinc to your diet may deplete your copper stores.
Other Supplements
Along with vitamins and minerals, UMMC suggests that other herbal and nutritional treatments may be helpful in controlling viral herpes. The amino acid lysine appears to help control both genital and oral outbreaks, especially the latter. Lysine is found in eggs, potatoes, chicken and fish. Along with zinc ointment, some other natural products may provide relief to herpes outbreaks when applied topically. Creams, ointments or washes containing extracts of herbs may provide relief against oral or genital herpes, notes UMMC. Among the helpful plants that either heal lesions or reduce outbreaks are lemon balm, sage, rhubarb, aloe, Siberian ginseng and peppermint oil. Propolis, a honey byproduct, appears to provide antioxidant protection and heal genital lesions.
References
- Merck Online Manuals: Herpes Simplex Virus Infections; Marguerite Urban; Feb 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Herpes Simplex Virus
- "Clinical Infectious Diseases"; Nutritional Strategies to Boost Immunity; K.P. High; Oct. 25, 2001
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
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