Your immune system protects you from infectious diseases caused by pathological bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Certain vitamins and minerals stimulate your immune system by increasing the number of cells and responsiveness to infectious agents and harmful substances. However, your immune system can become impaired from nutritional deficiencies. Eating nutrient-dense foods and taking nutritional supplements can replenish your body with immune stimulating nutrients. Consult your doctor about vitamins, minerals and the immune system.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant that protects your cells from harmful chemicals and toxins and stimulates your immune system to respond to pathological organisms. Vitamin C affects several parts of your immune system. Vitamin C stimulates production and function of white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, neutrophils and phagocytes. These cells accumulate high concentrations of vitamin C to protect against oxidative damage. Vitamin C may increase interferon, a protein that can stop the growth and spread of cancer cells and viruses.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, also called the sunshine vitamin, is essential for calcium absorption, bone growth and stimulation of your immune system and preventing cancer and autoimmune diseases. Your body produces vitamin D after your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D stimulates B cells and T cells in helping you fight off infections and reduce your risk of autoimmune diseases, according to research by scientists at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, and published in the "Journal of Investigative Medicine" in April 2011.
Zinc
Zinc plays a significant role maintaining the integrity of the immune system and in immune response to infectious agents and pathological organisms. Zinc supplementation reduces frequency, severity and duration of diarrhea and incidence of respiratory infections and malaria. Zinc affects the immune system by increasing CD4 T cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Research by scientists at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and published in "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care" in November 2009 reports zinc functions as an intracellular signal molecule for immune cells and stimulates inflammatory cells called cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral you need in minute quantities. Selenium stimulates the immune system by regulating cytokines. Increasing selenium intake from food or supplements can enhance your immune response to foreign antigens, substances or organisms that can impair your health and cause infectious diseases. One of the ways selenium affects your immune system is by protecting neutrophils, cells that kill ingested foreign organisms, from free radicals that can harm healthy cells, cause cancer and accelerate aging, according to research by scientists at the Rowett Research Institute in Bucksburn, Aberdeen, England, and published in "The Journal of Nutrition" in May 2003.
References
- United States Department of Agriculture; Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010; 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Vitamin C; Balz Frei; November 2009
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin D; 2010
- "Journal of Investigative Medicine"; Vitamin D and the Immune System; C. Aranow; Apr 27 2011
- Linus Pauing Institute at Oregon State University; Zinc; Emily Ho, P.D.; February 2008
- "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care"; Zinc: Role in Immunity, Oxidative Stress and Chronic Inflammation; Ananda Prasad; Nov 2009
