Viral diseases, such as AIDS, chickenpox and the common cold, are caused by viruses that invade your cells and redirect it to replicate the virus and grow throughout your body. Human papilloma virus, human herpes virus, human T cell leukemia virus, Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B and C viruses can induce tumors and cancer growth. Certain vitamins can reduce your viral disease risk. Consult your doctor about vitamin supplements that inhibit viral growth.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays a vital role in stimulating your immune system. Vitamin A supplements can enhance your ability to reduce the risk of viral infections, including infections from human immunodeficiency virus. Research by scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and published in "Nutrition" in January 2005 discovered that vitamin A supplements decrease the death rate in HIV-infected children. The placebo-controlled study results demonstrate that children with HIV who took vitamin A supplements had a death rate of 20.6 percent compared with children who took placebo and had a death rate of 32.9 percent. The scientists conclude that vitamin A supplements should be considered for caring for children in developing countries.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supplements may help you to reduce the risk of viral infections. Vitamin D regulates the immune system and cells and plays an essential role in the prevention of cancer. Research by scientists at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and published in the "Journal of Clinical Virology" in March 2011 reports vitamin D plays a significant role in regulating the immune system, including the body's responsiveness to viral infections. The scientists also report that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of viral infections, such as influenza and HIV, and that vitamin D has direct anti-viral effects. Nonetheless, additional research studies are necessary to fuly understand the effectiveness of taking vitamin D to prevent or treat viral infections.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cells from harmful chemicals and toxins and stimulates the immune system through cell signaling, regulation of gene expression and other biological processes. Vitamin E supplements may help to reduce the concentration of viruses in cells. Research by scientists at Tufts University in Boston and published in "Immunology" in August 2000 investigated the effectiveness of vitamin E supplementation on influenza virus infection in mice and demonstrates that the group of mice given vitamin E supplements had lower viral concentrations than mice not given vitamin E supplements.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supplements may reduce growth of viral infections. Research by scientists at Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan and published in the "Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology" in April 2007 found vitamin K may have a suppressive effect on recurrence of liver cancer from hepatitis C viral infection. However, the results also demonstrate that vitamin K supplementation has lower, but not statistically significant differences, in survival rate of the virus infection compared with not taking vitamin K.
References
- MayoClinic.com; What's the Difference between a Bacterial Infection and a Viral Infection?; James Steckelberg; October 13 2009
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; 2010
- "Nutrition"; Effect of Periodic Vitamin A Supplementation on Mortality and Morbidity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children in Uganda: A Controlled Clinical Trial; Richard Semba, et al.; Jan 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin D; 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Virology"; Vitamin D and the Anti-Viral State; Jeremy Beard, et al.; Mar 2011
- Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health; Vitamin E 2009
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