The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a virus that causes warts. When infected with a virus, your body's immune system responds to kill off the infection. Being deficient in vitamins inhibits the function of your immune system. Vitamin supplements can correct nutritional deficiencies, which improves your immune system's ability to minimize recurrence of HPV, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (See References 1).
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant. Antioxidants prevent some of the damage free radicals cause to your body's tissues. Free radicals are a byproduct of transforming food into energy. It is a buildup of these substances that contribute to serious conditions like cancer. Serious deficiencies in vitamin C are rare in industrialized nations, but mild deficiencies are likely in the United States. The University of Maryland advises a daily multivitamin containing vitamins C along with A, E and the B vitamins for warts and HPV because of their antioxidant properties. Citrus juices, oranges, strawberries, leafy green vegetables and pineapple are rich in vitamin C.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. Antioxidant vitamins can inhibit proliferation of HPV cells and carcinogenesis, which is the production of cancer. HPV is a potential contributor to carcinogensis. According to a study published in the"Anticancer Research" journal in November-December 1999, vitamins A, C and E inhibited reproduction of HPV cells. Vitamins A and E had a more significant effect than vitamin C. Vitamin E also decreased the number of cell layers.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an antioxidant and commonly known anti-infective because it is necessary for your immune system to function optimally. Vitamin A plays a critical role in the production of white blood cells, which help fight off infections. Vitamin A deficiency is possible if you do not eat enough foods rich in this vitamin. Even mild cases of deficiency in children can have serious consequences, such as increasing the likelihood of diarrhea, respiratory disease and death from infectious disease. Cod liver oil, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, canned pumpkin, spinach, carrots and cantaloupe are good sources of vitamin A.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 may also reduce HPV and the likelihood of resulting warts. The vitamin is found in eggs, poultry, shellfish, milk products and fortified products like soymilk. A study found that women with low vitamin B-12 were more likely to have a persistent HPV infection than women with higher levels of the vitamin. It was also shown that high levels of vitamin B-12 resulted in less persistence of HPV. The study was published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention" journal in April 2002.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Warts
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
- Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State University; Vitamin A; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; December 2003
- "Anticancer Research"; Effect of Vitamins A, C and E on Normal and HPV-immortalized Human Oral Epithelial Cells in Culture; Mason B, et al.; November-December 1999
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin E
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention"; Human Papillomavirus Persistence and Nutrients Involved in the Methylation Pathway Among a Cohort of Young Women; Sedjo RL, et al.; April 2002
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin B12
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