High Intake Of Vitamins A, E And D Linked To Fewer Respiratory Illnesses, Says Study

An optimally functioning immune system is the body’s main and most powerful weapon for recognizing and destroying viruses and other pathogens that can cause respiratory illnesses. As this news story indicates, to ensure a healthy immune system, an optimum supply of the correct micronutrients is vital. But vitamins A, E, and D are not the only micronutrients that are beneficial.

Vitamin C plays particularly crucial roles in strengthening immunity, for example. It helps in the inactivation of viral DNA, thus limiting viral reproduction, and aids in antibody production by the white blood cells.

In synergy with vitamin C, the amino acid lysine is also important for blocking collagen-digesting enzymes and strengthening connective tissue, thereby controlling the spread of infectious agents.

Antioxidants such as zinc and selenium are likewise essential as they support lymphoid tissues in the thymus gland and aid the function of white blood cells.

Many people only take vitamin C when they have respiratory illnesses. This is unfortunate as doing so means they fail to benefit from the principle of micronutrient synergy. Vitamin C works more efficiently when combined with micronutrients such as lysine, zinc, selenium, and the phytonutrient quercetin.

To learn more about the various ways in which micronutrients support the immune system in fighting infections, read this article on our website.