Search icon Close menu
0
No products
Shipping Free shipping!
Tax 0,00€
Product Total 0,00€
Checkout
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Vitamin C
  4. Enhancing Immunity – Four Essential Nutrients
Latest offers and news
Enhancing Immunity – Four Essential Nutrients

Enhancing Immunity – Four Essential Nutrients

5363 Views Posted on: October 23rd 2023 Updated on: October 24th 2023
Posted by: Abundance and health

While the threat of dangerous viruses has decreased recently, it doesn’t mean you can breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Winter months bring forth other harmful viruses and bacteria, especially concerning for vulnerable groups like the elderly, obese individuals, and those with dietary or malabsorption issues. The seasonal flu, for instance, has a significant global health impact, causing up to 650,000 deaths worldwide in 2017. 2 For those not blessed with natural resilience, the solution is to build a robust immune system that’s armed and ready as the winter season approaches.

THE FABULOUS FOUR

Thanks to the natural world we have an abundance of food and plant compounds that have the potential to fight infections and reduce inflammation, almost too many to choose from! To keep it simple we’ve cherry-picked four potent supplements that are universally known and supported by robust evidence.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is the most widely researched nutrient with a wealth of evidence to support its health benefits.  It is an essential vitamin known to protect cells from oxidative stress, including cells in the lungs which can be more vulnerable to infections at this time of year.

People who wish to maximise the beneficial effects of vitamin C should opt for liposomal vitamin C as the bioavailability of standard oral vitamin C is known to be limited. Research shows that liposomal vitamin C can achieve much higher circulating concentrations of vitamin C than standard oral supplements.14

“Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C was the world’s first liposomal vitamin and has been awarded Best Immune Product.”

 

VITAMIN D

Research shows that Vitamin D contributes to normal function of the immune system, making it an ideal partner to vitamin C.

For maximum bioavailability, vitamin D3 is the preferred source. Research suggests that vitamin D3 is more efficiently absorbed by the body compared to vitamin D2, which is generally less effective at raising blood levels of vitamin D.5,36 Vitamin D3 has a higher affinity for the vitamin D receptor in the intestines, which enhances its uptake in the bloodstream.

For rapid absorption, a vitamin D3 spray is ideal, especially for customers with malabsorption conditions such as Crohn’s disease or those who struggle to swallow pills. Neutrient D3 + K2 spray provides the most bioactive form of vitamin D3 as well as vitamin K2.

 

ZINC

The importance of zinc’s involvement in immune function has been cemented by decades of research. Studies have shown that zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

Zinc in the form of lozenges can be very soothing and is a great support for throat infections. Neutrient Zinc + C lozenges contain bioactive zinc acetate with the added bonus of vitamin C to help build seasonal resilience.

 

CURCUMIN

Curcumin has been used for decades in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant botanical. These biological activities may help to ease the symptoms of seasonal infections

Standard curcumin has very poor bioavailability. For optimal absorption people would benefit from Neutrient Curcumin + which contains the highly absorbable Theracurmin®, a patented and clinically researched form of curcumin. Clinical data shows Theracurmin® to be 27 times more absorbable than standard curcumin.

 

 

Written by:

Jacqueline Newson BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy

References
 
  1.        Abel Ang et al. Vissers; Vitamin C and immune cell function in inflammation and cancer. Biochem Soc Trans19 October 2018; 46 (5): 1147–1159. doi:https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20180169. 
  2.        Aggarwal, B. B., & Harikumar, K. B. (2009). Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 41(1), 40-59.  
  3.        Ahuja, S.K., Manoharan, M.S., Lee, G.C. et al. Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. Nat Commun 14, 3286 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38238-6. 
  4.        Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med. 2011;59(6):881-886. doi:10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755. 
  5.        Armas, L. A., Hollis, B. W., & Heaney, R. P. (2004). Vitamin D2 is much less effective than vitamin D3 in humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(11), 5387-5391. 
  6.        Bao B, Prasad AS, Beck FW, et al. Zinc decreases C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines in elderly subjects: a potential implication of zinc as an atheroprotective agent. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(6):1634-1641. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28836. 
  7.        Basiri Z et al. Vitamin D3 inhibits the proliferation of T helper cells, downregulate CD4+ T cell cytokines and upregulate inhibitory markers. Human Immunology 2018; 79,6: 439-445. 
  8.        Benedetti G, Albarède F, Miossec P. Zinc and its role in immunity and inflammation. Autoimmun Rev. 2015 Apr;14(4):277-85. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Nov 24. PMID: 25462582. 
  9.        Campbell A et al. The distribution of ascorbic acid between various cellular components of blood, in normal individuals and its relation to the plasma concentration. Br.J.Nutr. 1982; 47: 473-482. 
  10.     Calder, P.C. Nutrition and immunity: lessons for COVID-19. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 1309–1318 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-00949-8. 
  11.     Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. Published 2017 Nov 3. doi:10.3390/nu9111211.
  12.     Cerullo G, Negro M, Parimbelli M, et al. The Long History of Vitamin C: From Prevention of the Common Cold to Potential Aid in the Treatment of COVID-19. Front Immunol. 2020;11:574029. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.574029. 
  13.     Daria Jovičić et al. NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF CURCUMIN. Food in Health and Disease, scientific-professional journal of nutrition and dietetics 2017;6 (1) 22-27. 
  14.     Davis JL, Paris HL, Beals JW, et al. Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Nutr Metab Insights. 2016;9:25-30. doi:10.4137/NMI.S39764. 
  15.     Ghosh, T. S., et al. (2020). Mediterranean Diet Intervention Alters the Gut Microbiome in Older People Reducing Frailty and Improving Health Status: The NU-AGE 1-Year Dietary Intervention Across Five European Countries. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7, 166. 
  16.     Grant WB, Lahore H, McDonnell SL, et al. Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):988. Published 2020 Apr 2. doi:10.3390/nu12040988. 
  17.     Harri Hemilä, James T. Fitzgerald, Edward J. Petrus, Ananda Prasad, Zinc Acetate Lozenges May Improve the Recovery Rate of Common Cold Patients: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2017; 4, 2, https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofx059. 
  18.     Hemila H. The effect of vitamin C on bronchoconstriction and respiratory symptoms caused by exercise: a review and statistical analysis. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2014, 10:58. 
  19.     Hemilä H. Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. Open Respir Med J. 2011;5:51-58. doi:10.2174/1874306401105010051. 
  20.     Klaus-Helge Ibs, Lothar Rink, Zinc-Altered Immune function, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 133, Issue 5, May 2003, Pages 1452S–1456S, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.5.1452S . 
  21.     Levine M, Rotrosen D and Washko P. Ascorbic acid transport and accumulation in human neutrophils. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 1989; 264, 32, 15: 18996-19002. 
  22.     Liugan, M.; Carr, A.C. Vitamin C and Neutrophil Function: Findings from Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients 2019, 11, 2102. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092102. 
  23.     Menon, V. P., & Sudheer, A. R. (2007). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 595, 105-125. 
  24.     Mettelman et al. Baseline innate and T cell populations are correlates of protection against symptomatic influenza virus infection independent of serology. Nature Immunology, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01590-2. 
  25.     Minciullo, P. L., Catalano, A., Mandraffino, G., Casciaro, M., Crucitti, A., Maltese, G., Morabito, N., Lasco, A., Basile, G., & Benvenga, S. (2020). Inflammaging and Anti-Inflammaging: The Role of Cytokines in Extreme Longevity. Archives of Immunology and Allergy, 2(1), 15-20. 
  26.     Mitsuyoshi Urashima, Takaaki Segawa, Minoru Okazaki, Mana Kurihara, Yasuyuki Wada, Hiroyuki Ida, Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2010; 91, 5: 1255-1260. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094.  
  27.     Murray and pizzorno. The encyclopedia of healing foods. 
  28.     Paget J, Spreeuwenberg P, Charu V, et al. Global mortality associated with seasonal influenza epidemics: New burden estimates and predictors from the GLaMOR Project. J Glob Health. 2019;9(2):020421. doi:10.7189/jogh.09.020421.
  29.     Rahman MT, Idid SZ. Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment?. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021;199(2):550-558. doi:10.1007/s12011-020-02194-9. 
  30.     Rink L, Rolles B & Wessels I.The Potential Impact of Zinc Supplementation on COVID-19 Pathogenesis. Front. Immunol., 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01712.
  31.     Sarandöl, E., Taş, S., Dirican, M., Serdar, Z., & Sarandöl, D. (2007). Effects of vitamin E and selenium on serum levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA in patients with Behçet's disease. Journal of Dermatology, 34(11), 811-816. 
  32.     Schloss J, Lauche R, Harnett J, et al. Efficacy and safety of vitamin C in the management of acute respiratory infection and disease: A rapid review. Adv Integr Med. 2020;7(4):187-191. doi:10.1016/j.aimed.2020.07.008. 
  33.     Shah, M., Murad, W., Mubin, S. et al. Multiple health benefits of curcumin and its therapeutic potential. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 43732–43744 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20137-w. 
  34.     Shakoor H, Feehan J, Al Dhaheri AS, et al. Immune-boosting role of vitamins D, C, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids: Could they help against COVID-19?. Maturitas  2021;143:1-9. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.08.003. 
  35.     Thorne. Monograph. Vitamin D. Alternative Medicine Review 2008; 13,2: 153-164.  https://www.foundationalmedicinereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/v13-2-153.pdf, [accessed 18.8.21]. 
  36.     Tripkovic, L., Lambert, H., Hart, K., Smith, C. P., Bucca, G., Penson, S., ... & Lanham-New, S. (2012). Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95(6), 1357-1364. 
  37.     Vandermolen J, Schneider A, Nicol K, Hossain I. Comparison of remicade to curcumin for the treatment of Crohn’s disease: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2017; 33: 322-38. Yang CY, Leung PS, Adamopoulos IE, Gershwin ME. The implication of vitamin D and autoimmunity: a comprehensive review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2013;45(2):217-226. doi:10.1007/s12016-013-8361-3.

Related posts

added

Checkout