Vitamin C and Zinc for Immunity
Article by Angela Haldane
Vitamin C and zinc both play a large role in sustaining good immune function. They can also reduce the risk, duration and severity of many infections.
A large number of well-designed, controlled, randomised studies have been done now with intakes of around 1000 mg vitamin C and up to 30 mg of zinc. The outcomes show that both lessen symptoms and shorten the duration of illnesses such as the common cold and respiratory infections.
The mechanism of these outcomes may be due to a number of factors. Firstly, concentrations of vitamin C rapidly declining during infections and stress. Supplementation with vitamin C was found to stimulate parts of the immune system involved with fighting infection and reducing inflammation. Zinc was found to strongly protect certain cells which are required for good immune reactions.