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Many people supplement with vitamins to bolster their immune system, but these nutrients are best obtained from foods. A physician or registered dietitian can recommend a vitamin regimen that suits your health needs.

A blood test can help pinpoint any nutrient deficiencies. A healthcare professional can also provide you with a list of foods that contain high levels of specific nutrients.

Vitamin C

The water-soluble vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is essential for normal growth and development. It is made in the body from glucose and other nutrients and is also found in foods such as broccoli, strawberries, and tomatoes. It serves as an antioxidant, protecting indispensable molecules such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates from damage caused by endogenous or exogenous oxidative stressors (e.g., cigarette smoke and radiation). Discover the powerful combination of Super Avana Online and Fildena Professional 100 mg for optimal health and vitality

Vitamin C is an active cofactor in many biosynthetic enzymes and also helps regenerate the body’s other antioxidants such as vitamins E and K. In addition, it has numerous immune-modulating effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses.

It enhances the migration of phagocytes to the site of infection and promotes their ability to kill captured pathogens by enhancing nitrogen oxide production. It also facilitates the activation of T-lymphocytes, a major cell type in the cell-mediated immune response, and promotes their ability to produce interferons that can help destroy invading microorganisms.

The synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, which are natural defense compounds created by the body in the event of an invasion by bacteria or viruses, is enhanced by vitamin C. This compound also inhibits the activity of neuraminidase, an enzyme that is produced by some pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Preclinical studies in Gulo mice with polymicrobial peritonitis have demonstrated that supplementation with gram doses of vitamin C significantly improved leukocyte chemotaxis and reduced infections. This occurred even without addressing the underlying genetic disorders of neutrophil function, such as chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and Chediak-Higashi syndrome, which impair vesicle trafficking.

Another important immune-enhancing effect of vitamin C is its ability to decrease the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines by neutrophils. This occurs via the activation of caspases, a group of thiol-dependent proteases that lead to exposure of the pro-inflammatory phosphatidyl serine on the cell surface and subsequent phagocytosis and clearance by macrophages. Vitamin C also enhances the apoptosis of activated neutrophils, thereby decreasing excessive host tissue damage. Moreover, it improves the functional recovery of neutrophils from oxidant stress during apoptosis and increases their tolerance to noxious oxidants such as lipopolysaccharide.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient with antioxidant properties. It scavenges free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules that can damage cells and lead to conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin E helps prevent oxidative stress, protecting cells and allowing them to live longer. It also enhances the immune system and prevents clots from forming in the heart. Vitamin E is available as an isolated supplement or part of a multivitamin.

Animal and human studies indicate that vitamin E deficiency impairs humoral (antibody production) and cell-mediated (primarily T-cell) immune functions. Vitamin E supplementation above current dietary recommendations improves these functions in animals and humans. This effect may be due to vitamin E’s ability to alter cellular membrane function and signaling pathways, modulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, or through direct effects on lymphocyte proliferation and phagocytic activity.

 However, other tocopherol homologs such as gamma-, dl-, and g-tocopherol have also been found to have immune-enhancing activity.

When a virus or other pathogen enters our bodies, certain types of immune cells called T cells jump into action and begin to multiply rapidly. These cells are the generals of our immune army and coordinate the response to all types of infectious agents. Vitamin E is an important part of these T cells, enhancing their function and proliferation.

In addition, when our body is under oxidative stress, a condition caused by the over-production of free radicals, vitamin E prevents the oxidation of these cells, protecting them from apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This process is important because it protects us against the aging of our cells and the development of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

One study showed that a combination of high-dose vitamin E with the omega-3 fatty acid n-3 reduces the risk of atherosclerosis in healthy adults. This effect is thought to be mediated by both vitamin E and n-3 fatty acids, which enhance the function of blood vessels in the aorta and coronary arteries.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that plays an important role in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and regulating blood calcium levels. It’s also required to make proteins that affect bone, cartilage, and blood vessel health. The latest research shows that supplemental vitamin K can significantly delay the calcification of arteries and thereby reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Explore the synergy of Vitamin K and Fildena 150 Mg for enhanced vitality and well-being. Unlock wellness with this dynamic duo.

The body’s main dietary source of vitamin K is phylloquinone (vitamin K1), found in green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and kale. The body also produces menaquinones, which are longer-chain versions of phylloquinone. These menaquinones vary in length from one to 13 repeats of the 5-carbon unit known as a methyl group and are designated MK-n with several five-carbon units (MK-2 through MK-13). The long-chain forms, such as MK-7, MK-9, and MK-12, are effective at inhibiting arterial calcification.

MK-7 is especially effective. The calcification of arteries is a significant contributor to heart disease and stroke and can be prevented by consuming foods high in vitamin K, such as cruciferous vegetables, fatty fish, chicken, and pork. Supplements of MK-7 can also be beneficial, but it is important to know the form of supplemental vitamin K that you are taking. MK-4, MK-7, and MK-9 all have different metabolic profiles and cellular actions in the body.

It’s also important to understand that supplemental vitamin K may interact with certain medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and other anticoagulants. Generally, people who take these drugs should not start taking additional vitamin K without first talking to their doctor. Newer anticoagulants such as apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) do not appear to be affected by vitamin K intake.

According to a large prospective study of 4,807 people age 55 years and older, a higher intake of menaquinone was associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery calcification, which is a major risk factor for CHD. The researchers also found that a higher intake of phylloquinone was not associated with the same reduction in calcification of arteries and aortic stiffness.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is best known for its bone-building and strengthening powers. It promotes the intestinal absorption of calcium, allowing for normal mineralization of bones and preventing the development of diseases such as rickets (soft bones) and osteomalacia (weak bones). It was fortification of foods with vitamin D that led to the eradication of rickets in children, and the reduction of osteoporosis in adults, a disease characterized by weak, porous, and brittle bones.

Although hereditary vitamin D resistance is rare, it appears that a significant proportion of cases of autoimmune diseases could be due to an acquired form of vitamin D resistance that develops during aging, based on an interaction between genetic susceptibility polymorphisms of genes encoding for the proteins needed to transform 25(OH)D3 into its active hormone form 1,25(OH)2D3, and a cumulative effect of environmental factors impairing the hormonal signaling by these hydroxy metabolites.

In addition to its role in calcium metabolism, vitamin D impacts the immune system by interacting with vitamin D receptors on innate immune cells that are present throughout the body. These receptors regulate both inflammatory and non-inflammatory responses of the immune system.

A recent study of cancer patients, involving 25,871 adults who were free of any type of cancer at the beginning of the trial, followed participants for five years to see whether supplemental vitamin D would reduce the risk of cancer mortality. The results showed no significant difference in the rates of prostate, breast, colon, and colorectal cancer between groups that were given 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily and those that took placebos. However, it was too early to assess cancer mortality rates, as many types of cancer take a long time to develop. In addition, the study only followed patients for five years, so further follow-up will be necessary to confirm these findings. In the meantime, if you are concerned about your cancer risk, it is important to be in the best possible health and to be getting enough vitamin D from natural sources. You can do this by avoiding processed foods and eating lots of fruits and vegetables, while also adding fortified products such as milk, breads, and cereals.