Immune-Boosting
Supplements for Winter Health
By Christine Climer
Holiday cheer isn’t the only
thing that abounds this winter: Cold weather ushers in the sniffles,
sneezes and coughs of cold and flu season. Check with your health
care provider to see if any of these supplements can help your
family avoid illness or feel better quickly in the event you do
get sick.
Immunity-building
herbs
Echinacea, used intermittently to boost immune
function and decrease severity of colds and flu.
Astragalus, used
to strengthen immune function and prevent colds. Also used intermittently,
it is often alternated with echinacea.
Garlic, because of its antiviral and antibacterial
properties, has been used to prevent respiratory infections.
Goldenseal is
considered a natural antibiotic, often used for respiratory infections.
It is also commonly used in conjunction with echinacea to support
immune function.
Licorice has been
used historically to treat numerous respiratory ailments. Most
recently, it has been suggested as a potential treatment for SARS.
Elderberry decreases the severity and duration
of the flu.
Vitamins
and minerals
Beta Carotene/Vitamin A is necessary for proper
immune system function and respiratory strength. Deficiency increases
the risk of respiratory infections.
Vitamin C is also
necessary for proper immune function and healing.
Zinc deficiency
increases the risk of serious respiratory infections. Supplementation
has been found to increase resistance to colds and speed recovery
from pneumonia.
Selenium is a
key nutrient in resistance to viral infections. The flu is worse
in people who are selenium deficient, and the virus actually mutates
into a more powerful form in such people. This stronger virus
is then spread within the community.
Read more
Ankri S, Mirelman D. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from
garlic. Microbes Infect. 1999 Feb;1(2):125-9.
Beck, MA, et al. Selenium deficiency increases the pathology
of an influenza virus infection. FASEB J. 2001 Jun;15(8):1481-3.
Biesalski HK, Nohr D. Importance
of vitamin-A for lung function and development. Mol Aspects
Med. 2003 Dec;24(6):431-40.
Brooks WA, et al. Zinc for severe
pneumonia in very young children: double-blind placebo-controlled
trial. Lancet. 2004 May 22;363(9422):1683-8.
Cinatl J, et al. Glycyrrhizin,
an active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated
coronavirus. Lancet. 2003 Jun 14;361(9374):2045-6.
Goel V, et al. Efficacy of a
standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment
of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2004 Feb;29(1):75-83.
Josling P. Preventing the common
cold with a garlic supplement: a double blind, placebo-controlled
survey. Adv Ther. 2001;18(4):189-193.
Nelson, HK, et al. Host nutritional
selenium status as a driving force for influenza virus mutations.
FASEB J. 2001 Aug;15(10):1846-8.
University of Maryland Medicine,
Complementary Medicine Program website
Zakay-Rones Z, et al. Randomized
study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract
in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int
Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.
© Christine Climer
Christine Climer is a registered nurse
with experience in pulmonary disease, pediatrics, home health and
hospice services. Also trained in early childhood education, she
is currently executive director and child care nurse for an early
childhood health promotion organization. She lives with her husband
and three children (including a set of twins) in Texas and enjoys
researching health issues and gardening.
