Summary To determine if selenium deficiency intensifies an influenza infection, selenium-deficient mice were infected with a mild strain of the influenza virus. The results showed that selenium-deficient mice developed much more severe lung tissue inflammations than mice without selenium deficiency. The researchers concluded that an adequate intake of antioxidants, like selenium, is essential for a…
Summary According to this Japanese study, vitamin D supplementation could reduce influenza A incidence in Japanese schoolchildren. Schoolchildren (aged between 6 and 15 years) were divided into a test group (167 children) and a placebo group (167 children). The results showed an incidence of 10.8% in the test group and 18.6% in the placebo group.…
Summary According to a Chinese study, vitamin D may benefit pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B infections. Vitamin D levels of 142 pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B infections and 251 healthy pregnant women were measured. The results showed lower vitamin D levels in participants with chronic hepatitis B infection compared to healthy participants. Thus,…
Summary This study, conducted by research institutes from Vietnam and Germany, investigated the adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency on liver diseases associated with hepatitis B infections in patients in Vietnam. Vitamin D levels were determined in 400 chronic hepatitis B patients and 122 healthy control persons. The study results showed vitamin D inadequacy in…
Summary This study, conducted by several research institutes in Pakistan and China, investigated the effects of black cumin and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to enhance the efficacy of antiviral medication in hepatitis C patients. In this study, 30 hepatitis C patients were involved. 15 patients received only the antiviral drug, and the other 15 patients…
Summary This study, conducted by several British researchers, aimed to investigate whether additional selenium intake can improve immune function, support the treatment of poliovirus infections, and decrease mutations of the poliovirus in healthy British adults. Therefore, 22 British participants with relatively low plasma selenium levels received additional selenium (50 µg or 100 µg) or a…
Summary An American study investigated whether selenium administration may suppress a specific type of the human immunodeficiency virus. 262 participants infected with HIV initiated the treatment. 141 participants were treated with a selenium product (200 µg), and 121 participants received a placebo product during the first 9 months of this study. In total, 174 participants…
Summary This study, conducted by American and Ecuadorian researchers, investigated the effects of micronutrient deficiencies on the immune response and respiratory infections in elderly Ecuadorians. 352 elderly were involved in this study. Several important micronutrients for immune function were measured in the participants’ blood. The results showed that micronutrient deficiencies were associated with a high…
Summary This review gives an overview of the role of selenium deficiency on the development of several viral infectious diseases. According to numerous studies, selenium deficiency negatively affects the metabolic system, impairs the immune response, stimulates the progression of viral infectious diseases, and increases the number of harmful viral mutations. Additionally, some studies also showed…
Summary A German research institute conducted this study to investigate the long-term effects of probiotic bacteria consumption on various respiratory tract infections. To this end, 479 healthy adults were supplemented daily with vitamins and minerals, and additionally probiotic bacteria (test group) or without probiotic bacteria (control group). The intake of the probiotic led to a…
Summary According to this review by Romanian and British research institutes, vitamin D can benefit immune response (the reaction which occurs within our organism to defend against foreign invaders) in respiratory viral infectious diseases. This is because patients with respiratory infections are often vitamin D deficient. As a result of its increased antiviral and anti-inflammatory…
Summary A trial conducted by an American research institute investigated the effectiveness of high-dose vitamin C in suppressing Epstein-Barr infections. The data of 218 patients were evaluated. The researchers found that high doses of vitamin C decreased disease duration and reduced the number of viral antibodies indicating infection with the virus. Additionally, vitamin D was…
Summary According to this Egyptian study, vitamin D is an essential micronutrient in treating viral hepatitis C infections. The study involved 66 children diagnosed with hepatitis C and 28 healthy children. All participants received conventional therapy, with 33 patients additionally receiving a vitamin D supplement. Several parameters were measured to determine the effectiveness of the…
Summary In this study, researchers aimed to investigate the (preventive) effect of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of seasonal flu and respiratory tract infections in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) during the winter and early spring. 223 patients with IBD were included and categorized in two groups: One test group received a vitamin…
Summary Numerous studies have pointed out the clear connection between a well-functioning immune system and a sufficient daily intake of multiple specific micronutrients, including vitamins A, D, C, E, B6, and B12, folate, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, which often play synergistic roles. Micronutrient deficiencies frequently occur in the human body, and even marginal deficiencies…
Summary A review composed by several American and Canadian research institutes gave an overview of studies on vitamin D evaluating its influence on immunity and its function as an immunomodulator. Vitamin D deficiency often occurs in the winter season as a result of decreased sunlight and sun exposure. Several studies showed a clear relation between…