Vitamins to Avoid Getting Sick

With daily tasks and obligations, maintaining a balanced diet inclusive of everything needed for proper body function is difficult. Vitamins play an active role for users, aiding in various facets of overall health when nutrition from food alone isn't enough. Certain vitamins actively support the immune system and increase ability to fight off disease. A good multivitamin, and possibly an additional vitamin D supplement, can provide needed resources for immune support.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A stimulates production and activity of white blood cells, regulating the immune system. A balanced and regulated immune system fights off infection by warding off harmful bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A also assists health of endothelial cells, which line the body's interior surfaces.

Vitamin C

• A water-soluble vitamin, vitamin C is important in immune functions. According to the Mayo Clinic, it possesses antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals to prevent cell damage. Increasing vitamin C intake to 1,000 to 2,000 mg/day may reduce histamine levels. Even levels of 200 mg/day increases levels of immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin, produced by the immune system, are blood proteins that act as disease-fighting antibodies.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D is a source of calcium, critical to building bones and healing wounds. Research shows vitamin D plays a broad disease-fighting role, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. It also prevents cancer cells from growing and dividing, and may lower the risk of colon cancer in addition to many other cancers. Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. Lacking D may also hinder the body's ability to fight off infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and the seasonal flu. The Harvard School of Public Health states vitamin D obstructs damaging inflammatory response of some white blood cells. It also enhances immune cells' assembly of microbe-fighting proteins.