Vitamins that help keep your immune system strong include vitamins C, D, E, and B6
Vitamin C can kill harmful microbes like bacteria and viruses and may also ramp up your body's production of immune cells.
Your body also needs antioxidants, like vitamin E, to help fight off infections.
This article was reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine.
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Your immune system is a complicated network made up of immune cells that fight off disease-causing bacteria and viruses. In order for your immune system to work at its best, you need to be getting the right nutrients in your diet.
Essential vitamins like vitamin C and zinc can help you produce enough immune cells like antibodies and white blood cells to keep your immune system running well. Some vitamins can also kill off harmful microbes and help you get healthy again more quickly.
Here are four vitamins you need to support your immune system and stay healthy.
Vitamin B6
Your body needs vitamin B6 to make vital immune system cells that help your body fight against harmful microbes. In particular, B6 aids your body to produce T-cells, a type of immune cell that helps kill infected cells in your body and activate your immune system response.
Women should aim to get around 1.2 mg of vitamin B6 per day, while men should get 1.4 mg. You should not take more than 10 mg of vitamin B6 in a day unless it's part of a treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.
Experts say that B6 deficiency is rare and most people should be able to get enough vitamin B6 naturally from their diet.