Immune Support When Additional Defense is Needed

by VRP Staff

With the arrival of the New Year, your diet has likely improved and you’re exercising more. Yet, ultimately, even if you keep your body primed and your immune system in tip-top shape, sometimes additional, short-term immune support is needed.

Fortunately, this immune support isn’t so hard to find—in fact, research shows that the right blend of botanicals can help to fight off a stuffy nose or a scratchy throat by harnessing your body’s own natural defenses.

For example, research shows that Forsythia suspense can balance the numbers of inflammatory cells during aggressive immune responses, thereby helping to maintain healthy, clear sinuses.¹ Similarly, studies indicate that constituents of Lonicera japonicas can promote healthy inflammatory responses by inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzymes, which can become overly active as the immune system upregulates its response to various challenges and stressors.^2-3

Glycyrrhizae uralensis, on the other hand, has been shown to increase your body’s population of splenocytes, white blood cells that bolster immune health and increase production of beneficial immune compounds.⁴ Meanwhile, Phragmites communis supports the health of your spleen and thymus, both of which play critical roles in your immune system, and Platycodon grandiflorum activates B-lymphocytes and macrophages, a class of immune cells that are involved in the normal immune process called phagocytosis, which facilitates the healthy deactivation and removal of immune stressors.^5-7

Several other botanicals also promote respiratory health, including components of Arctium lappa, which animal studies show can strengthen the lungs.⁸ The mint-derived extract Mentha arvensis has similar benefits, with research indicating that it balances the histamine response—a substance that triggers difficult breathing and congestion—from mast cells.^9-10

Vitamins and minerals play an equally essential role in the fight against phlegm—in particular, the essential mineral zinc, which helps to increase your body’s number of natural killer (NK) cells.¹¹ Low zinc levels, however, may increase your susceptibility to year-round health challenges—as do deficiencies of vitamin A, which can impede the regeneration of damaged mucosal barriers and diminish the immune functions of a number of white blood cells, including macrophages, neutrophils and NK cells.¹²

That’s why ample intake of both zinc and vitamin A is crucial—along with an abundant supply of vitamin C. Concentrations of this antioxidant vitamin dip during times of illness or stress, but supplementation can support all facets of your immune system, from production of beneficial immune factors to increased NK cell activity. Research shows that vitamin C in combination with zinc supports respiratory health and is able to support increased immune resistance and well being.¹³

Time-tested, multi-pronged nutritional support can be used at the first sign you need to build up your natural defenses—and it’s with this strategy in mind that Vitamin Research Products® created Fast Response®, a formula that synergistically combines all of the nutrients and botanicals described above to produce unparalleled, all-natural, short-term immune support. Ultimately, it’s like sending in more troops even when you’re winning the battle, helping your immune system work at its optimal best.

References:

1. Ko HC, Wei BL, Chiou WF. The effect of medicinal plants used in Chinese folk medicine on RANTES secretion by virus-infected human epithelial cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 19;107(2):205-10.

2. Son MJ, Moon TC, Lee EK, Son KH, Kim HP, Kang SS, Son JK, Lee SH, Chang HW. Naturally occurring biflavonoid, ochnaflavone, inhibits cyclooxygenases-2 and 5-lipoxygenase in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. Arch Pharm Res. 2006 Apr;29(4):282-6.

3. Seymour ML, Gilby N, Bardin PG, Fraenkel DJ, Sanderson G, Penrose JF, Holgate ST, Johnston SL, Sampson AP. Rhinovirus infection increases 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 in bronchial biopsy specimens from nonatopic subjects. J Infect Dis. 2002 Feb 15;185(4):540-4.

4. Sun HX, Pan HJ. Immunological adjuvant effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis saponins on the immune responses to ovalbumin in mice. Vaccine. 2006 Mar 10;24(11):1914-20.

5. Miao MS, Gu LY, Fang XY, Miao YY. [Effect of Phragmites communis polysaccharide on the aged-model mice] [Article in Chinese]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2004 Jul;29(7):673-5.

6. Han SB, Park SH, Lee KH, Lee CW, Lee SH, Kim HC, Kim YS, Lee HS, Kim HM. Polysaccharide isolated from the radix of Platycodon grandiflorum selectively activates B cells and macrophages but not T cells. Int Immunopharmacol. 2001 Oct;1(11):1969-78.

7. Guo L, Zhang C, Li L, Xiao YQ. [Advances in studies on Platycodon grandiflorum] [Article in Chinese]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2007 Feb;32(3):181-6.

8. Yang Z, Liu N, Huang B, Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhu Y. [Effect of anti-influenza virus of Arctigenin in vivo] [Article in Chinese]. Zhong Yao Cai. 2005 Nov;28(11):1012-4.

9. Hosoda M, Yamaya M, Suzuki T, Yamada N, Kamanaka M, Sekizawa K, Butterfield JH, Watanabe T, Nishimura H, Sasaki H. Effects of rhinovirus infection on histamine and cytokine production by cell lines from human mast cells and basophils. J Immunol. 2002 Aug 1;169(3):1482-91.

10. Shin TY Inhibition of immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions by the aqueous extract of Mentha arvensis. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2003 May;25(2):273-83.

11. Shankar AH, Prasad AS. Zinc and immune function: the biological basis of altered resistance to infection. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Aug;68(2 Suppl):447S-463S.

12. Stephensen CB. Vitamiin A, Infection, and Immune Function. Annual Review of Nutrition. July 2001;21(1):167-192.

13. Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(2):85-94.