Older adults, aged 55 to 75 years, who took a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement in a 12-week study experienced sickness for shorter periods and with less severe symptoms than counterparts in a control group receiving a placebo.
In the study, the same percentage of participants in each group reported symptoms, but days of sickness in the supplement group averaged fewer than three compared to more than six for the placebo group.
The multivitamin supplement used in the study contained 700 micrograms of vitamin A; 400 international units of vitamin D; 45 milligrams of vitamin E; 6.6 milligrams of vitamin B6; 400 micrograms of folate; 9.6 micrograms of vitamin B12; 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C; 5 milligrams of iron; 0.9 milligrams of copper; 10 milligrams of zinc; and 110 micrograms of selenium.
More studies are needed to shed more light on these findings, and determine which of these minerals and vitamins provide immune benefits.
Read original article here: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/multivitamin-mineral-supplement-linked-less-severe-shorter-lasting-illness-symptoms
