Antioxidant vitamins and their effect on immune system

Abstract

Antioxidant vitamins are organic molecules that have vital roles in the human body. They are essential nutrients and mainly found in the food and are required in small quantities for the maintenance of the human body. Antioxidant vitamins play a major role in reducing and controlling oxidative stress and infectious diseases. This review aims to broaden the knowledge of the antioxidant vitamins (C, E, and A) and their effect on the immune system. These vitamins protect the immune system and enhance resistance against infectious microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It is highly recommended to include antioxidants in the daily diet, as their lack can weaken the immune system and ultimately its ability in defending the body against diseases. Although vitamins are required in specific doses to maintain functional immune system, they mostly used as supplements. Vitamin C supplementation, for example, has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of upper respiratory infections, including colds. Moreover, it has been suggested that there is a close relationship between the deficiency of vitamins and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, AIDS and CoV-2 SARS, as well as infectious diseases spread through the respiratory and digestive systems.