The Best Vitamins and Supplements to Boost Your Immune System (2024)

Vitamins for immune health have garnered a lot of attention in recent years, but not all of them are helpful. Our review highlights which are worth using.

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Over the past few years, immune health has taken center stage. The best vitamins for the immune system may help support optimal well-being, reduced inflammation and better immune cell function. Here are our top picks for the best supplements to help boost the immune system in 2024.

Our Picks for the Best Vitamins for Immune System Support in 2024:

• Multivitamin: Ritual Essentials for Men | Ritual Essentials for Women
• Best for Women's Immune Systems: Legion Triumph Women's Sport Multivitamin
• Best for Men’s Immune Systems: Transparent Labs Immune
• Best for Kids' Immune Systems: Olly Kids Immunity
• Vitamin B: Nature Made Super B Energy Complex
• Vitamin C: Care/of Vitamin C
• Vitamin D: Transparent Labs Vitamin D3 with K2
• Vitamin E: Kaged Multivitamin
• Zinc + Multivitamin: Clinical Effects Daily Immune Support Gummies
• Magnesium + Vitamin Blend: Transparent Labs Magnesium Bisglycinate
• Best Greens Powder for Immune System: Athletic Greens

Multivitamin

Our Pick: Ritual Essentials for Men | Ritual Essentials for Women

Get 25% off your first month of Ritual! Code: SI25

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: Seven to 333 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for various nutrients
• Certifications: United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Verified (Women’s only), Non-GMO Project Verified
• Subscription: Monthly, with a discount on bundled subscriptions
• Key ingredients: Vitamin D3, vitamin E, folate, vitamin B12, magnesium
• Best for: Adult men, adult women
• Price per serving: $1.10

Taking a daily multivitamin can help people fill nutritional gaps for multiple nutrients in one supplement. You’ll want to find one that has a variety of vitamins in effective doses.

Ritual is a popular vitamin brand that makes high-quality multivitamins for all ages, basing their formulations on scientific research and sourcing their ingredients from reputable suppliers. Both the Ritual Essentials Multivitamin 18+ for Men and Women contain a number of ingredients that may be helpful for immune support, including vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, vitamin B12 and magnesium.

Ritual is our best immune multivitamin pick because of the brand’s ingredient sourcing transparency—you can see where each ingredient comes from on the product page. Additionally, the Essentials for Women capsules are verified by USP, ensuring that the product delivers exactly what the label says and is free of contaminants.

Reviewers say these supplements can cause fishy-tasting burps from the algal oil in the plant-based omega-3s, but they still give the multivitamins high ratings for their traceable ingredients. The capsules also have a mint essence, which should make swallowing them easier.

Related: The 8 Best Multivitamins for Adults to Take in 2024

What we like:

• Plant-based
• USP-verified (women's)
• Non-GMO Project Verified
• Traceable ingredients
• Formulated specifically for nutrient needs by sex and age

What to consider:

• Expensive

Best for Women’s Immune Systems

Our Pick: Legion Triumph Women's Sport Multivitamin

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 1 to 25,000 percent DV for various vitamins
• Certifications: Third-party tested for heavy metals, microbes, allergens and other contaminants
• Subscription: Monthly, 30% savings
• Key ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K1, vitamin K2, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium and potassium
• Best for: Women
• Price per serving: $1.66 (before discounts)

This multivitamin from Legion can cover several gaps in the diet, offering up to 25,000 percent of the DV for 22 vitamins and minerals. It includes many immune vitamins like vitamins C, D and E, along with minerals important for women's health like calcium and iron.

All Legion supplements are third-party tested for heavy metals, microbes, allergens and other contaminants to ensure they meet FDA purity standards. Reviewers on Legion's website have given this product 4.7/5 stars from 3,550 reviews. Positive reviews mention feeling more energized and being able to "feel the difference" from taking this multivitamin. According to Legion, you should take eight capsules daily. Though that may seem like a lot, many reviews mention taking four in the morning and four later in the day.

Related: The Best Multivitamins for Women, According to a Registered Dietitian

What we like:

• Third-party tested
• Contains 22 vitamins and minerals
• Highly rated

What to consider:

• On the pricier side
• Eight-capsule serving size

Best for Men’s Immune Systems

Our Pick: Transparent Labs Immune

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 30–2,083 percent of the DV for various nutrients
• Certifications: Third-party testing through Analytical Research Labs
• Subscription: Monthly, 10% savings
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, EpiCor dried yeast fermentate, organic reishi mushroom, quercetin, CurcuWIN, Gingever, BioPerine
• Best for: Men, women
• Price per serving: $0.67

This immune support supplement from Transparent Labs contains a variety of nutrients and botanical ingredients that may support immune health. In addition to vitamins C, D and B12, Immune contains ingredients like ginger that are helpful for men’s health and digestion.

Reviews for this product are positive, but it does require taking four capsules for a single serving. As with all Transparent Labs products, this one is third-party tested for quality and purity by Analytical Research Labs.

Related: The Best Multivitamins for Men of All Ages to Take in 2024

What we like:

• Third-party tested
• Variety of immune-boosting ingredients
• BioPerine for improved absorption of nutrients

What to consider:

• Four capsules in a serving

Best for Kids’ Immune Systems

Our Pick: Olly Kids Immunity

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 13 to 100 percent of various vitamins depending on child age
• Certifications: NSF-certified
• Subscription: Monthly, 15% savings 
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc 
• Best for: Children 2–4 or over 5 years old
• Price per serving: $0.28 (2–4 year olds); $0.56 (5 years and older)

In addition to their wide range of adult gummy vitamins, Olly offers a gummy range for children, which includes Olly Kids Immunity. This vitamin has vitamins and minerals that are important for children’s immune health, like vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc.

According to reviews, children really like the taste of these gummy vitamins, and parents seem pleased with their effectiveness. "My daughter suffers from severe allergies and is always sick. I started giving her this about two months ago and she has never been better!" writes a reviewer on Olly's website. However, be sure to consult with your pediatrician before adding any supplements to your child’s diet.

Related: The Best Multivitamins for Kids in 2024

What we like:

• Affordable
• Contain key nutrients that research shows help with immunity
• Fruit-flavored gummies formulated for kids
• Third-party tested

What to consider:

• Not vegan

Vitamin B

Our Pick: Nature Made Super B Energy Complex

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 118–1000 percent of the DV for all 8 B vitamins
• Certifications: USP Verified
• Subscription: Monthly, 10% savings
• Key ingredients: Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, panthotenic acid
• Best for: People with low B12 or other B vitamin deficiencies, those on a budget
• Price per serving: $0.24 (before discounts)

Although they may not directly affect the body’s resiliency to illness, B vitamins play a major role in proper immune cell function, making them extremely important for immune health and overall wellness.

This B-complex vitamin from Nature Made provides high doses of all eight B vitamins, which are a class of vitamins with key roles in cellular function and metabolism—including immune cell function. If you are on a low-carb diet or a vegan diet, you may have some gaps in your intake of certain B vitamins, so supplementation can be helpful.

All Nature Made products are USP-Verified, which means their ingredients meet rigorous standards for potency. This product has great reviews from customers who say they can feel a difference in their energy levels when using it.

According to package directions, you should take one softgel daily with water and a meal.

Related: Fight Fatigue with the Best Vitamins for Energy

What we like:

• Third-party tested
• Contains all eight B vitamins
• Inexpensive

What to consider:

• You may not need high doses of all of these nutrients
• Not vegan

Vitamin C

Our Pick: Care/of Vitamin C

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 278 percent DV vitamin C
• Certifications: Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, third-party tested
• Subscription: Monthly
• Key ingredients: Acerola cherry extract (vitamin C)
• Best for: People who don’t eat a lot of fruits or vegetables, people who need accountability taking their vitamins
• Price per serving: $0.23

Vitamin C increases the effectiveness of immune cells at neutralizing harmful cells. Some research suggests that vitamin C supplementation may also help reduce the severity of some illnesses, like colds.

Offered only in subscription format, Care/of Vitamin C capsules are a convenient way to up your intake of antioxidant, immune-supportive vitamin C. These capsules are third-party tested thrice for quality by leading labs in the U.S. In addition to their Vitamin C capsules, Care/of offers a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements in a convenient personalized pack for people who like to have all of their vitamins in one place

Reviewers note how inexpensive these vitamins are and how the monthly subscription format keeps them accountable for taking their daily vitamins.

Related: The Best Vitamin C Supplements of 2024

What we like:

• Good reviews for taste
• Convenient gummy form
• 278 percent DV of vitamin C

What to consider:

• Only available as a subscription

Vitamin D

Our Pick: Transparent Labs Vitamin D3 with K2

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 630 percent DV of vitamin D
• Certifications: Third-party testing through Analytical Resource Labs
• Subscription: Choose delivery frequency, 10% off
• Key ingredients: Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), menaquinone (vitamin K2)
• Best for: People with vitamin D deficiency, people who don’t spend a lot of time outside
• Price per serving: $0.17

Vitamin D promotes immune cell signaling and differentiation, which is important for an effective immune response to invader cells. Vitamin D may also help strengthen cell membranes and the lining of the gut to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Transparent Labs Vitamin D3 with K2 contains immune-boosting vitamin D, along with vitamin K2—a vitamin that many people don’t get enough of. As with all Transparent Labs supplements, their Vitamin D3 with K2 supplement is free of artificial sweeteners and colors, and made with natural ingredients.

Reviewers seem very satisfied with the product, and it has a low price point, too. The product contains highly refined titanium dioxide, a colorant and anti-caking agent; however, Transparent Labs products are third-party tested for quality and safety by Analytical Resource Labs.

Related: The 10 Best Vitamin D Supplements of 2024

What we like:

• Third-party tested
• Contains vitamin D3 and vitamin K2
• Inexpensive

What to consider:

• Contains titanium dioxide

Vitamin E

Our Pick: Kaged Multivitamin

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Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 100 percent DV of vitamin E
• Certifications: Informed Sport, non-GMO
• Subscription: Monthly, 10% savings
• Key ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc
• Best for: Athletes, people who have nutrient gaps in their diet
• Price per serving: $1.17

The benefits of vitamin E include strengthening specialized immune cells called T-cells, and also regulating the body’s inflammatory response. Additionally, low levels of vitamin E have been linked to immune system dysfunction.

Kaged is a well-known sports nutrition company that offers products geared towards athletes. The Kaged Whole Food Multivitamin contains 100 percent of the DV for several essential nutrients, including vitamin E—which is important for immune health, but often tricky to get enough of through the diet.

Kaged supplements are also Informed Sport Certified, meaning they are free of banned substances and safe for competitive athletes to consume.

Reviewers appreciate that these supplements are plant-based, and not too large—even though they’re packed with nutrients.

Related: The Best Vitamin E Supplements for Skin and Eye Health

What we like:

• Provides 100 percent of the DV for several nutrients
• Informed Sport Certified
• Whole food, organic ingredients

What to consider:

• Expensive

Magnesium + Vitamin Blend

Our Pick: Transparent Labs Magnesium Bisglycinate

SI Showcase + Transparent Labs

Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 71 percent DV of magnesium
• Certifications: Third party tested by Analytical Research Labs
• Subscription: Choose shipping frequency, 10% savings
• Key ingredients: Magnesium bisglycinate chelate
• Best for: People who don’t get enough magnesium, highly active people
• Price per serving: $0.57

Magnesium is helpful for several different roles in immune health and proper immune cell functioning. The Transparent Labs Magnesium Bisglycinate uses, of course, magnesium bisglycinate for this supplement because it’s more well-absorbed than some other supplemental forms of magnesium like magnesium oxide. It contains some additives, but is also third-party tested for quality and purity. Reviewers also like this magnesium supplement for its brain-supporting benefits, like focus and relaxation.

What we like:

• Third-party tested
• Highly absorbable form

What to consider:

• Contains some processed additives

Zinc + Multivitamin

Our Pick: Clinical Effects Daily Immune Support Gummies

SI Showcase + Clinical Effects

Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: 68 percent DV for zinc
• Certifications: None
• Subscription: Monthly, 20% savings
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, zinc, elderberry
• Best for: People who prefer gummies, people who want botanicals in their supplement
• Price per serving: $1.17

The benefits of zinc include the role it plays in healthy cell development, wound healing and immune support.

Clinical Effects is a U.S. based supplement company that sells a variety of dietary supplements. Their Daily Immune Support gummies contain immune-supportive zinc and vitamin C, along with botanical elderberry extract—which may also support immune health.

This supplement contains added sugar and added artificial flavors, but reviewers like the taste and appreciate the immune-strengthening ingredients.

What we like:

• Contains vitamin C, zinc and elderberry
• Convenient gummy form
• 20% subscription savings

What to consider:

• Contains artificial flavor
• Expensive

Best Greens Powder for Immune System

Our Pick: Athletic Greens

SI Showcase

Key features:

• Percent of Daily Value: Two to 1,100 percent of the DV for various nutrients
• Certifications: NSF Certified Sport
• Subscription: Monthly, 20% savings
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc, various botanical ingredients and probiotics
• Best for: Athletes, health-minded people
• Price per serving: $3.30

AG1 by Athletic Greens is a high-quality greens powder that can replace several other supplements. It acts as a multivitamin, probiotic, digestive enzyme supplement and fruit and vegetable antioxidant supplement, and it contains several ingredients that may support immune function.

AG1 has excellent reviews from customers for the benefits they feel they receive from it, but note that it is expensive. It’s also NSF Certified for Sport, so it’s safe for use in competitive athletes.

According to the Athletic Greens website, AG1 should be taken 10 minutes before a meal dissolved in eight to 10 ounces of cold water. However, they say that it can be taken anytime if needed.

Related: The Best Greens Powders to Bump Up Your Nutrient Intake

What we like:

• Several nutrients
• Other beneficial ingredients, like probiotics and functional mushrooms
• NSF Certified for Sport

What to consider:

• Expensive

What Are Vitamins for Immune System Support?

There are several different types of immune-boosting supplements. These include supplements that contain immune-supportive nutrients, which are essential vitamins and minerals. The most well-known and researched nutrients for immune health are:

• B vitamins: These vitamins help regulate cellular function and energy metabolism for all of the cells in the body, including immune cells.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin with several different immune-related functions. It plays a number of roles in skin health, and skin is sometimes called the body’s largest immune organ because it serves as a barrier to keep pathogens out.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is necessary for bone health, but may also improve immune health. Several autoimmune conditions and other conditions related to immune health have been linked to low blood levels of vitamin D.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E, like vitamin C, is an antioxidant that helps protect the cells. It’s found in larger concentrations in immune cells than other types of cells.
• Magnesium: Magnesium has over 300 known functions in the body, including several related to immunity. It plays a key role in the proper functioning of specialized immune cells called lymphocytes. Low magnesium levels in the blood have also been linked to chronic, systemic inflammation—which is a maladaptive immune response that may lead to a number of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Zinc: A zinc deficiency may lead to reduced immune cell counts and poorer immune cell function, which could weaken the body’s immune response. Zinc deficiency has also been linked to increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress.

You can purchase multivitamins that contain blends of vitamins and minerals, or supplements that contain a single vitamin or mineral.

Additionally, there are a number of herbal or botanical supplements that are commonly used for immune support—like elderberry and echinacea.

Many immune support supplements contain a combination of essential nutrients and botanical ingredients.

Still, although botanical ingredients may be helpful in some cases, nutrients have the most evidence to support their potential immune-strengthening benefits.

Benefits of Immune Boosting Vitamins

There are a few different ways that vitamins and minerals can support immune health. Here are a few of the most common immune-supporting benefits of these nutrients.

Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

Inflammation and oxidative stress can both have a significant impact on immune function. Inflammation is actually an immune response, and short-term inflammation is helpful—it essentially draws immune cells to the site of an illness or injury to promote healing. However, long-term, systemic inflammation can be harmful to your health. It keeps your body in a continuous state of “fight or flight,” and has been linked to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Likewise, oxidative stress refers to damage caused to your cells by free radical compounds. Like inflammation, some free radicals can support your health, but sedentary lifestyles, highly processed diets and contaminated environments can sharply increase the body’s free radical load. This leads to systemic cellular damage, which can trigger widespread inflammation. Both of these processes can keep your immune system from working efficiently.

Fortunately, vitamins D, C and E have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help to reduce inflammation and neutralize free radicals.

Promote immune cell activity

The immune system has many different types of cells, all with unique and important roles. These include:

• Natural killer cells: Natural killer cells can identify and destroy invader cells.
• Macrophages: These white blood cells can swallow up harmful pathogens and eliminate them.
• Lymphocytes: These white blood cells can adapt and “remember” prior infections, helping your body to more effectively recover from illnesses you’ve already had.
• T-cells: T-cells are specialized lymphocytes that can launch a directed attack against a specific pathogen or type of cell.

One key way that nutrients may boost the immune system is by helping immune cells proliferate and work more efficiently.

The B-vitamin thiamin (vitamin B1), for instance, helps provide energy to immune cells, and vitamin B6 may help increase white blood cell production, according to a 2020 review in Nutrients.

Magnesium and zinc also play many roles in the production and activity of immune cells.

Improve symptoms or reduce illness duration

Finally, these vitamins and minerals may also directly impact illness symptoms or the duration of an illness.

Vitamin C, for example, may slightly shorten the duration and severity of the common cold if it’s taken year-round. However, many people don’t take a vitamin C supplement until they start feeling cold symptoms, and this practice doesn’t appear to be effective.

There’s also some evidence that zinc may help reduce the symptoms and shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections, according to a 2021 meta-analysis in BMJ Open.

However, there’s very little strong scientific evidence to support the use of any one of these nutrients on a short-term basis to help with illness prevention or recovery.

Precautions to Note

Immune-supporting vitamin and mineral supplements are safe for most people.

Still, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should consult your healthcare provider before adding an immune supplement to your routine—especially if it contains herbal ingredients. These ingredients are riskier than vitamins in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Additionally, depending on the ingredients of a given supplement, it could affect some medical conditions or interact with certain medications. If you have a chronic medical condition or if you’re taking any prescription medications, talk to your doctor before adding immune supplements to your daily routine.

Finally, certain medical conditions may be worsened by strengthening the immune system—such as autoimmune disorders. If you have one of these conditions or if you’re taking any immunosuppressive drugs, speak with your doctor before taking immune vitamins.

How to Choose the Best Supplements to Boost the Immune System for You

Here are a few factors to keep in mind as you’re shopping for immune support vitamins:

• Type: There are countless supplements available that claim to help with immune support. When you’re shopping, consider the type that may be most beneficial for you. A multivitamin may be helpful if you’re concerned about gaps in your diet, and a single vitamin supplement may be worth taking if you know that you have a nutrient deficiency.
• Form: Do you prefer gummies, pills or liquid? It’s best to purchase an immune vitamin in the form you prefer so that it’s easier for you to take consistently.
• Price: Supplements can range significantly in price. It’s an important consideration, especially if you plan to take an immune vitamin long-term. Be sure to choose one that will fit in your budget month after month.
• Testing and certifications: Supplements that are third-party tested or certified are generally a better purchase than others. This extra testing ensures that the products are pure, free of contaminants and safe—and that what’s in the bottle matches what’s on the label.

What to Avoid in Immune Boosting Vitamins

When looking for immune-boosting vitamin supplements, there are a few things to avoid:

• Proprietary blends: Proprietary blends are combinations of ingredients that are unique to a brand. These proprietary blends may contain various beneficial ingredients, but the manufacturer doesn’t have to disclose how much of each ingredient is in a serving. Not all proprietary blends are bad, but in many cases the amounts of ingredients in proprietary blends aren’t clinically helpful.
• Filler ingredients: Refined filler ingredients like dyes or industrial preservatives aren’t necessary in vitamins. Although many vitamins contain these ingredients, there are several brands that steer clear of these additives.
• Untrustworthy brands: Finally, you want to stick with reputable brands. But how can you tell if a brand is reputable or not? There are a few ways. First, check to see if their products are third-party tested or if they have any third-party certifications. Next, check to see if their reviews seem authentic. Finally, you can also consult sites like ConsumerLab for in-depth reports on various vitamins. ConsumerLab requires a subscription, but it may be worth the fee if you purchase supplements regularly.

How We Chose the Best Vitamins for Immune System

In choosing the best immune vitamins, we aimed for a variety of multivitamins and single vitamins at several price points to meet different needs. We also stuck with reputable brands with mostly positive, authentic product reviews. The formulas we chose are, for the most part, free of unnecessary additives. Finally, we also tried to include products that were either third-party tested or certified by various independent labs or certifying organizations.

Foods That Can Help Boost the Immune System

Although nearly all nutrients have some effect on immune health, some vitamins and minerals play a particularly important role. Here are the best nutrients for immune support, along with some of the best food sources of each:

• Vitamin C: Bell peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, broccoli
• Vitamin D: Trout, salmon, UV-exposed mushrooms, vitamin D-fortified milk, vitamin D-fortified cereal
• Vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, almonds, sunflower oil, hazelnuts, peanut butter
• Magnesium: Pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, spinach, cashews
• Zinc: Oysters, beef, crab, zinc-fortified cereal, pumpkin seeds
• B Vitamins: Beef, eggs, fortified grains, leafy green vegetables, beans

Best Vitamins for Immune System FAQs

How do I know if my immune system is weak?

Your immune system may be weak if you get sick regularly, or if your sicknesses linger for a while. Chronic inflammatory conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease or autoimmune conditions may also weaken your immune system or divert its resources from fighting against harmful pathogens.

Can I take vitamin C and vitamin D together?

Yes, you can take vitamin C and vitamin D supplements together. Just remember that you shouldn’t exceed the manufacturer’s recommended daily dose for either of these vitamins.

What causes a weak immune system?

Several factors are at play with regard to immune strength: diet, exercise, sleep, stress, genetics, underlying medical conditions, inflammation and environment, to name a few.

To pinpoint the exact cause of your suspected weakened immune system, you’ll need to consult with your healthcare provider for further testing.

Takeaway: Are Vitamins for Your Immune System Worth It?

The best supplements to boost the immune system may include nutrients like zinc, magnesium, B vitamins and vitamins C, D and E. Still, it’s important to remember that—although these nutrients may support proper immune functioning—there’s very little research that they can actually reduce illness. You’ll also want to talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Immune support vitamins may make a small positive difference for your immune health and overall wellness, but several other factors—like genetics, a balanced diet and underlying medical conditions—can significantly impact your immune responses, too.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.