The 13 best vitamins to boost immunity

*Review of the best according to the editorial board. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, it is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. Consultation with a specialist is required before purchase.

Vitamins are relatively simple organic molecules, which, brought into the body with food, belong neither to proteins, nor to fats, nor to carbohydrates, nor to minerals, nor to trace elements. Without taking part in plastic and energy metabolism, they are necessary for the body to function, as needed for the normal functioning of enzymes. That’s what makes these vitamins unique.

It is impossible without vitamins and normally functioning immunity, or a set of different reactions that protect the body from external invasion (germs, viruses, fungi) and from internal aggression (destruction of abnormal, malignant cells).

For example, one of the most well-known vitamins to boost immunity is vitamin C, or the common ascorbic acid, “ascorbic acid”. If it is deficient, frequent colds and various infections occur, pustules form on the skin and the body’s general resistance is reduced.

The modern pharmaceutical industry produces a large variety of vitamin complexes that help improve immunity. That said, there are no special vitamins that are only needed to boost immune status, as vitamins are involved in a variety of biochemical reactions. This review will look at the most popular and effective vitamins to boost immunity for different groups: pregnant women, the elderly, than the age has passed 50 years, as well as for children.

Rating of the best vitamins to improve immunity

The best children’s vitamins for improving immunity

In childhood, immune deficiency is often manifested by infectious diseases, more than 4 or 5 times a year, respiratory infections occurring without fever. Immune deficiency in the child is often indicated by fatigue and pallor, an increase in regional lymph nodes, such as cervical and axillary. These children are often allergic to the most common innocuous foods, there is an unstable stool, indicating the appearance of dysbiosis.

In infants who receive their mother’s milk, protection is largely provided by passive maternal immunity, but when breastfeeding ceases, the first critical period of. When toddlers interact with peers in nursery and kindergarten, there is a new period of anxiety. There are a lot of such situations in a child’s life. Below are the following vitamin complexes, which can help increase the protection of the child’s body.

Multitabs Baby

Rating: 4.9

For the little ones who are less than a year old, the vitamins Multitabs Baby are available. Their composition is not as diverse as similar products for adults. The complex contains vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C. The concentration and vitamin set has been specially selected to compensate possible deficiencies if the baby is artificially fed. These drops are used in a dosage of 1 ml per day, with or after a meal, and are prescribed for the prevention of vitamin deficiencies, with frequent colds, as well as for the prevention of rickets. Multitabs Baby is produced by the Danish company Ferrosan and you can buy a 30 ml pack for a month’s course of treatment for only 370 USD.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of this complex is that it is hypoallergenic, as it contains only three essential vitamins. The disadvantages include a slight laxative effect, a ban on their use with elevated blood calcium levels, as well as a small content of ethanol in the drops. Its concentration does not exceed 7%, and is quite acceptable for babies, but it may be contraindicated for children with congenital liver disease.

VitaMishki immuno plus Sea Buckthorn

Rating: 4.8

Vitamins Immuno plus with sea buckthorn is produced by the domestic pharmaceutical company Farmamed. This complex is used in young children starting at age three and up to 14 years old. In addition to vitamins C, which protects against colds, and E, which has antioxidant properties, Vitamix contains an increased amount of zinc and selenium. Sea buckthorn is additionally used as a source of immunostimulating, antimicrobial, and restorative properties. Vitamins look like chewy lozenges in the shape of funny animals, the manufacturer offers a choice of four flavors: lemon, orange, grape and peach.

Vitamins are shown as a prophylactic, as well as in the treatment of avitaminosis. They are prescribed one lozenge a day from 3 to 7 years of age, and over 7 years – twice a day, take Vitamins with food. The average cost of a pack of 30 lozenges for a one-month course of treatment of small children or two weeks of treatment of older children costs from 360 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

A big plus of Vitamishek is the addition of healing extracts of sea buckthorn berries, a pleasant taste, a good balance of the vitamin composition, taking into account the needs of a growing baby, the presence of zinc and selenium, the ability to choose a taste, beautiful and exciting form. The only disadvantages are individual intolerance.

Supradin Kids Bears

Rating: 4.7

Supradin Kids Bears are recommended by pediatricians as an additional source of vital vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, nicotinamide, and other essential vitamins. It is indicated for 3 chewable lozenges for children from the age of 11 years. The doses of vitamins are chosen specifically to provide maximum protection for the immune system, taking into account the increased daily needs of the young body for school stress. These vitamins have a funny jelly-bear shape, and should be taken in one chewable lozenge a day for 1 month. Produce these vitamins German pharmaceutical company omoform, and the average cost in Russian pharmacies in the fall of 2018 1 package, designed for a month of intake, is 456 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

According to assurances from parents, such funny bears children not only willingly take, but also do not forget to skip the appointment, reminding their parents that today they have not “eaten a bear yet. In addition we can point out the high German quality, good tolerance, pleasant taste, and convenience of application – only one lozenge a day. As for contraindications, it is only an individual intolerance, but it can develop to any vitamin and to any drug.

Immunal plus C

Rating: 4.7

This medication consists of only two components, and is indicated for use in children and adults, the minimum age is only one year. It consists of ascorbic acid, and dried echinacea purpurea juice, which is a good immunostimulant. Available as a syrup, Immunal Plus C, and should be taken by kids in a milliliter three times a day, children from 4 to 12 years – 2 ml, and older children, as well as adults – 3 ml three times a day. Immunal Plus C is indicated both for prophylaxis and for treatment of various immune deficiencies, in complex therapy of acute and chronic upper respiratory tract infections. The lek company from Slovenia produces this syrup, and the average cost of one bottle of 50 ml is 420 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Immunal plus C can be called its two-component composition, which means a minimal risk of allergies. A very big plus will be the possibility of prescribing it to almost everyone: from one-year-old babies to the elderly. Therefore, it could fall into the category of immune vitamins for adults, and even for the elderly. Still, it was decided to place it in this group to note its safety even for infants.

The disadvantage of immunal can be considered the repeated use: 3 times a day, as well as the possibility of the existence of an allergy to echinacea extract. Also a significant disadvantage may be the high cost of this drug. So, if we are talking about a child of 13 years, with a dosage of 9 ml per day, one bottle is enough only for 5-6 days, and the official instructions recommend at least 7 or 10 days just to achieve the therapeutic effect. Consequently, the course dosage may be at least 2 weeks, or even a month, as is common for most vitamins. In this case, the monthly amount given for this drug (5.5 bottles) will be more than 2200 rubles. And that’s something many people can’t afford even for serious medications, let alone vitamins.

The best vitamins to improve immunity in adults

In the adult, mature period of his life, the human body experiences the greatest physical and emotional stress. A large part of the immunity stability in adulthood depends not only on the quality of nutrition and diet. Lifestyle, unhealthy habits, a significant decrease in physical activity, stress, lead to a decrease in immune defense. Of course, the best way to normalize immunity is for a person to take care of chronic diseases, maintain a normal body weight, exercise, give up bad habits, and minimize the effects of stress. A very important factor in the normalization of immune status is a healthy and adequate sleep, regular sexual activity. But when help is needed, especially in critical periods of increased physical and mental stress, in the complex treatment of diseases, special vitamin remedies come to the rescue, which are selected in accordance with the increased requests of the body for vitamins that regulate immunity. This rating presents the most popular and effective vitamin medications that boost immunity in adults.

Immunilflor

Rating: 4.9

Immunilflor is the first representative of the vitamin complexes in the rating, which is specifically designed to emphasize the preservation of the immune system in adults. The only thing is that we should not confuse Immunilflor with the well-known veterinary drug Immunoflor. This remedy (Immunilflor) is a supplement that helps not only to activate the organism, but also to stimulate the protective abilities of cellular and humoral immunity. It contains echinacea extract, ascorbic acid, probiotics in the form of lactobacilli and streptococci, cat’s claw extract, and zinc. Immunilflor is available in 500 mg capsules.

This remedy is shown as a stimulant of the immune system, as well as for the correction of conditions associated with loss of vitality, chronic fatigue, sleepiness, during recovery from infectious diseases. Apply the drug should be one capsule daily with meals, the course duration is about 3 weeks. This product is manufactured by ESI, an Italian company. Currently, the average cost of one pack of 30 capsules for a month of treatment is about 700 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this drug include a pronounced activating and immunogenic orientation, it contains a sufficient number of herbal extracts that tone the body. The disadvantage is the presence of contraindications. These include high blood pressure, hypervigilance, insomnia, the presence of essential tremor, and other similar conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to consult with your doctor before the first use of funds. But in the case that the remedy is taken according to the indications and in the right dosage, then the person after a course of reception experiences activity and vigor, and his body successfully resists infectious diseases.

Vitrum performance

Rating: 4.9

This wonderful vitamin and mineral complex for adults, specially created to protect the immune system, is one of the most complete, presented not only in this rating, but also in general, on the pharmaceutical market. Each tablet contains 13 vitamins, including not very common vitamin K1, minerals such as calcium, potassium and phosphorus, and 14 trace elements, taking into account daily requirements of an adult. These include such rare ones as tin, boron, vanadium, and silicon. These elements are not often found in vitamin complexes, but they are very necessary for the body. Each tablet contains ginseng extract in the amount of 50 mg as an additional adaptogen that increases the body’s defenses

This drug is indicated not only for prevention, but also in the treatment of conditions such as overwork, memory disorders and headaches, dizziness and poor memory, recovery from serious illnesses.

Of course, in the presence of diseases it is necessary not to use Vitrum perfomance as a means of self-treatment, you should always consult a specialist. Vitrum should be taken with food, with one tablet daily. This drug, like many other inexpensive vitamins, is manufactured by the American company Unipharm. The cost of a bottle of Vitrum performance, designed for a monthly course, is on average about 1000 rubles

Advantages and disadvantages

The richest mineral, vitamin and trace element composition, enriched with natural ginseng, speaks for itself. Vitrum performance is a quite serious dietary supplement, and is used in the treatment of many, even severe, diseases. So, one of the indications will be the stimulation of immunity in cancer patients after a course of chemotherapy. But there are two sides to every coin. Such a rich composition (the complex includes 31 active ingredients), increases the incidence of individual intolerance and mild adverse reactions in the form of allergic reactions. It is also possible to refer this product to the vitamin preparations of the highest price range.

Immuno Extra

Rating: 4.8

This product, unlike the above-described vitamin and mineral complexes, contains a significant amount of plant extracts. In its composition, in addition to well-known vitamins A, E, ascorbic acid, trace elements such as zinc and magnesium, additionally includes rosehip extract, extracts of purple and pale echinacea. Additionally, Immuno Extra is enriched with inositol. This formulation allows not only a pronounced immunostimulatory effect, but also helps to reduce chronic inflammation, improve the lymphatic system, and even helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood plasma.

Immuno Extra is indicated not only for prophylaxis, but also for complex therapy of various respiratory viral infections, when fighting herpes infection, influenza, with increased physical and mental stress. Separately remedy is shown for the adaptation of the body in an adverse environmental situation.

Immuno Extra has special conditions for taking it. The product is available in individual vials for oral administration of 11 ml each. The manufacturer recommends to drink the contents of one or two vials, 30 minutes before a meal during a month. The bottle should be shaken before use, and if desired, it can be diluted with water or juice. Immuno Extra is produced by the Italian company Martinez.

Advantages and disadvantages

This drug is quite a strong adaptogen, and therefore there are certain contraindications. It is pregnancy and lactation, diseases such as gastritis with hyperacidity, peptic ulcer during exacerbation, bronchial asthma, heart failure. Of the side effects are rare allergic reactions, but the drug is well tolerated if the recommended dosages are followed, and contributes to a rapid rise in immunity.

The best vitamins to improve immunity during pregnancy

You could begin this section with the standard phrase: “pregnancy is a special condition”. But so many people write. It is better to explain what vitamins should be enriched the diet of a pregnant woman. During pregnancy, a woman’s body needs one and a half times more calcium, which is part of the baby’s bones, 30% more than the daily requirement of vitamins B6 and B12, zinc and iodine. The body of a pregnant woman needs twice as much iron and folic acid.

There is one significant addition. While standard vitamin complexes for adults to improve immunity may contain additional additives such as ginseng, guarana, echinacea, while choosing products for pregnant women it is advisable to avoid additional components. Adaptogens can not only stimulate the immune system, but also have side effects that may affect the baby’s body in unknown ways, such as causing allergies later. Therefore, for pregnant women, you should limit yourself to that minimal set of vitamins that will have virtually no side effects, except for the inevitable individual intolerance.

Ideally, there should be separate vitamin complexes for each trimester of pregnancy, since each trimester is a specific stage in the development of the baby. Therefore, if a pregnant woman acquires a particular multivitamin complex, she should ask the pharmacy for which trimester it is intended. Let’s list the most effective and popular vitamins to support the immune system of a pregnant woman, which simultaneously benefit not only the expectant mother, but also the baby.

Vitrum prenatal forte

Rating: 4.9

Vitrum prenatal forte is a powerful complex, which not only prevents the development of avitaminosis, but can also help in the treatment of some disorders, such as threatened abortion, with vomiting in pregnant women, or with the formation of placental abnormalities.

Vitrum prenatal forte contains vitamin A and beta carotene, alpha-tocopherol and cholecalciferol, vitamin C and thiamine, folic acid, in the dosage that pregnant women need. Lack of folic acid is very dangerous in the first trimester, because there can be a serious malformation of the nervous system at the stage of formation of the primary tube. Vitrum prenatal includes minerals such as calcium and magnesium, iron, trace elements – copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and chromium.

Taking Vitrum prenatal forte is necessary both for the prevention of avitaminosis in pregnant women, and in preparation for pregnancy, as well as in the postpartum period. Vitrum prenatal forte is used on one tablet a day, in the morning after breakfast. The drug is manufactured by the American company Unipharm, and the cost of one pack, designed for a one-month course, is on average 640 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Vitrum prenatal forte is a specially designed complex for pregnant women, and therefore, if the recommended dosages are followed, there are usually no side effects. This medication should not be prescribed if the pregnant woman is taking any other vitamins at the same time, or separately vitamins A and D in drops, such as Aquadetrim. Vitrum prenatal forte is a well-balanced vitamin-mineral complex, in which the combination of price and quality is quite optimal.

Elevit pronatal

Rating: 4.8

This multivitamin-mineral complex not only contributes to a full course of pregnancy, it not only supplies the body of the future mother all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, but also significantly improves the cellular and humoral immunity. It contains 12 essential vitamins, three trace elements, and four minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.

Elevit Pronatal is indicated as a remedy for the prevention of hypovitaminosis at all stages: during pregnancy planning, during pregnancy, in the postpartum period, as well as during breast-feeding. It is desirable to start taking it a month before the planned pregnancy. Elevit Pronatal is taken once a day with a meal. The tablet should be swallowed with a small amount of water. Thus, the course of taking this medicine, as recommended by the manufacturer, is quite long. Produces this complex by the German company Bayer, and one pack of 100 pills, designed for 3 months of use, costs 1,800 rubles. The cost of a bottle, designed for a month, will cost about 710 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this complex include a rich and well-balanced composition, and to the disadvantages – various side effects. This may include abdominal discomfort, allergic reactions, increased calcium in the urine, headache, dizziness, and insomnia. In women taking Elevit, staining of urine in a bright yellow color may be noted. It is safe, and is due to the metabolism of riboflavin.

Complivit trimesterum

Rating: 4.7

Complivit trimesterum is not a single complex, but an entire family, a whole line of minerals and vitamins. These are three different preparations, each of which contains a unique combination of useful ingredients that are indicated specifically for each period of pregnancy. This is the leading and unconditional advantage of this drug. Not having the possibility to describe here all three successive complexes during pregnancy and their differences, we can only say that all together these complexes for each trimester contain more than 20 elements, including folic acid and zinc, all essential vitamins as well as rutin and lutein. The whole “highlight” is in the finely balanced dosages, which are different for each period of pregnancy.

Complivit is used one tablet a day, immediately after meals, washed down with plenty of liquid. Complivit trimesterum is indicated as a prophylactic. Complivit is produced by the domestic company “Pharmstandard” and, for example, the price of “Complivit 1 trimester” is 330 rubles. For a pack of 30 capsules. Thus, the cost of taking this type of complex will be 1000 rubles. per trimester, which is very inexpensive. Other representatives of this line have a similar price range.

Advantages and disadvantages

In addition to the unconditional plus in the form of a flexible approach to the course of pregnancy, the convenience of taking this drug one capsule per day, the remedy has disadvantages. Complivit is contraindicated in cases of individual intolerance, with an increased content of vitamins, such as A and D, iron or calcium, with urolithiasis, with iron deficiency anemia. But this means at its price range is very popular in women’s clinics.

The best vitamins to boost immunity in the elderly over 50

At a mature age the compensatory possibilities of the organism and its ability to bear such peaks are considerably reduced. Therefore the task of vitamin drugs will not be to prepare the body’s reserves for possible resistance to increased stress, and the prevention of various chronic diseases that begin to appear in most people in their sixth decade of life. At an advanced age, phagocytosis activity decreases a little, decreases the ability to rapidly form antibodies, and therefore one should not overuse products for “boosting” the immune system. This can lead to the opposite result, namely – depletion of the immune system. This section of the rating includes the most successful vitamin complexes that support the immune system in persons 50+ at the proper level.

Multi-Tabs Immuno Plus

Rating: 4.9

This remedy for maintaining immunity in adults 50+ is a combination of complex vitamin and mineral supplement and eubiotic. Along with eleven vitamins and seven micronutrients, the tablets include beneficial microorganisms for intestinal function, and one tablet contains 1 billion. live lactobacilli, or colony forming units. The introduction of probiotic bacteria into the vitamin complex helps to improve the quality of the normal intestinal flora and eliminate the manifestation of dysbacteriosis, which often accompanies immunodeficiency.

Micronutrients include iron for hematopoiesis, zinc to enhance the immune system, chromium to protect against diabetes, selenium, and so on. It is indicated for the prevention and treatment of chronic colds, disbacteriosis, excessive stress reactions, chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s necessary to take one tablet a day, the course duration – at least 1 month. The Danish company Ferrosan produces this wonderful drug, and the average cost of a pack of 30 pills, designed for monthly use, is about 630 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The merits of this remarkable tool is undoubtedly a rare combination of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial bacteria for the gut. Balanced composition and well-balanced vitamin and mineral formula that meets the needs of the adult organism well protects the adult organism from the decrease of the immune background at the peak of various stresses. The disadvantages of this remedy include, in addition to individual intolerance, still a little high price. But if we take into account that if a person will buy another multivitamin complex at the pharmacy and eubiotic separately, it is likely that the price will be even higher.

Doppelgerz active Anti-stress

Rating: 4.8

Immune complexes do not always need to have any immune boosting additives in their composition. It is also important to keep in mind what risk factors can lower existing immune status. One such factor is chronic stress, anxiety and worry. Therefore, many vitamin-mineral complexes with anti-stress, calming and relaxing properties also allow to maintain immunity. And in old age, such an approach is much more useful than over-activation.

Doppelgerz active Antistress perfectly meets these conditions. Due to the melissa it has antispasmodic, sedative and mild hypotensive effect, Ginkgo biloba extract improves cerebral circulation and normalization of cognitive functions, a set of essential B vitamins, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, folic acid and biotin completely satisfy the daily requirement of the mature body for vitamins. This complex is shown to all adults, but especially it will be useful to those who have crossed the fifty-year mark, and whose activity requires regular rest and relaxation. The drug is very convenient to use: 1 tablet once a day with food. The average course of treatment is two months.

This wonderful vitamin and herbal complex is produced by the German company Kweisser Pharma, and a pack of 30 capsules to be taken for a month will cost about 375 rubles on average.

Advantages and disadvantages

In this drug from the disadvantages can be called only individual intolerance, its price range is quite attractive, the mode of intake is convenient. Melissa and ginkgo biloba are not extremely allergic and active components, in older people take numerous preparations based on ginkgo biloba, and dry extracts of melissa are included in many herbal teas with a relaxing effect. Therefore, elderly patients can safely recommend this drug as a first line of defense against stress, and as a means to maintain immunity at the proper level.

Actimmune multivitamin

Rating: 4.7

Finally, to conclude the rating of active vitamins for immunity in the elderly should pay attention to the budget price category. Actimmune multivitamin is such an inexpensive medicine, which is shown to elderly patients with low income for the prevention of hypovitaminosis, exacerbation of chronic infections, and the development of respiratory and viral diseases.

The product comes in two gelatin capsules for daily intake, soft and hard. The soft capsule contains unrefined linseed oil, fat-soluble vitamins E and D3. The composition of hard gelatin capsules contains vitamin and mineral complex containing ascorbic acid, pantothenic acid, zinc, B vitamins, vitamin PP and folic acid.

Aktimmune has a mild effect on the immune system, provides the body of an elderly patient with a specially selected and balanced, optimal amount of vitamins, and, according to expert reviews, the drug is well tolerated. It is necessary to use one soft and one hard capsule a day with meals. The course of treatment is one month. Produces this original multivitamin drug domestic company Letopharm, and the cost of a pack of 60 capsules for a month of taking is on average 132 rubles, which is quite inexpensive.

Advantages and disadvantages

This drug contains a minimal amount of vitamins, and does not contain those ingredients that may unnecessarily activate or cause imbalances in the immune system of the elderly patient. A big plus is the affordable cost of the drug, and convenience of taking it. The only drawback is that elderly patients with memory impairment may forget to take one soft and one hard capsule, and may mix up by taking two soft capsules and vice versa. In this case, a single dose of the drug is ideal.