Vitamin C - An Inexpensive Immune Boosting Supplement

View PDF | Print View
by: Darrell Miller
Total views: 3
Word Count: 554
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 Time: 2:15 AM
0 comments

Vitamin C is a readily available protection against diseases. It plays a major role in the biosynthesis of many different enzymes, and, over the past few decades, has been noted for its antioxidant activities. More importantly, this vitamin raises the immune system's mechanisms in response to pathogenic microorganisms and other invasive particles that enter the body.

Contributes to Cell-Mediated Immunity

While it has become common knowledge that Vitamin C has immune-boosting properties, its purported activities within the immune system has surfaced only recently. One important part of the body's defense mechanism against diseases in which this Vitamin is known to have an effect on is the release of cell-signaling protein molecules called cytokines within cells.

Vitamin C has shown to raise serum concentrations of a class of immunoglobulins known as IgA, which influence antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, in other words, the disposal of virus-infected cells to contain a disease at the cellular level. This mechanism also describes the ability of leucocytes, or white blood cells, to defeat larger organisms like parasitic worms in the stomach.

One mechanism of cells to do away with unwanted extracellular debris is called phagocytosis, which is similar to the eating mechanisms of simple microorganisms but, in multicellular organisms like human beings, is a highly effective way to eradicate bacteria, dead cells, and unnecessary cellular debris. Vitamin C affects the capacity of certain types of leucocytes to perform this action.

Modulates Humoral Immune Response

The body has a number of ways to counter diseases brought on by foreign materials. Bacteria and viruses are known to produce toxins and other potentially harmful particles identified as antigens, which trigger the manufacture of antibodies specialized for the antigens of concern. These antibodies are found in the humor, or body fluids, and thus involved in humoral immune response.

Lymphocytes called B are in general involved in the body's humoral immune response by secreting Immunoglobulin M, or IgM, the primary antibody produced by against blood-borne antigens, which includes viruses that cause hepatitis. It is now widely accepted that a strong immune system has high concentrations of antibodies capable of removing most known viruses.

Supplementation of vitamin C brings about a rise in the level of IgM in body fluids. This group of immunoglobulins is in general the body's first defense against antigens and is largely concentrated in surface mucous cells. IgM responds first to any invasive activities materials, spurring defenses that may be of help in removing antigens. Hence, vitamin C is central to the prevention of diseases.

Aids the Innate Immune System

Vitamin C has also shown to have positive effects on the innate immune system, which acts as the overall supervisor of the body's immune responses. Complement C3, a protein in the employ of the immune system in tearing membranes of foreign cells apart and modifying the molecular makeup of viruses are augmented by the presence of vitamin C.

We know for a fact that Vitamin C is inexpensive and, at the right amounts, a very powerful immune-booster at that. You can find vitamin C at your local or internet vitamin store. always choose name brands like Solaray to ensure quality and purity of the product you buy for better health.

About the Author

If you need an immune boost, give vitamin C a try risk free at VitaNet ®, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/