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Vitamin
E for Immune Health
Your
immune system protects your body in many ways. But
as you get older, a certain subset of the immune system,
known as T cells, gradually declines. This decline
begins in your 30s and accelerates through your 40s
and beyond.
T
cells have a major role of helping another subset,
known as B cells, to produce antibodies that fight
off common infections and kill viruses, bacteria and
tumors. As with T cells, your immune system also produces
fewer and fewer antibodies as you age. And, unfortunately,
along with this decline of T cells and antibodies,
there is an increase in the bad kind of antibodies
called autoantibodies that attack certain parts of
your body. This could lead to diseases such as lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis and many others.
THE
GOOD NEWS: This decline in function of your immune
system is not inevitable! Exciting research shows
that it can actually be reversed and immunity can
be boosted with certain supplements. Among these supplements
is vitamin E.
Several studies have shown that older people who are
given vitamin E supplements actually improve their
T cell function. Apparently, vitamin E decreases the
production of free radicals and another chemical known
as prostaglandins. As a result, T cell function increases
and additional antibodies develop to fight disease.
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