In this article we will be discussing a very common question: vitamins good for allergies. It’s quite a sensitive & complex subject, as such we will do our best at providing a clear and concise article to clear any doubts you may have.
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts the immune system. It also acts as a natural antihistamine. As vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, it may act as a treatment for allergies.
The researchers observed that high doses of intravenous vitamin C reduced allergy symptoms. Another study from 2000 suggests taking 2 grams (g) of vitamin C daily to act as an antihistamine. The vitamin is present in many fruits and vegetables, including: bell peppers
broccoli
cantaloupe melon
cauliflower
citrus fruits
kiwifruit
strawberries
tomatoes and tomato juice
winter squash Vitamin C supplements, with and without bioflavonoids, are available in health stores, drug stores, and online.
How Effective Is Vitamin C For Allergies?
There’s some evidence that vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, may help with some allergies. Allergy symptoms happen when your immune system reacts to a foreign invader, called an allergen. Cells in your immune system called mast cells are activated and release histamine to help block the invader.
Histamine may trigger the following allergy symptoms Vitamin C acts differently from antihistamine medications, reducing the amount of histamine you produce rather than blocking histamine receptors. Receiving a higher dose of vitamin C through an IV might be more effective.
The study found that people who had allergies benefited from a greater reduction in histamine than those with infectious diseases Another observational study looked at the effects of giving an intravenous (IV) infusion of vitamin C to people with allergic symptoms in the skin or respiratory system. It found that a 7.5-gram dose via IV was associated with a reduction in allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itching, restlessness, and sleep problems in 97% of people with allergies.
The study found it improved symptoms by 74% The body of research looking at the effects of vitamin C on allergies is relatively small. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine that several small studies have shown may reduce allergy symptoms.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies?
Supplements And Allergy Treatment
“If you go to a store to purchase a supplement, you don’t exactly know what you’re getting,” says Julie McNairn, MD, an allergist/immunologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, who cautions her patients that supplements don’t always contain what the label states. Herbs, vitamins, and other substances that have been promoted for the treatment of allergies and related conditions, ranging from the common cold to asthma, include:
Butterbur
Bromelain, enzymes extracted from the pineapple and related plants
Quercetin
Stinging nettle
Vitamin C
Ginkgo biloba
Aloe
Evening primrose
Thymomodulin, an extract made from the thymus glands of calves
Vitamin D
Flavenoids
Gamma-tocopherol, the primary form of dietary vitamin E (as opposed to alpha-tocopherol, the form usually found in supplements)
Ganoderma tsugae, a mushroom that grows on hemlock trees
NCCAM, an arm of the National Institutes of Health, is investigating the effectiveness of such alternative forms of allergy treatment as vitamins and other supplements. As of now, there is insufficient evidence to warrant recommending a supplement to treat an allergy.
While it is not clear whether probiotics are helpful in treating an allergy, says Dr. Mcnairn, there is probably no harm in taking them.