for Veterans and the Public

Vitamins and minerals that affect the immune system

Diet and Nutrition

Back to Vitamin and Mineral Chart

Name	What It Does	Where to Get It	About Supplements
Source: Adapted from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Vitamin A and beta-carotene	Keeps skin, lungs, and stomach healthy.	liver, whole eggs, milk, dark green, yellow, orange, and red vegetables and fruit (like spinach, pumpkin, green peppers, squash, carrots, papaya, and mangoes). Also found in orange and yellow sweet potatoes	It's best to get vitamin A from food. Vitamin A supplements are toxic in high doses. Supplements of beta-carotene (the form of vitamin A in fruits and vegetables) have been shown to increase cancer risk in smokers.
Vitamin B-group (B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, Folate)	Keeps the immune and nervous system healthy.	white beans, potatoes, meat, fish, chicken, watermelon, grains, nuts, avocados, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables
Vitamin C	Helps protect the body from infection and aids in recovery.	citrus fruits (like oranges, grapefruit, and lemons), tomatoes, and potatoes
Vitamin E	Protects cells and helps fight off infection.	green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and peanuts	Limit to 400 IU per day.
Iron	Not having enough iron can cause anemia.	green leafy vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas, dried fruit, beans, red meat, chicken, liver, fish, and eggs	Limit to 45 mg per day unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. Iron may be a problem for people with HIV because it can increase the activity of some bacteria. Supplements that do not contain iron may be better. Ask your VA doctor.
Selenium	Important for the immune system.	whole grains, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, peanut butter, and nuts	Limit to 400 mcg per day.
Zinc	Important for the immune system.	meat, fish, poultry, beans, peanuts, and milk and dairy products	Limit to 40 mg per day.