What supplements should you take?

Far from being an accessory, supplements have become a fundamental part of our health. Nutritional deficits and the effects of ageing need to be compensated, and more and more studies are supporting their regenerative power and extending their benefits. The question is: which ones and when are they advisable?

“It depends on each person’s lifestyle, but the most common thing is to take supplements to improve aspects such as cholesterol and high sugar, supplements to improve immunity, mood, sleep, hair loss, skin wrinkles or flaccidity…”, explains Dr Gloria Sabater, expert in Preventive Medicine at SHA Wellness Clinic.

The prescription of the supplementation will depend on an in-depth observational study of the patient’s markers that reveal the deficiencies that the individual presents and the objectives that are set.

These would be some of the most recommended by SHA Wellness Clinic:

Resveratrol: its multiple health benefits reported in numerous scientific studies are usually related to its ability to activate proteins called sirtuins and is considered one of the most effective elements in the development of anti-ageing treatments.

TA65: As Dr Gloria Sabater advances, “it acts on our biological clock, the telomeres”. A study published in the journal Rejuvenation Research concluded that this supplement increases the length of the telomeres because it promotes increased telomerase activity.

Immun’Age: improves immunity and reduces oxidation. It is a preparation based on fermented papaya with more than nine months of fermentation that comes from Japan and has been studied by renowned scientists such as Professor Luc Montagnier, Nobel Prize for Medicine, who worked with him on HIV positive patients. “He and other scientists in various publications have highlighted the ability of this product to enhance immunity and counteract free radicals,” explains Dr Gloria Sabater.
Vitamin A: People who are deficient in this vitamin are prone to increased risk, high severity and impaired immune responses to viral infections.

Vitamin C: Regular supplementation of this vitamin has a modest but consistent effect on reducing the duration of common cold symptoms, as well as helping to reduce the risk of getting the cold.

Vitamin D: has significantly been studied, and there are several meta-analyses and systematic reviews that have supported its protective role in acute respiratory tract infections against viruses and pathogens with its supplementation. It would be useful if started before the onset of infection. “Related mechanisms include the stimulation of defensins and cathelicidins that can decrease virus replication and increase levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as decrease concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines that induce inflammation-related pneumonia,” details the SHA Wellness Clinic expert.

Selenium: as an integral part of several selenoproteins, including glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, it plays a critical role in the defence against viral infection through its antioxidant, redox signalling and homeostatic redox contributions. “Selenium deficiency is associated with increased pathogenicity of various virus infections. In the deficiency state, selenium supplementation is useful for the prevention and treatment of viral infections,” says Dr Gloria Sabater.

Zinc: is an essential micronutrient with crucial contributions to most enzymatic functions. A University of Oregon study concluded that “zinc is involved in apoptosis, the genetically coordinated cell death, a fundamental cell regulation process with consequences for development and growth, as well as several chronic diseases”. According to Dr Gloria Sabater, “it is essential for the normal function and development of cells that regulate non-specific immunity, including natural killer cells and neutrophils. Zinc deficiency impairs antiviral immunity, particularly against herpes simplex, the common cold, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Besides, it has beneficial effects on reducing the symptoms and duration of common cold infection.