ABSTRACT
The first thing to keep in mind about dietary supplements to support the immune system is that there is a huge difference between chronic supplementation (to support the immune system on a regular basis) and acute supplementation (to battle an existing infection). For example, the popular immunostimulant herb echinacea appears to be quite effective (when standardized for the right compounds) in stimulating immune system activity to battle a new infection—but it is not recommended for prolonged or continuous use due to concerns about cellular toxicity. Likewise, vitamin C and zinc would be appropriate at low doses for chronic protection, whereas higher levels are effective on a short-term basis for direct activity against invading pathogens.
