Micronutrients & recovery
Iron status has a dual role in immunity: deficiency impairs immune cell function (B-cells, T-cells), but excess iron during infection can be exploited by pathogens, leading to an evolutionary mechanism of hypoferremia (iron withdrawal) during acute infection.
Maintain healthy iron levels through diet (red meat, beans, leafy greens) to support immune cell function. However, if you have a serious active infection (like malaria or TB) or a condition like hemochromatosis, consult your doctor before taking iron supplements, as excess iron can help pathogens grow. The body naturally restricts iron during infection (hypoferremia) to fight this.
Fe deficiency has been shown to impair B-cell proliferation, T-lymphocyte function, and adaptive antibody responses... evidence suggests that the indiscriminate use of Fe supplements in developing countries may increase morbidity and mortality from health issues such as malaria... innate human immunity has evolved to reduce the amount of Fe available to invading pathogens... hypoferremia occurs
Why this rating
Well-established evolutionary biology and clinical observations in developing countries.
Source
The Role of Minerals in the Optimal Functioning of the Immune System
Christopher Weyh et al. · Nutrients · 2022
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