Vitamin D and Zinc Together for Immune Support

Can you take Vitamin D and Zinc together for immune support? You sure can! This essential vitamin and mineral pairing is a great way to support your immune system. If you keep reading, you'll learn what exactly Zinc and Vitamin D are, how they work in our immune system, why you might want to take Vitamin D and Zinc together, and how to pick high-quality supplements! So, what are you waiting for? Read on!^†

Overview of Vitamin D and Zinc

Vitamin D is the "sunshine vitamin." That name is more than just symbolic. Vitamin D is produced by our body when our skin is exposed to sunlight; that's where we get most of our Vitamin D! Vitamin D is also found in small quantities in certain foods, such as fatty fish like salmon or trout, vitamin D fortified milk, and egg yolks. If you can get Vitamin D just from going outside, wouldn't you think we get enough of it? Sadly, it is estimated that 95% of Americans don't receive enough Vitamin D from their diet alone, and nearly one-third are Vitamin D deficient.[1,2] Vitamin D is an essential immune health nutrient, so it's important to ensure your body gets enough of it.^†

Zinc is the other half of this equation. Zinc is a mineral; you might be familiar with it if your grandma slathered it on your nose before going to the beach. More than just for sun protection, Zinc is a trace mineral required for many functions in the body. Despite this, 15% of Americans do not meet their Zinc needs from food alone.[2] Eating foods with high Zinc content, like oysters, crab, turkey, yogurt, milk, beans, nuts, and fortified breakfast cereals, is an excellent way to introduce Zinc into your diet. What does Zinc do for the body? Well, for one, getting adequate Zinc helps support your immune system through antioxidant support.^†

The Importance of Immune System Function

If you read a lot about supplements and are interested in supporting your health (and you are on the Nature Made^® website, after all), you've probably heard a fair amount about your immune system. But why exactly is it so important?

The immune system is an incredibly complex system of organs and cells that protects our body against antigens and free radicals.[3] It does this by recognizing healthy cells and unhealthy cells, adapting to new conditions, and developing antibodies to help protect us in the future if we face the same challenges.[3] That's why it's so important to support your immune system actively! You want it to have everything it needs, when it needs it, to help strengthen your immune defenses. ^†

How Vitamin D and Zinc Contribute to Immune Support

Vitamin D works in our bodies to support the immune system by modulating our innate and adaptive immune response.[4] The innate immune response is our body's initial line of defense, and our adaptive immune response is how our body learns to respond in the future.[4]^† 

Zinc also supports our immune system, functioning as an antioxidant to help protect our cells from oxidative stress. Nature Made^® Zinc Tablets can help supplement your dietary intake of Zinc, with over 100% of your daily requirement in one tablet. Zinc’s role in immune health is essential, including supporting various types of white blood cells and a healthy immune response.[5]^† 

Can I Take Zinc and Vitamin D Together?

Can you take Zinc and Vitamin D together? Yes, you can! It is safe to take both of these immune support nutrients together. Nature Made^® offers several supplements that include both Vitamin D and Zinc in a convenient package. Nature Made^® Magnesium Complex with D3 and Zinc Capsules include Vitamin D and Zinc together to help support a healthy immune system, along with Magnesium, a mineral that supports muscle relaxation, heart, nerve and bone health.^† 

Nature Made^® Multivitamins also include Vitamin D and Zinc together! Our Advanced Multivitamin Gummies for Adults include Vitamin D3, Magnesium and Zinc with other essential nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, all eight B Vitamins (including Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12), Folic Acid and more! A multivitamin is a great foundation for your supplement routine, offering a range of essential vitamins and minerals. Make sure to take any supplements that include Vitamin D and Zinc alongside a meal with some dietary fat; Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it needs fat for absorption into the body. Dietary fats include ingredients like cheese, olive oil, or avocado.^† 

Choosing Quality Vitamin D and Zinc Supplements

When you look for high-quality Vitamin D and Zinc supplements, always ensure the one you pick informs you of the exact dosage and form of the supplement on the packaging. Nature Made^® Vitamin D and Zinc supplements are guaranteed to meet our high-quality standards. They are made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes. Nature Made^® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Vitamin & Supplement Brand *,and our Zinc and Vitamin D supplements are United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Verified. Check out our wide range of Immune Supplements to find some great options.^† 

Embrace Proactive Immune Support

One of the best ways to proactively support your immune system is by ensuring you get all the nutrients your body needs to support itself. The first place to look for immune support nutrients is in a nutrient-rich diet, but sometimes travel, inconsistent mealtimes, and other reasons can make it challenging to get every immune nutrient you need daily. A daily immune support supplement, including nutrients like Vitamin D and Zinc, can help fill possible dietary gaps. Check out this blog to answer the question “Can you take Vitamin C and Zinc together?” along with a few reasons you might want to. Prioritize your immune health by embracing proactive supplementation to support your body's natural immune defenses.^†

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Liu X, Baylin A, Levy PD. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among US adults: prevalence, predictors and clinical implications. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(8):928-936.
2. Reider CA, Chung RY, Devarshi PP, Grant RW, Hazels Mitmesser S. Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients: Intakes in US Adults, the 2005-2016 NHANES. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1735. Published 2020 June 10. doi:10.3390/nu120617354.
3. Cleveland Clinic. Immune System: Parts & Common Problems. Cleveland Clinic. Published February 23, 2020. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21196-immune-system
4. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med. 2011;59(6):881-886. doi:10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
5. Prasad AS. Zinc in human health: effect of Zinc on immune cells. Mol Med. 2008;14(5-6):353-357. doi:10.2119/2008-00033.Prasad