For children’s immune resistance

On this page you will find an overview of nutrients that support the body’s natural defences, as well as various herbs and fruit extracts that are traditionally used for that purpose. The supplements on this page are developed for children from around 2 years of age, unless stated otherwise. For chewable tablets, it’s not so much age that matters, but how well a child can chew

Although multivitamins support the immune system thanks to the presence of, among others, vitamins A, C and D, these are listed on a separate overview page to keep this page clear: Children’s multivitamins.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that the following nutrients “contribute to the normal function of the immune system”:

* Vitamin A (and the mineral zinc contributes to the normal metabolism of this vitamin)
* Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, also available in the co-enzymatic form P-5-P)
* Vitamin B12 (deficiencies in children occur mainly among vegans)
* Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, also available as non-acidic calcium ascorbate)
* Vitamin D (the recommended dosage for children is 10 mcg, but this dose can safely be increased to, for example, 25 mcg, especially in autumn and winter)
* Iron (deficiencies are common in children, especially among vegans and girls going through puberty)
* Copper (also contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system)
* Selenium (an antioxidant, also contributes to the normal function of the thyroid)
* Zinc (a highly versatile mineral, also contributes to normal cognitive function, vision, bones, skin and hair)