Immune System And Aging

Have you ever wondered why children seem to get illnesses much more often than adults? Or why do elderly people suffer from severe side effects of a regular cold or flu? It is connected with development and ageing of our immune system. Read on to find out how your immune system and aging are connected, how our immunity changes over time and what you can do to boost it at any age.

Age and the functions of the immune system

Your immune system is your body’s natural defence.¹ It helps your body to fight and get rid of malignant substances such as bacteria, viruses, cancer cells or foreign tissues.² The power of your immune system is represented by its ability to produce cells specialized in marking, surrounding and destroying potential threats.³ But it’s important to know that the functioning of your immune system changes over time.⁴ When a baby is born, its immune system is immature. It then develops and learns to fight off pathogens into adulthood, and declines with old age.⁵ Read on to find out how your immunity changes over time.

Smiling grandfather carrying his grandson on his shoulders

A newborn baby’s immune system is naturally suppressed, which makes infants more susceptible to certain infections and diseases.⁶ The reason for this suppression is the child’s development during pregnancy.⁷ Breast milk is the best way to support a baby’s developing immune system.⁸ It is also important to get babies vaccinated on schedule to protect them from various diseases.⁹
In childhood your immune system is not yet mature enough to fight the majority of pathogens – and that is why you get sick more often. It also “learns” to fight infections more efficiently, especially if you live a healthy lifestyle and maintain proper hygiene.¹⁰ At this age you can also add vitamin supplements like Redoxon® to your diet, but it’s important to remember that a healthy lifestyle must include a healthy, balanced diet that cannot be replaced by supplements.^{12 13}

In adolescence your body undergoes constant changes caused by hormones.¹³ Accelerated bone and tissue growth in adolescents also means they may need more vitamins to support healthy development.^{14 15}
In maturity your body’s natural defences are fully developed, but stress and lifestyle can begin to affect your immunity.¹⁶ That’s why it’s important to form good habits, making immune support a part of your daily life. Healthy diet¹⁷, regular exercise¹⁸, quality sleep and relaxation¹⁹ are all natural immune boosters. You can also continue to take a vitamin supplement as part of your healthy lifestyle.²⁰
In older age your immune system might not work as well as before.²¹ This is a complex process, but among its key effects is the reduction in the numbers of immune cells produced by your body. This means slower healing from injuries and slower reaction to infections that can make you more susceptible to illness. This is when a healthy lifestyle becomes more important than ever: healthy diet with lots of vitamins and regular exercise will help you enjoy your health for longer!²²

References:

1. Simon AK, Hollander GA, McMichael A, Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707740/
2. Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients 2020;12.
3. How to prevent infections. Harvard Medical School, 2016. (Accessed 10/02/2020, at https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-prevent-infections.)
4. Montecino-Rodriguez E, Berent-Maoz B, Dorshkind K, Causes, consequences and reversal of immune system aging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3582124/

How Redoxon®
helps support your
immune system

Your body is equipped with powerful natural defences and your immune system has many ways of dealing with threats from bacteria and viruses.²³The Immune system is made up of three main defense mechanisms; Physical barriers (skin and mucosa), cellular barriers (white blood cells) and antibodies.²⁴Nutrients such as vitamins are essential to the health and function of this complex network.²⁵

In our fast-paced world of fast food and pre-cooked meals, it may be challenging to consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables delivering all the vitamins we need to fully support our body functions. An inadequate intake of vitamins can negatively affect the immune system and overall health.²⁶That’s where Redoxon® comes in. Our Vitamin C product is designed to help support your immune system.²⁷

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Redoxon® for a healthier immune system

You need to look after your immune system. Even though it may not feel like it, your immune system works 24 hours a day.²⁸ Just as a plant needs water and sunlight, your immune system needs regular nourishment to support the body’s defence systems.²⁹

Together with a healthy lifestyle including physical exercise and good nutrition, supplements like Redoxon® provide the foundation for a strong immune system all year round.³⁰

In 1934, we pioneered the world’s first Vitamin C supplement, and we’ve been helping people keep their natural defenses in top shape. Today our own Vitamin C supplement helps to support your immunity every day.^{18 19}