Introduction: The Burden of Seasonal Illness
Annual colds and flu affect millions worldwide, causing significant health and economic burdens. In China alone, roughly 3.4 million cases of influenza-like illness are reported annually, with an estimated 88,100 deaths attributed to flu-related complications each year (Wang et al., 2025). Adults aged 30 to 50 typically experience two to three colds per year, leaving many wondering: Is our immune system robust enough to fend off these common infections? Despite an arsenal of immune-boosting options, many rely on familiar multivitamin-mineral supplements (MVMs) daily. Recent research has brought these “classic” supplements back into the spotlight, revealing impactful new findings.
Groundbreaking Evidence From a Large-Scale Real-World Study
A pioneering study led by researchers at the Clinical Nutrition Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, published on July 19, 2025, in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (APJCN), explored MVMs’ effectiveness in a Chinese community setting. This retrospective, real-world study involved 3,415 community residents from 18 provinces, with 1,549 participants in the MVM group and 1,866 controls. After propensity score matching (PSM) to balance demographic factors, 1,130 participants remained in each group.
The study assessed how daily MVM supplementation influenced the incidence and severity of acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURIs), including common colds and flu. Strikingly, the MVM group showed a significantly lower infection rate (31.7%) compared to controls (44.8%), a reduction of 42.8% (P<0.001). The protective effect was strongest in individuals aged 45 and older (OR=0.407, P<0.001).
Relieving Eight Major Cold and Flu Symptoms
Besides lowering infection risks, MVM supplementation substantially alleviated symptoms associated with colds and flu. The study reported that those taking MVM experienced milder symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, sneezing, muscle aches, cough, and fatigue compared to controls. Statistical analysis showed significantly higher rates of mild rather than severe symptoms in the MVM group, indicating an overall reduction in symptom severity (Wang et al., 2025).
Insights on Immune Function Enhancement
Importantly, participants regularly taking MVM had higher Immunity Status Questionnaire (ISQ) scores, with 95.9% scoring ≥6, versus 90.7% in the control group (OR=1.79, P<0.001). This suggests MVMs may enhance overall immune readiness, placing the immune system in a better state of "preparedness" to combat pathogens.
The Role of Micronutrients in Immune Defense
Our immune system deploys three layers of defense against pathogens:
1. Physical and Chemical Barriers: Skin, mucous membranes, and secretions prevent pathogen entry. Vitamins A, D, C, B6, B9, B12, and minerals like zinc and iron are vital for maintaining these barriers.
2. Innate (Non-specific) Immunity: Within hours of pathogen invasion, innate immune cells such as macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells respond. Vitamins A, C, D, E, B vitamins, and minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper, and magnesium aid immune cell proliferation, oxidative stress reduction, and inflammation control.
3. Adaptive (Specific) Immunity: Days post-infection, dendritic cells present antigens to T and B lymphocytes for targeted immune responses. The same suite of vitamins and minerals supports effective antibody production and cell-mediated immunity (Gombart et al., 2020).
Global Support for MVM’s Immune Benefits
This Chinese study complements international evidence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, observational studies from the UK, USA, and Sweden involving over 445,000 participants revealed that regular multivitamin intake modestly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by 12–22% (Louca et al., 2021).
Additional research indicates that MVM supplementation improves immune markers across diverse populations, including older adults and patients with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, enhancing both humoral and cellular immunity (Henan CDC, 2006; PLA General Hospital, 2010).
Practical Implications: Integrating MVM Into Daily Health Regimens
Given these findings, multivitamin-mineral supplements can be considered a practical adjunct to support immune resilience against common respiratory infections. The study utilized a standardized product (Multivitamin Tablet 29/29-II, marketed as Centrum/Silver Centrum by Heilong), ensuring consistent nutrient dosing and quality.
Healthcare providers may advise adults, especially those over 45 or at higher risk of respiratory infections, on the benefits of sustained, daily MVM supplementation alongside balanced diets and appropriate lifestyle measures such as regular exercise and smoking cessation.
Case Vignette: John’s Journey to Fewer Colds
John, a 52-year-old office worker in Chicago, used to catch multiple colds every winter. After hearing about recent evidence on multivitamins, he started taking a standardized MVM supplement daily and improved his diet and exercise routine. Over the next year, John experienced fewer infections and milder symptoms when sick. His healthcare provider lauded this proactive approach as a low-cost, evidence-backed strategy to bolster immune health.
Conclusion
This landmark real-world study from China provides compelling evidence that regular multivitamin-mineral supplementation significantly reduces the incidence and severity of acute upper respiratory infections, especially in middle-aged and older adults. Such findings reaffirm the foundational role of micronutrients in immune defense and provide a practical, cost-effective strategy to enhance public health.
Continued research should focus on optimizing formulations and understanding individual responses to supplementation for tailored immune support.
References
1. Wang F, et al. Multivitamin-mineral supplementation prevents acute upper respiratory tract infections. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2025;34(4):596-609. https://apjcn.qdu.edu.cn/34_4_596.pdf
2. Gombart AF, et al. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System–Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 16;12(1):236.
3. Louca P, et al. Modest protective effect of daily multivitamin use against SARS-CoV-2 infection: observational evidence. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2021 Apr 19;4(1):149-157.
4. Henan CDC. Nutrition and immune status changes after supplementation of multiple nutrients in elderly. J Nutr. 2006.
5. PLA General Hospital Nutrition Department. Effects of micronutrient supplementation on immune indicators in type 2 diabetes. J Nutr. 2010.
6. Fudan University Public Health. Effect of micronutrient supplementation on NK cell activity and immune aging. Environ Occup Med. 2004.
