Immune Complex | 180 Capsules | Vit4ever

Vit4ever immune complex: echinacea, kalmegh, rosehip, zinc and selenium

This immune complex from Vit4ever combines three plant extracts with three micronutrients in two capsules per day. Each daily dose provides 500mg of echinacea extract, 200mg of kalmegh leaf extract, 178mg of rosehip extract, 100mg of L-histidine, 15mg of zinc and 100mcg of selenium. One bottle lasts 90 days, containing 180 plant-based capsules.

Echinacea and kalmegh leaf, two herbs without an EU health claim

Echinacea purpurea, also known as purple coneflower, is one of the best-known herbs in the European herbal tradition and originally comes from North America. The extract contains alkylamides, among other characteristic plant substances. This complex contains 500mg of the extract per daily dose. Kalmegh leaf, known scientifically as Andrographis paniculata, comes from Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese herbal traditions and grows naturally in South and Southeast Asia. The extract in this complex is standardised to 10% andrographolides, which amounts to 20mg of andrographolide per daily dose of 200mg extract. Andrographolide is a diterpenolactone, a characteristic plant substance of this herb; by using the whole extract instead of an isolated substance, the accompanying plant substances are also included in the capsule. What you will not read here about either herb is a claim about what they do for you. No health claims are permitted for echinacea and kalmegh in the EU. Therefore, we only describe what these herbs are here, not what they might do.

Rosehip as a natural source of vitamin C

The rosehip extract, obtained from the fruit of the dog rose (Rosa canina), naturally provides vitamin C and polyphenols. The 80mg of vitamin C (100% RI) in this supplement therefore comes from the plant itself, not from separately added ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is different from the herbs mentioned above: this is a substance for which EU health claims are permitted. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels, bones, cartilage, skin, teeth and gums, to a normal energy-yielding metabolism and increases iron absorption. Vitamin C also contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to the protection of cells against oxidative stress, to normal psychological function, to the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the normal function of the nervous system. The amino acid L-histidine completes the formula with 100mg per day; there are no permitted EU claims for this, so we also only describe L-histidine here as an ingredient of the formula.

Zinc and selenium

In addition to the herbs, there are two minerals in the formula for which the EU does permit health claims. Each daily dose provides 15mg of zinc, which is 150% of the reference intake, and 100mcg of selenium, which is 182% of the reference intake. Zinc and selenium contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Zinc further contributes to the protection of cells against oxidative stress, to normal cognitive function, normal DNA synthesis, normal protein synthesis, the maintenance of normal vision, normal hair, normal blood testosterone levels, normal skin, normal metabolism of macronutrients, carbohydrates, fatty acids and vitamin A, normal acid-base metabolism, normal nails, the maintenance of normal bones and normal fertility and reproduction, and plays a role in the cell division process. Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails, to the protection of cells against oxidative stress, to the normal function of the thyroid gland and to normal spermatogenesis. If you were to buy echinacea, kalmegh leaf and rosehip separately, you would quickly end up with several bottles; this complex combines those herbs with zinc and selenium in two capsules per day.

Combination or separate bottles, and how to take it

The disadvantage of a combination formula like this: the dosage per ingredient is lower than in a separate product containing only one ingredient. If you are only looking for zinc, you are better off choosing a standalone supplement. If you are looking for several components in one product, then this complex is a good fit. Take two capsules daily with sufficient liquid, preferably divided throughout the day with a meal. With 180 capsules in the bottle and two per day, you will have enough for 90 days, well over three months before you need to reorder.

In short: three plant extracts with a long tradition, plus zinc, selenium and natural vitamin C from rosehip, all together in plant-based capsules. A combination product for those who prefer to use one bottle instead of several separate bottles.