Be skeptical of immune-system 'boosts,' doctor warns

The phrase alone rankles Dr. Rajat Dhar.

“Boosting the immune system?” Dhar said. “You want the immune system to function at its optimal level. The last thing I would want a patient to do is try to boost it even further.”

Dhar, a Toms River, N.J.-based rheumatologist and expert on the immune system who is affiliated with Community Medical Center, has heard the concept before.

“I get patients trying to do that,” he said. “They bring in all these supplements that are not FDA-regulated.”

Welcome to 2017, age of the vitamin and supplement cottage industry.

“What you’re picking up at your health-food store, what is actually being promoted in those capsules many times is not even there,” Dhar said. “You have to be cautious about it.”

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The debate over immune-system maintenance — just how much of your body’s defenses can you really control? — has exploded over the past year as new research comes out on the human microbiome.

Defined simply as gut bacteria, the microbiome is increasingly regarded as the immune system's traffic cop, credited with playing roles in digestive and cardiac health, and perhaps even a catalyst behind mood swings. When its composition is sufficiently diverse, it could provide a buffer against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

The big question is this: How much can diet or environmental factors prod the microbiome to its maximum effectiveness? Current research is trying to sort that out. In the meantime, here are Dhar’s guidelines to caring for your immune system.

1. Adopt a more balanced diet.

“Consider features of the Mediterranean diet,” Dhar said.

That means heavy on fruits, vegetables, grains and fish. Staples include rice, pasta, olive oil and nuts. Poultry is preferable to red meat.

Studies have shown that Mediterranean diet adherents have lower rates of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

2. Avoid the quick fix of supplements, unless prescribed by a doctor.

“There’s documentation that supplementing with nutrients and vitamins has not been effective,’ Dhar said. “With some, especially fat-soluble vitamins, you have to be careful. You can overdose.”

Dhar made special mention of Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium.

“For those who have thin bones, Vitamin D is essential,” Dhar said. “But that should be a complementary aid to treat underlying conditions, not to boost your immune system.”

He also treats some patients with folic acid, which is used to combat anemia.

3. Stick with what's established.

The best ways to boost your health are what they’ve always been: eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, washing your hands frequently and avoiding smoking. As microbiome research progresses and findings become public, beware of attempts to cash in by the supplement industry.

This seems like common sense. So why the stampede to purported quick fixes?

“Nobody can give you a specific answer about what is accepted in society compared to what is valid information,” Dhar said. “Is someone reaching for an outcome? Look for a valid source, and by that I mean whatever the FDA has proven to be beneficial. That’s your backstop.”

Follow Jerry Carino on Twitter: @njhoopshaven