A nutritional supplement containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals appears to boost seniors’ immune systems, a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows.

Dr. Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, based at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and her team followed 34 people over the age of 65 for 183 days, half of whom took an 8-ounce dose of the formula every day.

Elderly participants who took the supplement for around 6 months experienced a total of 78 sick days, compared with more than 150 sick days among the non-supplemented group.

The supplement, developed by Abbott Laboratories, had zinc and selenium, among other nutrients. Abbott helped fund the research.