Taking a dietary supplement to give the body the nutrients it needs can be an effective way of maintaining a healthy immune system, which is why many athletes choose vitamin supplements as part of a healthy diet. However, keeping the immune system in working order may de doubly important for marathoners, many of whom complain of nasal allergies during races.

A study conducted by the UK’s Northumbria University found that more than 60 percent of people who ran the London Marathon complained of eye and nose irritation after running the 26.2 miles to the finish line.

After testing blood samples taken from 150 randomly selected runners, researchers found that 35 percent of these marathoners were suffering from nasal allergies.

Scientists noted that while this problem does not sound severe, it has the ability to affect a runners performance, especially since just 8 percent of participants reported taking an anti-allergy medication.

When exposure to pollen is unavoidable, it may be helpful to take a vitamin supplement, providing the immune system with the nutrients it needs to process allergens in the body.