Provided are compositions comprising a vanilloid and tea catechins in amounts and proportions which combat virus infections in a human or animal. The vanilloid can be provided in the form of a dried pepper preparation and the tea catechins can be provided in the form of a green tea extract (or concentrate). These active ingredients can be provided separately or in combination. The administration of a such nutritional or other composition, desirably oral administration (in an amount effect) results in reduced virus infection or ameliorated symptoms of virus infection in a human or an animal in need of such a composition.