Vitamin C and the Common Cold
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When the book, "Vitamin C and the Common Cold" was
released in 1970, many people came to believe vitamin C was important in
preventing and treating the common cold. Since that time, we've all heard
varying research debating whether vitamin C helps to prevent the common cold or not.
Recently, researchers in Australia and Finland reviewed the best quality studies of vitamin C and common cold conducted over the last 65 years. All of these studies compared a daily dose of 200 milligrams of vitamin C or more against a placebo. The researchers hoped to discover whether vitamin C reduced the incidence, duration or severity of the common cold, and whether it helped to reduce cold symptoms.
After reviewing 23 studies, the researchers found vitamin C did not reduce the risk of contracting the common cold. However, those people who were given vitamin C and then caught a cold experienced a small reduction in the duration of the cold compared with those taking a placebo. The authors say the clinical significance of this minor reduction is questionable.
The authors did find evidence vitamin C could help prevent colds in people exposed to extreme physical exertion or cold weather. Marathon runners, skiers and soldiers taking vitamin C in six different studies experienced a 50-percent reduction in common cold incidence.
No benefit was found for taking vitamin C as a possible treatment for an established cold. However, in one of the seven trials looking at the vitamin as a treatment, patients who took a single very high dose of the vitamin on the day symptoms began experienced a shorter illness compared with those who took a placebo.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical alerts by e-mail
every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: PLoS Medicine; 2005;2:e168
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When the book, "Vitamin C and the Common Cold" was
released in 1970, many people came to believe vitamin C was important in
preventing and treating the common cold. Since that time, we've all heard
varying research debating whether vitamin C helps to prevent the common cold or not.
Recently, researchers in Australia and Finland reviewed the best quality studies of vitamin C and common cold conducted over the last 65 years. All of these studies compared a daily dose of 200 milligrams of vitamin C or more against a placebo. The researchers hoped to discover whether vitamin C reduced the incidence, duration or severity of the common cold, and whether it helped to reduce cold symptoms.
After reviewing 23 studies, the researchers found vitamin C did not reduce the risk of contracting the common cold. However, those people who were given vitamin C and then caught a cold experienced a small reduction in the duration of the cold compared with those taking a placebo. The authors say the clinical significance of this minor reduction is questionable.
The authors did find evidence vitamin C could help prevent colds in people exposed to extreme physical exertion or cold weather. Marathon runners, skiers and soldiers taking vitamin C in six different studies experienced a 50-percent reduction in common cold incidence.
No benefit was found for taking vitamin C as a possible treatment for an established cold. However, in one of the seven trials looking at the vitamin as a treatment, patients who took a single very high dose of the vitamin on the day symptoms began experienced a shorter illness compared with those who took a placebo.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical alerts by e-mail
every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: PLoS Medicine; 2005;2:e168
