Does Vitamin C Help the Common Cold?
We all know what a nuisance the common cold can be. For over 60 years people have thought that Vitamin C was a great defense. In fact, Vitamin C’s popularity in treating the common cold rose greatly in the 1970’s when the Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling stated its effectiveness based on an earlier trial. But the question remains that whether or not there is any evidence to support the efficacy of Vitamin C?
To answer this question, I turned to the Cochrane database. Their systematic review of thirty (yes thirty!!!) trials involving 11,350 participants showed that regular ingestion of Vitamin C had no effect on the common cold incidence in the general population. However, in a subgroup of 642 marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers on sub-arctic exercises had a reduction in the incidence of the common cold by almost 50%.
Bottom line is that for most people megadoses of Vitamin C is not beneficial for fighting the common cold.
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multivitamins
I've recently read some
I've recently read some contradictory articles on that. It took us so many decades to realize that Vitamin C doesn't actually treat cold. This was supposed to be a banal medical information, if we see contradictions here, what can we expect from more complex medicines that are designed to cure severe diseases? I only have to deal with vitamins in my life extension program, let's hope I won't ever have to switch to stronger pills, not for few good decades...
Thanks for informing us on
Thanks for informing us on that, I trusted Vitamin C for each of my colds and eventual I got healed. If' I wouldn't had taking vitamin C I would probably get healed anyways so I don't know if this is the merit of Vitamin C. Either way I am relying on my life extension program and the information you just gave us helps me improve my health diet. Thanks!
prevention not treatment
I agree Dr. Sean, there is litle evidence that taking Vitamin C once you have a cold will shorten the duration of your symptoms. But that does not mean that we shouldn't consume Vitamin C on a daily basis, especailly in the whole food form of fruits and vegetables. Due to its antioxidant properties, Vitamin C is an important part of maintaining good health including the immune system thereby decreasing the chances of getting a cold in the first place. Lets remember, as well, that vitamin C is only part of the story in terms of maintaining a healthy immune system. Eating a well balanced diet, getting enough sleep and managing stress are also important.
Darren Clair, MD
Vibrance Health Services
Vit C "myth"
Haha...Don't know about all of you guys... there are couple of problems with your conclusions...\
First, majority of studies.. like 90 % if not more... use "mega doses" of vitamin C.. of 500 mg... Now.. what kind of mega dose is that ? Linus Pauling claimed that between 3.5 grams to 16 grams daily will prolong anyones life by 20 years.... I personally take 4-6 grams daily for two years and guess what... Zero cold.. and no sickness whatsoever... my super healthy eating contributes to it also.... My brother was simply hooked up on nasal decongestants... when i gave him Vitamin C 4 grams aday... guess what again ? he stopped using them.. doesn't get cold also... i am simple way more healthy... i recommend it to everyone and majority of my friends now use it too...
Coming back to 500 mg study... these 500 mg is nothing to study from... recent calims that vitamin E and C do not provide any health effects are simply ignorant studies... as far as i know.. there werent many studies, if any at all supplementing peopel with 3-6 grams daily... As a matter of fact Your liver needs 3 grams on a daily basis to produce essential enzymes and cells.
This is my story.
Thanks
Thanks for pointing this out: there are too many miths around... Can I ask you the reference on the marathon runners? Thanks again.
Nevermind
I found it the reference on your personal blog! Skimming through it right now.
this article
Thanks for posting this. I had no idea this was the case.
Interesting Article
Very interesting Dr Sean. For myself I take 2000mg per day split morning and night or after training an evening.
As much as I don't use it for keeping cold and flu symptoms at bay, I was taught that 'C' can be used to reduce on set muscle soreness. Vitamin C has been shown in studies to help with repairing connective tissues. One of the guys I know who produces his own supplements adds vitamin C into his post-workout formula which is quite a top seller.
What is your opinion on Vit C and DOMS?
Best Regards
Jamie
Vitamin C and DOMS
Hey Jamie,
Some early studies indicated a possible beneficial effect, but they were poorly designed. More recent well-controlled trials do not support the use of Vitamin C for DOMS. Some would argue the research is equivocal, and since vit C doesn't really have any harmful effects, you still see people taking it for any number of reasons :)
B
Brian Zehetner MS,RD,CSSD,CSCS
JamCore and Myfittribe "Nutrition Guy"
Hi Jamie Unfortunately there
Hi Jamie
Unfortunately there is no evidence that Vit C prevents DOMS or fatigue post exercise. In fact, in randomized trials, vitamin C has been shown to NOT be effective in DOMS.
References:
Connolly et al. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2006 Sep;46(3):462-7.
Ataka et al. Nutrition. 2007 May;23(5):419-23
"The greatest hindrance to creativity is a formula!"
-Dr. Sean Hashmi, M.D, M.S
Internal Medicine/Nephrology
www.drseanhashmi.com
Just to add...
One study showed that vitamin C delayed recovery post-exercise!!
B
Brian Zehetner MS,RD,CSSD,CSCS
Study
Yep, I read that study also Brian! Would you agree Brian and Dr Sean that supplemental/ergogenic studies in general are incredible convoluted? Could you also agree that alot of supplement companies who add ingredients to their formulas are only adding them based upon hypothetical evidence?
I have to say though, lastly on Vitamin C, that it probably has a placebic(sp) effect on many people and as you said since its water soluable, we just excrete anything over in our urine.
Looks like an old dog can learn new tricks! (i.e. ME! LOL)
Glutamine
Have you read over any research talking about glutamine on the effects of the common cold? I have been taking glutamine for quite some time and people around me have gotten sick but I have not. Even when my whole family was sick I didnt get sick because I took glutamine. Has anyone ever encountered this?
Hi there This is a common
Hi there
This is a common myth b/c prolonged exercise is associated w/ drops in intramuscular and plasma concentrations in glutamine so people think that a correlation means causation. To this date, no scientific trials have demonstrated that glutamine supplementation improves the immune system and a recent review of Glutamine supplementation in the Journal of Nutrition 2008 states that: "consuming glutamine supplements is unlikely to be of substantial benefit in terms of fluid balance restoration or preventing immnodepression after exercise.... The available evidence is not strong enough to warrant a recommendation for an athlete to use glutamine supplement."
"The greatest hindrance to creativity is a formula!"
-Dr. Sean Hashmi, M.D, M.S
Internal Medicine/Nephrology
www.drseanhashmi.com
I agree...
Glutamine has not been proven to be beneficial...you will find studies here and there that show positive results, but this is the case with almost anything. There simply isn't enough evidence to make a general recommendation for all exercisers. Carbohydrate, on the other hand, has been proven to reduce the immunosuppressive effects of exercise though...
B
Brian Zehetner MS,RD,CSSD,CSCS
Yes Glutamine ..
..has been know to fight cold pretty well , I love the stuff !
Good to Know
A couple of my room mates load up on vitamin C, practically everyday. I always wondered if it did them any good. It didn't seem to! haha. Thanks for researching this for us!
"Before I become a memory of what I used to be, get me the f@*% out of a world that's doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else." - Have Heart
It can also cause kidney
It can also cause kidney stones if you are susceptible to them. Vitamin C is a precursor for oxalate, so you get calcium oxalate stone.... ouch!
"The greatest hindrance to creativity is a formula!"
-Dr. Sean Hashmi, M.D, M.S
Internal Medicine/Nephrology
www.drseanhashmi.com