Study finds high-dose vitamin C does not prevent common cold
Research shows high doses of vitamin C do not prevent colds in most people, though they may slightly reduce symptom severity for some groups.
A recent study reveals that consuming high doses of vitamin C does not prevent the common cold in most individuals, though it may marginally lessen symptom severity for certain groups. During the onset of winter, there is a surge in requests for large quantities of vitamin C supplements to fend off colds and flu, with pharmacies endorsing these supplements to enhance immunity.
This notion traces back to American scientist Linus Pauling, a twice Nobel laureate, who in his 1970 publication advocated for daily intake of between 1,000 and 2,000 mg of vitamin C to uphold health and ward off colds. Despite Pauling not being a medical professional nor a nutritionist, his ideas fueled the notion that substantial amounts of vitamin C could deter colds.
However, his arguments were later called into question due to the subpar quality of the studies he referenced. Contemporary scientific data suggests that vitamin C's influence on the common cold is minimal, with no concrete evidence that it prevents illness in the average population. A 2023 meta-analysis involving 2,736 participants indicated that consistent vitamin C consumption could lower cold symptom severity by 15 percent, although the effect on symptom duration was slight.
A 2013 meta-analysis also discovered that ingesting 200 mg daily did not decrease the number of colds in most people, although greater advantages were observed among athletes and military personnel. Generally, individuals require minimal vitamin C, which can be readily obtained from food. In Australia, the suggested daily consumption for adults is merely 45 mg, found in a half an orange or a small portion of broccoli.
Consistently ingesting more than 1,000 mg daily could lead to side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, and might elevate the risk of kidney stones in some individuals. Scientific findings affirm that there is no necessity for high-dose vitamin C supplements to prevent colds; for the majority, a well-rounded diet abundant in fruits and vegetables is ample.
Anyone contemplating high doses should seek advice from a physician, particularly those with chronic health conditions or regular medication users.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
