{
  "id": 1426138,
  "title": "Can vitamin C cure a cold? How a Nobel Prize winner convinced us it could",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/can-vitamin-c-cure-a-cold-how-a-nobel-prize-winner-convinced-us-it",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T04:28:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/can-vitamin-c-cure-a-cold-how-a-nobel-prize-winner-convinced-us-it-could-286242"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vitamin C has long been marketed as a cure for colds, but its effectiveness has been questioned. Linus Pauling, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, promoted high doses of vitamin C to prevent colds in his 1970 book. He based his recommendations on a few studies, including a 1970 trial with children. However, subsequent research has been critical of his interpretations. A 2023 meta-analysis of ten trials involving 2,736 participants found that vitamin C reduced severe cold symptoms by 15% on average. The effect was only noticeable in athletes, army personnel, and children. Regular vitamin C intake had no impact on mild symptoms. The meta-analysis also found that lower doses (200mg a day) did not reduce the number of colds in the general population. Taking vitamin C at the onset of symptoms did not provide any benefits. While Pauling's recommended daily intake of 1,000-2,000mg is considered safe for most adults, excessive intake can lead to gastrointestinal issues, kidney stones, and increased iron absorption. It's best to consult a healthcare professional before taking vitamin C supplements and stick to the recommended daily intake of around 45mg.",
  "summary": "When a chemist wrote a book about vitamin C curing the common cold, the world took note. How wrong we all were.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}