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Barrett Hargreaves
DIS-1
9/21/2008
Effects of Vitamin C on Colds Among Colorado College Students CCCC
Discussion: In a physiological sense, additional amounts of Vitamin C should help the duration
and the severity of cold symptoms. In his article, Hemila explains that at the onset of an
infection, the immune system begins to produce oxidizing agents. These oxidizing agents fight
viruses and bacteria but are also harmful to human cells, which causes symptoms of a cold.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps protect human cells from these oxidizing agents. With
this understanding, Vitamin C protecting the body against its own immune system should imply
that Vitamin C cannot prevent infections, because it can only take effect after the immune system
begins acting on an infection. Vitamin C may provide enough protection that the effects of the
oxidizing agents are so minimal that no symptoms are shown, but there still is an infection
present (and can still spread). But the physiological knowledge of how Vitamin C fights cold
symptoms should also imply Vitamin C supplementation decreases the duration and severity of
colds. Additional Vitamin C in the system would provide additional protection against the
oxidizing agents, making their effect on the body less severe and not last as long.
This chain of reasoning stemmed from the knowledge of the physiological effects of
Vitamin C must be flawed somewhere, because it contradicts with what has been observed when
patients are treated with Vitamin C during infection. Actually, the reasoning is contradicted by
some observers and supported by others. Many studies have looked into the effect Vitamin C
has on the common cold and have turned up varying results. A recent study conducted by
Barrett et al. surveyed a sample of doctors and expert researchers on their opinion of the
effectiveness of Vitamin C (and various other treatments) in fighting the common cold. Very
few doctors and researchers reported they would expect a decrease in the duration of cold
symptoms when patients are treated with Vitamin C and most all of them expected no decrease
in duration of symptoms. When asked, most of the respondents stated they did not think the
benefit of the treatment was worth the associated costs and risks of using Vitamin C. In 1973
Ludvigsson and others conducted an experiment to study the treatment and preventative qualities
of vitamin C. The study showed a significantly lower number of days per cold with subjects
taking 1000 mg of vitamin C (as opposed to 30 mg in the pilot study and 10 mg in the main
study). However the different dosages showed no significant difference in percentage of
children totally free of symptoms during the study, the number of colds per person, or the total
number of days of symptoms. These findings suggested vitamin C is ineffective at preventing
colds but can help decrease the duration of episodes. However a study carried out by Audera and
others reported no significant decrease in the duration of symptoms during a cold, conflicting
with the results of the Ludvigsson study. And yet another study carried out by Van Straten and
others reported significant decreases in both frequency and duration of colds when subjects took
vitamin C daily. The general conclusions made by the studies taken into consideration are
summarized in figure 1.
Reference
Helps prevent
colds
Vitamin C…
Reduces the duration of
colds
Hemila, 1991
opposes
supports
supports
Barrett et al. 2007
Ludvigsson et al.
1977 *
Straten & Josling,
2002
NA
opposes
opposes
opposes
supports
supports
supports
supports
supports
Audera et al. 2001 *
NA
opposes
opposes
Decreases the overall severity of
colds
Figure 1. Overall conclusions drawn from past studies about the effect of Vitamin C on the
common cold. Studies that would agree with the given statements are labeled “supports,” studies
that would disagree with the given statement are labeled “opposes,” and studies that did not
address the statement are labeled “NA.”
* study looked at increased amounts of vitamin C from the recommended daily dosage, and may
not necessarily agree or disagree that any amount of Vitamin C helps prevent, reduce the
duration and/or severity of colds.
The conflicting results from each of the studies has not allowed a final conclusion to be drawn on
the effects of vitamin C on the common cold.
References
Audera, C., et al. (2001). Mega-dose vitamin C in treatment of the common cold: a randomised
controlled trial. The Medical Journal of Australia, 175, 359-362. Retrieved from
www.csa.com
Barrett, B., et al. (2007). Clinicalsignificance of common cold treatment: Professionals’
opinions. WMJ : Official Publication of the State.Medical Society of Wisconsin, 106(8),
473-480. Retrieved from www.csa.com
Hemila, H. (1992). Vitamin C and the common cold. British Journal of Nutrition, 67, 3-16.
Retrieved from www.csa.com
Ludvigsson, J., et al. (1977). Vitamin C as a preventive medicine against common colds in
children. Scand J Infect Dis, 9, 91-98. Retrieved from www.csa.com
Van Straten, M., & Josling, P. (2002). Preventing the common cold with a vitamin C
supplement: A double-blind, placebo controlled survey. Advances in Therapy, 19(3),
151-159. Retrieved from www.csa.com