Vitamin C for the common cold should not be rejected on the basis of old and erroneous articles

Abstract

Mainardi et al 1 reviewed the use and effects of complementary and alternative medicines on respiratory symptoms. They stated that early studies on vitamin C did not demonstrate an effect on the duration or intensity of the common cold, and as a support to this statement, they referred to 2 articles from 1975. 2,3

The Bioavailability of Vitamin C from Kiwifruit

“…Although the conditions investigated have varied widely, there is a general consensus that supplemental vitamin C does not protect an already well-nourished population from contracting the cold virus, but may shorten the duration of symptoms (Douglas, Hemila, Chalker, & Treacy, 2007;Hemila, 2009). Although the conditions investigated have varied widely, there is a general consensus that supplemental vitamin C does not protect an already well-nourished population from contracting the cold virus, but may shorten the duration of symptoms (Douglas, Hemila, Chalker, & Treacy, 2007;Hemila, 2009).…”