Vitamins for the Prevention of Colds

Cowan, Donald W.; Diehl, Harold S.; Baker, A. B.

doi:10.1001/jama.1942.02830510006002

Cited by 68 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The value of more prolonged courses of smaller amounts of ascorbic acid and more acute courses of larger amounts of ascorbic acid as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent in the common cold have produced only discrepant reports. (Cowan et al, 1942;Bartley et al, 1953;Ritzd, 1961;Glazebrook & Thomson, 1962;Walker et al, 1967;Regnier, 1969;Wilson & Loh, 1969;Wilson, 1971). We feel a further trial would be justified along the lines suggested here, namely, 1.0 g. ascorbic acid per day as a prophylactic and 6.0 g. or 10.0 g. per day as a therapeutic measure after challenge by the common cold virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Leucocyte Ascorbic Acid during the Common Cold

1973

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Summary. Leucocyte ascorbic acid was measured in 7 subjects during the common cold. There was a significant fall in L. A.A. to Pauling (1970), there has been much discussion in the public press and elsewhere both in America and in this country on the prophylactic and therapeutic value of ascorbic acid in infections by the common cold virus.During the winter of 1971, we were able to observe the changes occurring in the leucocyte ascorbic acid levels (L.A.A.) in 7 individual members of the staff of one medical unit in a general hospital, during an outbreak of the common cold. Ascorbic acid saturation tests were also carried out to determine whether there was an optimum dose of ascorbic acid which would saturate both the white blood cells and the serum. The effect of 'optimum' doses of ascorbic acid during further episodes of the common cold was studied in 3 individuals. In view of the difficulty in carrying out detailed studies on individuals who are harbouring the common cold virus and who are taking supplements of ascorbic acid, we felt that these observations also were worth reporting. MATERIAL AND METHODS SubjectsSeven members (2 males and 5 females) of the medical and nursing staff were studied while suffering from the common cold. By chance, 4 individuals had measurements of their L.A.A. performed during the week prior to the onset of symptoms. Six individuals had measurements performed on the first day of symptoms; 5 on the second day of symptoms; 7 on the third day of symptoms; 5 on the fourth day of symptoms; 3 on the fifth day of symptoms and 7 on the tenth day of symptoms. Symptoms had usually subsided by the fifth day.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Leucocyte Ascorbic Acid during the Common Cold

1973

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“…The first reports indicating that vitamin C may be beneficial against the common cold were published in the 1930's and 40's [1][2][3][4]. The topic received wide publicity in the 1970's after Linus Pauling concluded from the published studies that vitamin C, in doses ≥1 g/day, significantly decreases both the incidence and the severity of the common cold, and wrote a popular book discussing the topic [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin C and the common cold: a retrospective analysis of Chalmers' review.

Hemilä

Herman

1995

Journal of the American College of Nutrition

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Problems in influential reviews on vitamin C and the common cold are discussed also in:Hemilä H. Vitamin C supplementation and common cold symptoms: problems with inaccurate reviews. Nutrition 1996;12:804-809 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0899-9007(96)00223-7 http://hdl.handle.net/10250/7979 Manuscript version with links to references added.In his review, Chalmers put a great weight on the Karlowski (1975) study. However, the Karlowski study was shown to be erroneously analysed in 1996: Hemilä H. Vitamin C, the placebo effect, and the common cold: a case study of how preconceptions influence the analysis of results. Using data from the same studies, we calculated that vitamin C (1-6 g/day) decreased the duration of the cold episodes by 0.93 ± 0.22 (SE) days; the relative decrease in the episode duration was 21%. The current notion that vitamin C has no effect on the common cold seems to be based in large part on a faulty review written two decades ago.

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“…Truswell (25), referring to certain common cold studies, stated that, "there was no reduction in duration or severity with ascorbic acid as compared with placebo" (15,(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37). Actually, Coulehan et al (35) found an 8% decrease in the "average duration of episodes" and a 12% decrease in "days in bed" among twins administered 0.5-1.0 g/d of the vitamin.…”

Section: Truswell's 1986 Minireviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect could be greater in some other groups of subjects and with larger doses, so that it is inaccurate to describe these four independent studies as if no reduction were observed at all. Cowan et al (36) reported 31% less days lost from school per person in subjects given 0.1-0.2 g/d of vitamin C (1,2). Glazebrook and Thomson (37) found no effect on the duration of colds, but a 40% decrease in the average stay in the hospital due to tonsillitis in children administered 0.05-0.3 g/d of vitamin C (1).…”

Section: Truswell's 1986 Minireviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin C supplementation and common cold symptoms: Problems with inaccurate reviews

Hemilä

1996

Nutrition

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In 1971, Linus Pauling carried out a meta-analysis of four placebo-controlled trials and concluded that it was highly unlikely that the decrease in the "integrated morbidity of the common cold" in vitamin C groups was caused by chance alone (P < 0.00003). Studies carried out since then have consistently found that vitamin C ( 1 g/d) alleviates common cold symptoms, indicating that the vitamin does indeed have physiologic effects on colds. However, widespread conviction that the vitamin has no proven effects on the common cold still remains. Three of the most influential reviews drawing this conclusion are considered in the present article. Two of them are cited in the current edition of the RDA nutritional recommendations as evidence that vitamin C is ineffective against colds. In this article, these three reviews are shown to contain serious inaccuracies and shortcomings, making them unreliable sources on the topic. The second purpose is to suggest possible conceptual reasons for the persistent resistance to the notion that vitamin C might have effects on colds. Although placebo-controlled trials have shown that vitamin C does alleviate common cold symptoms, important questions still remain.

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Vitamins for the Prevention of Colds

Cited by 68 publications

References 6 publications

Changes in Leucocyte Ascorbic Acid during the Common Cold

Changes in Leucocyte Ascorbic Acid during the Common Cold

Vitamin C and the common cold: a retrospective analysis of Chalmers' review.

Vitamin C supplementation and common cold symptoms: Problems with inaccurate reviews

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