Exploring the Role of Vitamin C in Cold Prevention and Mitigation
This conversation delves into whether Vitamin C can prevent colds, highlighting that while it may reduce duration and severity, it typically doesn't prevent colds in the general population. However, it may benefit those undergoing intense physical stress or with Vitamin C deficiencies.
vitamin c prevent cold?
Vitamin C has been popularly studied for its role in preventing and mitigating the common cold. However, while it may reduce the duration and severity of colds, evidence generally suggests it does not prevent the onset of colds in the general population1. Some research indicates that regular supplementation of Vitamin C may have a modest preventive effect in people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise2. Also, individuals deficient in Vitamin C can experience improved immune response and reduced cold duration when they supplement the nutrient3.
Footnotes
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Giuseppe Cerullo, "The Long History of Vitamin C: From Prevention of the Common Cold to Potential Aid in the Treatment of COVID-19," NCBI, 2020. ↩
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Van Gorkom et al., "Influence of Vitamin C on lymphocytes: An overview," NCBI, 2018. ↩
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Bozonet SM, Carr AC, "The role of physiological vitamin c concentrations on key functions of neutrophils isolated from healthy individuals," NCBI, 2019. ↩
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