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Week 49/ 2006: Vitamin C shortens the duration of the common cold

Vitamin C is a crucial component in the immune system’s defence of the body but when the common cold hits its amount in the white blood cells and urine decreases. Therefore, there are grounds for taking vitamin supplements in connection with infections, particularly since humans are the only mammals incapable of producing vitamin C themselves, says Harri Hemilä, MD., Ph.D. from the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki.

According to Hemilä, the significance of vitamin C in the treatment of the common cold has been doubted mainly because of erroneous interpretations. Unreliable reviews have been presented in various textbooks.

“However, many studies have shown vitamin C to be beneficial. For example, animal mortality in infectious diseases decreased due to vitamin supplements.”

Even if you consumed several kilos of oranges, vitamin C does not prevent the common cold. Instead, the duration of the disease can be somewhat shortened with it.

“The duration of the common cold in adults and children is shortened by 8 and 14 per cent, respectively, with the use of vitamin supplements. This equals one or two days.”

In order to shorten the duration, the consumption of vitamins must be begun as soon as the first symptoms of the cold appear. Vitamin replenishment begun mid-way through the cold does not bring relief to the stuffy feeling.

“Adults should take approximately 6 grams of vitamin C a day, which corresponds to approximately 16 kilos of oranges. A suitable amount for children is 2 grams. People normally get approximately 100 milligrams a day, so we are talking about a considerable increase.”

According to Hemilä, it is quite safe to consume even large amounts of vitamin C. Apart from stomach problems, no significant drawbacks have been perceived.

“In studies where as much as 100 grams of vitamin C have been injected straight in to the vein, no ill effects have appeared,” says Hemilä.

Text&photo: Mirja Mäenpää
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Translation: Valtasana Oy