Does vitamin C help with colds?
Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin C reduces cold incidence by 50% in high-stress populations but not in the general population.
It contradicts the common belief that vitamin C works equally for everyone and highlights a stark contrast between groups.
Practical Takeaways
If you're in a high-stress group (e.g., athlete, soldier), consider daily vitamin C to potentially reduce cold risk by half.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin C reduces cold incidence by 50% in high-stress populations but not in the general population.
It contradicts the common belief that vitamin C works equally for everyone and highlights a stark contrast between groups.
Practical Takeaways
If you're in a high-stress group (e.g., athlete, soldier), consider daily vitamin C to potentially reduce cold risk by half.
Publication
Journal
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
Year
2004
Authors
Hemilä Harri, Chalker Elizabeth, Treacy Barbara, Douglas Bob, Cochrane
Related Content
Claims (5)
This claim says that taking lots of vitamin C, echinacea, garlic, or vitamin D doesn't actually help you get better from a cold, according to real studies done on people.
Taking vitamin C after you already have a cold doesn't really help you get better faster or feel less sick, according to several big studies.
Taking vitamin C pills every day doesn't really help prevent colds for most people, according to studies with thousands of participants.
Taking vitamin C supplements might cut your chances of getting a cold in half if you're under a lot of physical stress, like running marathons, skiing, or doing tough military training in cold weather.
Taking vitamin C regularly might help you get over a cold a little faster—about 8% quicker for adults and 13% for kids, according to a big study.