Vitamin C For Infants With Cold

Review

. 2013 Jan 31;2013(1):CD000980.

doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4.

Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold

Affiliations

PMID: 23440782
PMCID: PMC8078152
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4

Free PMC article

Review

Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold

Harri Hemilä et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 .

Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for preventing and treating the common cold has been a subject of controversy for 70 years.

Objectives: To find out whether vitamin C reduces the incidence, the duration or severity of the common cold when used either as a continuous regular supplementation every day or as a therapy at the onset of cold symptoms.

Search methods: We searched CENTRAL 2012, Issue 11, MEDLINE (1966 to November week 3, 2012), EMBASE (1990 to November 2012), CINAHL (January 2010 to November 2012), LILACS (January 2010 to November 2012) and Web of Science (January 2010 to November 2012). We also searched the U.S. National Institutes of Health trials register and WHO ICTRP on 29 November 2012.

Selection criteria: We excluded trials which used less than 0.2 g per day of vitamin C and trials without a placebo comparison. We restricted our review to placebo-controlled trials.

Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently extracted data. We assessed 'incidence' of colds during regular supplementation as the proportion of participants experiencing one or more colds during the study period. 'Duration' was the mean number of days of illness of cold episodes.

Main results: Twenty-nine trial comparisons involving 11,306 participants contributed to the meta-analysis on the risk ratio (RR) of developing a cold whilst taking vitamin C regularly over the study period. In the general community trials involving 10,708 participants, the pooled RR was 0.97 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 1.00). Five trials involving a total of 598 marathon runners, skiers and soldiers on subarctic exercises yielded a pooled RR of 0.48 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.64).Thirty-one comparisons examined the effect of regular vitamin C on common cold duration (9745 episodes). In adults the duration of colds was reduced by 8% (3% to 12%) and in children by 14% (7% to 21%). In children, 1 to 2 g/day vitamin C shortened colds by 18%. The severity of colds was also reduced by regular vitamin C administration.Seven comparisons examined the effect of therapeutic vitamin C (3249 episodes). No consistent effect of vitamin C was seen on the duration or severity of colds in the therapeutic trials.The majority of included trials were randomised, double-blind trials. The exclusion of trials that were either not randomised or not double-blind had no effect on the conclusions.

Authors' conclusions: The failure of vitamin C supplementation to reduce the incidence of colds in the general population indicates that routine vitamin C supplementation is not justified, yet vitamin C may be useful for people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise. Regular supplementation trials have shown that vitamin C reduces the duration of colds, but this was not replicated in the few therapeutic trials that have been carried out. Nevertheless, given the consistent effect of vitamin C on the duration and severity of colds in the regular supplementation studies, and the low cost and safety, it may be worthwhile for common cold patients to test on an individual basis whether therapeutic vitamin C is beneficial for them. Further therapeutic RCTs are warranted.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the other review authors have any conflict of interest to declare in this review.

Figures

1
Methodological quality summary: review authors' judgements about each methodological quality item for each included study.

2
Forest plot of comparison: 1 Incidence of colds while taking ≥ 0.2 g/day vitamin C regularly, outcome: 1.1 Proportion of participants developing ≥ 1 cold episodes during the trial

3
Forest plot of comparison: 2 Duration of the colds occurring when on regular ≥ 0.2 g/day vitamin C, outcome: 2.1 Duration of common cold symptoms (placebo group duration 100%)

Update of

Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.

Douglas RM, Hemilä H, Chalker E, Treacy B. Douglas RM, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD000980. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007. PMID: 17636648 Updated. Review.

Cited by 178 articles

Beneficial Effects of Vitamins, Minerals, and Bioactive Peptides on Strengthening the Immune System Against COVID-19 and the Role of Cow's Milk in the Supply of These Nutrients.

Ahvanooei MRR, Norouzian MA, Vahmani P. Ahvanooei MRR, et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021 Nov 27:1-14. doi: 10.1007/s12011-021-03045-x. Online ahead of print. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021. PMID: 34837602 Free PMC article. Review.
SARS-CoV-2 infection and oxidative stress: Pathophysiological insight into thrombosis and therapeutic opportunities.

Alam MS, Czajkowsky DM. Alam MS, et al. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2021 Nov 15:S1359-6101(21)00080-0. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.11.001. Online ahead of print. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2021. PMID: 34836751 Free PMC article. Review.
A Comprehensive Review about the Molecular Structure of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Insights into Natural Products against COVID-19.

Saied EM, El-Maradny YA, Osman AA, Darwish AMG, Abo Nahas HH, Niedbała G, Piekutowska M, Abdel-Rahman MA, Balbool BA, Abdel-Azeem AM. Saied EM, et al. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Oct 21;13(11):1759. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111759. Pharmaceutics. 2021. PMID: 34834174 Free PMC article. Review.
Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, Yang G, Beardsley J, Myers SP, Mertz D, Leeder S. Hunter J, et al. BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 2;11(11):e047474. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047474. BMJ Open. 2021. PMID: 34728441 Free PMC article.
Pharmacist's recommendations of over-the-counter treatments for the common cold - analysis of prospective cases in Poland.

Pietrusiewicz M, Kopa-Stojak PN, Pawliczak R. Pietrusiewicz M, et al. BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Oct 30;22(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s12875-021-01561-2. BMC Fam Pract. 2021. PMID: 34717562 Free PMC article.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
- Europe PubMed Central
- PubMed Central
- Wiley
Other Literature Sources
- Faculty Opinions
- scite Smart Citations
Medical
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- MedlinePlus Health Information

Vitamin C For Infants With Cold

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23440782/

Vitamin C For Infants With Cold