Vitamin C and the Common Cold; Dispelling myths

Growing up most of us were told to drink orange juice to ward off colds. Then a few years ago we were told this was a myth. But with cold season upon us, it's a topic worth revisiting via a timely article in Newsweek.

First off, no one disputes that oranges, grapefruits and other vitamin C-loaded foods have many health benefits. So regardless of the effect that they have, nothing should dissuade one from consuming vitamin C rich foods. However when it comes to the common hold study after study has shown that vitamin C does little, if anything, to prevent, shorten or cure the common cold. Sorry.

The most recent roundup of vitamin C research, published this spring in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, evaluated several decades of studies that included more than 11,000 subjects taking 200 or more milligrams of vitamin C each day. (The government's recommended daily allowance is 60 milligrams.) The research found that vitamin C did little to reduce either the length or severity of colds among the general population.

There is one caveat however and it is a big one. Studies have shown that a daily dose of vitamin C might reduce the risk of catching a cold whose bodies are under significant physical stress. This would include endurance athletes (marathoners, triathletes, heavy spinners, etc.) and the reduction of risk is significant, up to 50%.

The Newsweek article also answered another related question, which is why does the cold-busting myth persist for the general population? It turns out that the cold-busting properties of vitamin C were first reported in a 1970 book called "Vitamin C and the Common Cold." Given that the cold is one of the most prevalent (and frustrating) ailments, it struck a cord with mainstream audiences that something could be done about it. Sadly the book didn't have much scientific backing and even though it has been thoroughly refuted, the message has stuck.

Furthermore, according to Newsweek doctors have "little incentive to correct the notion that it does, since consumption of vitamin C is not considered a public threat. (In fact, some studies have associated vitamin C's antioxidant properties with a decreased incidence of some cancers.)" When you think of all of the things that doctors want you to stop doing (smoking, over-eating, drinking too much, stress, etc.), vitamin C just doesn't make the list since it doesn't hurt and might actually be good.