Is it true that… you should take vitamin C when you’ve got a cold?
The vitamin has many benefits, but research shows that people who take it are just as likely to get the sniffles as those who don’t
TL;DR
- Vitamin C is crucial for health as an antioxidant, aiding iron absorption, and producing collagen.
- The idea that high doses of Vitamin C prevent or cure colds is a myth, popularized by Linus Pauling.
- Research shows no significant difference in cold likelihood between Vitamin C supplement users and non-users.
- Supplementation may only slightly reduce cold symptom duration in adults, an effect that is modest.
- Individuals who regularly take high doses of Vitamin C may be more health-conscious overall, complicating data interpretation.
- Vitamin D is more clearly established as important for immune health.
- Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight exposure and may be taken as a supplement during winter.