Doubt cast on vitamin C paradigm

A review by Australian and Finnish scientists of existing research results shows that even large regular doses of vitamin C do not reduce the risk of contracting a common cold. It appears that people taking up to 2g daily catch colds at the same rate as those on a placebo. Dr Robert Douglas, of the Australian National University in Canberra, and Dr Harri Hemil, of the University of Helsinki, say, “The lack of effect of prophylactic vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in normal populations throws doubt on the utility of this wide practice.” Dr Douglas and Dr Hemil, who undertook the investigation for the Cochrane Review, base their conclusion on 55 controlled studies, of which 23 dealt explicitly with vitamin C supplements and cold prevention. Their findings appear in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine.

The Times