Many people dread cold and flu season, and with good reason, as Americans suffer from approximately 1 billion colds every year, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. To avoid catching a cold, which actually has nothing to do with temperature, people turn to alternative medicines, including the use of vitamin supplements. Although not a cure, taking vitamin C or vitamin E may help shorten the duration or lessen the symptoms of the common cold.
Causes of the Common Cold
Suffering from a cold is more common in the winter months, but you cannot catch a cold simply by being cold. The common cold occurs as a result of a viral infection. Although over 100 different types of viruses can cause a cold, also known as an upper respiratory infection, rhinovirus remains the most common cause of a cold, according to MayoClinic.com. The common cold spreads easily from person to person through tiny droplets released when you cough or sneeze.
Symptoms of the Common Cold
Once you "catch" a cold, you may experience a variety of symptoms. The common cold causes so many different types of symptoms because so many different viruses may be involved. The virus enters through the nose or mouth and infects the nose, throat and upper respiratory tract. Common symptoms include runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy throat, cough, congestion, body aches, sneezing, watery eyes, mild fever and fatigue. Research on the use of vitamins to fight these symptoms has produces mixed results, prompting the need for additional studies.
Vitamin C
Although vitamin C boasts a long history of being associated with preventing the common cold, the jury is still out on its effectiveness in preventing or treating a cold. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports on studies conducted using vitamin C to treat a cold. Studies involving prevention failed to find conclusive evidence that taking vitamin C, even in large doses, can prevent the onset of a cold. Some studies, however, do support claims that taking vitamin C can help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. Before any substantial claims can be made, addition studies are needed. Vitamin C does support a healthy immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells, which function to fight off infections.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also supports a healthy immune system by acting as an antioxidant -- a substance that protects cells from the damaging effects of negatively charged particles produced through normal chemical reactions in the body. Studies utilizing vitamin E to prevent or treat the common cold produce varying results. One study published in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" concluded that vitamin E may reduce the incidence of the common cold in certain populations. The study also found that age and smoking affect the ability of vitamin E to prevent a cold. Be careful when taking vitamin E in large doses, as too much can affect the ability of blood to coagulate and may lead to the onset of a stroke.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Colds and Flu and CAM
- MayoClinic.com: Common Cold -- Alternative Medicine
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University: Vitamin C
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; The Effect of Vitamin E on Common Cold Incidence Is Modified by Age, Smoking and Residential Neighborhood; Dr. Harri Hemilä et al.; 2006
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
