In 1970, a book released by Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, titled "Vitamin C and the Common Cold," claims that vitamin C is an effective strategy against the common cold. However, these claims may not be all they are cracked up to be. Vitamin C may not be effective at treating a cold, but it could help prevent one.
Treatment
The fact is that vitamin C will not likely cure your virus. A meta-analysis published by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews analyzed studies including 11,000 participants and the effect of vitamin C on a virus. This review found that vitamin C does little, if anything, to help with either the severity or duration of a cold.
Prevention
Vitamin C may be beneficial in the prevention of a virus, though. The same analysis also concluded that vitamin C is beneficial for individuals whose bodies are under great stress. Exposure to extreme cold or a rigid exercise program, such as training for a marathon, can fatigue the body, making it susceptible to a virus. Taking vitamin C can help reduce the likelihood of catching a cold under these circumstances.
Dosage
In the meta-analysis, all subjects were given a dose of 200 mg vitamin C per day. According to MayoClinic.com, you should not exceed a dosage of 2,000 mg per day for adults older than 18. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning your body does not store it, but the excess is excreted in urine.
Considerations
The likelihood of developing vitamin C toxicity is quite low, according the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Large intakes of vitamin C have been linked with stomach pain and discomfort, including nausea and diarrhea. Before you start a vitamin C supplement or any supplement, get clearance from your doctor. Your physician may have certain guidelines for you to follow based on your own personal medical history regarding supplement use.
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