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Cited by 155Vitamin C and Antioxidants ResearchRespiratory viral infections researchHerbal Medicine Research Studies

Effects of ascorbic acid on the common cold

Chalmers, Thomas C.·1975·The American Journal of Medicine
DOI 10.1016/0002-9343(75)90127-8
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Abstract

Of 14 clinical trials of ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of the common cold, the data from 8 were considered well enough gathered to be creditable and to warrant combining for an over-all assessment of efficacy. Differences in mean prorated numbers of colds per year and durations of illness were 0.09 plus or minus 0.06 (plus or minus 1 standard error) and 0.11 plus or minus 0.24, respectively, favoring ascorbic acid over the placebo. These are minor and insignificant differences, but in most studies the severity of symptoms was significantly worse in the patients who received the placebo. In one study lasting 9 months, a large number of the volunteers tasted their capsules and correctly guessed what group they were in. All differences in severity and duration were eliminated by analyzing only the data from those who did not know which drug they were taking. Since there are no data on the long-term toxicity of ascorbic acid when given in doses of 1 g or more per day, it is concluded that the minor benefits of questionable validity are not worth the potential risk, no matter how small that might be.

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Authors
Chalmers, T. C.
Corresponding author
Chalmers, Thomas C.
Venue
The American Journal of Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1975-04
Volume
58
Issue
4
Pages
532-536
ISSN
0002-9343 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0002-9343(75)90127-8
OpenAlex
W2047174982
Cited by
155
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
FWCI
5.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The American Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Respiratory viral infections research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Herbal Medicine Research Studies
Keywords
vitamin C, common cold, cold prevention, cold treatment, symptom severity, disease duration, placebo comparison, chronic toxicity, vitamin C supplementation
MeSH terms
Ascorbic Acid, Clinical Trials as Topic, Common Cold, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Humans, Placebos, Time Factors

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