Q:Is Vitamin C really effective in preventing colds?
A: Vitamin C is the most famous of all natural treatments for colds. Numerous studies have found that Vitamin C supplements taken at a dose of 1,000 mg daily or more can significantly reduce symptoms of colds and help you get over a cold faster. Benefits appear to
be greater for children than for adults, and the exact amount of the benefit varies widely
between studies.
There is no real evidence that Vitamin C can prevent colds in general. However, there are two
exceptions to this. One is the "post-marathon sniffle." Heavy endurance exercise temporarily weakens the
immune system, leading to a high incidence of infection following marathons and triathlons. There is
some evidence that Vitamin C can prevent such colds.
The other situation in which Vitamin C might help prevent colds is when you are deficient
in the vitamin. In such cases, making sure to get your dietary allowance
might help keep you healthier.
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