How much vitamin C should I eat for a cold?
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Medical experts are confident that high doses of ascorbic acid for colds or viral infections help to cope with the disease more quickly. However, until now, no one knew the exact amount of vitamin for a successful fight against the disease.
The results of new research by scientists on this issue were published in the periodical Nutrients.
The success of treating colds after using ascorbic acid is dose-dependent: it is optimal if the amount of the drug taken is gradually increased to 6-8 g per day. By the way, in an amount 100 times the recommended daily requirement of the use of vitamin C.
Scientists already have a lot of information about ascorbic acid for colds, since a huge part of the experiments were carried out on animals. The rodents were injected with vitamin C at various dosages, after which the results were recorded. In the vast majority of cases, ascorbic acid helped stop the development of a viral or microbial disease and soon improve the condition of the body.
Given the "universality" of the vitamin and its positive effect on immune defense, scientists from the Finnish University of Helsinki decided to conduct a study involving people - patients with colds or ARVI.
How much vitamin C should be used to accelerate the process of recovery and not to harm the body?
To get an answer to this question, experts led by Professor Harry Hemil analyzed data from two large-scale studies using a placebo.
The first experiment consisted of the following: two groups of volunteers were offered to take ascorbic acid in an amount of 3 g / day, participants in the third group were asked to take 6 g of vitamin per day, and participants in the fourth group had to take a placebo. In patients of the third group, the disease was cured by 17% faster, compared with the fourth group. In patients from the first two groups, efficacy was estimated at almost 9%.
Next, a second experiment was performed: several groups of participants took ascorbic acid in amounts of 4 and 8 g / day, or placebo, but only once - during the first day of a cold. Compared with placebo, 8 g of ascorbic acid could reduce the severity of the clinical picture by 19%. Such an amount, as 4 g, was found to be less effective - about twice.
According to the results of the experiments, specialists stated the existence of a linear relationship between the amount of vitamin C consumed and the duration of the disease.
Professor Khemil argues that 8 mg of vitamin is not the maximum possible amount of the drug. Probably, other experiments will be carried out later, using higher doses, for example, 15 mg / day and even more.
"The effectiveness of ascorbic acid in colds is undeniable. At the moment we believe that it is quite appropriate to take up to 8 grams of vitamin per day. It is desirable that such treatment begins as early as possible, "- sums up the professor.
[