Article: Vitamin C 'does not protect against the common cold'

Vitamin C is the most widely promoted supplement against colds and flu, but its protective effect is a myth, according to new research.

A review of 30 studies involving a total of 11,000 people has found no evidence that, for the average person, taking extra Vitamin C can stop sneezes, sniffles and coughs.

The only people who may benefit from swallowing supplements of the vitamin are those who endure extreme physical stress, including soldiers, skiers and marathon runners.

They were half as likely to catch a cold if they took daily Vitamin C, the researchers from Australia and Finland found. For the rest, buying the supplements was not worth the effort or expense.

Professor Harri Hemila, ...

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