I’m excited to continue our “Monday Study Rundown” series with a study that delves into the role of vitamin C in reducing the severity of common colds. This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of vitamin C, especially in tackling more severe symptoms of colds.
Key Highlights:
Participants & Setup: The meta-analysis included 15 comparisons from 10 randomized, double-blind trials, all involving healthy individuals. Each participant took a minimum of 1 gram of vitamin C daily. Importantly, these trials were placebo-controlled, ensuring high-quality data.
Results: The study found that vitamin C reduced the severity of cold symptoms by 15% on average. Notably, vitamin C had a more significant impact on the duration of severe symptoms, but did not significantly affect mild symptoms.
Conclusion: This research suggests that vitamin C may be particularly beneficial in managing more severe cold symptoms, potentially reducing absenteeism from work and school. The study underscores the importance of focusing on symptom severity in future research on vitamin C and the common cold.
This study highlights vitamin C as a potential tool in managing the severity of common colds, especially when symptoms are more intense.
