Positive Health Online

Abstract

HEMILA, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland writes that various studies have shown an increased risk of respiratory infections in people performing heavy physical exercise. Since vitamin C has been shown to affect some components of the immune system, it may have effects upon the increased incidence of respiratory infections caused by heavy physical stress.

Background

Methodology

Results were analysed from 3 placebo-controlled studies examining the effect of vitamin C supplementation on the incidence of common cold in people under acute physical stress. In one study, the participants were school children at skiing camp in the Swiss Alps; in the second they were military troops training in Northern Canada; in the third they were participants in a 90 km race.

Results

A considerable reduction in common cold incidence in the vitamin C supplemented (0.61.0 g/day) group was found in all 3 studies. The pooled rate ratio (RR) of common cold infections was 0.5 for the vitamin C groups.

Conclusion

The results suggest that vitamin C supplementation is beneficial for individuals performing heavy exercise and who suffer with frequent upper respiratory infections.

References

Hemila H. Vitamin C and common cold incidence: a review of studies with subjects under heavy physical stress. Int J Sports Med. 17(5): 37983. Jul 1996.

Comment

I recall reading recently an article in the popular press where the author stated that there was absolutely no evidence for vitamin C having any effect on colds. Touché!