Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is widely used as a remedy to prevent or treat the common cold, a practice rooted largely in tradition and popularized by Nobel laureate Linus Pauling in the 1970s. The belief that Vitamin C can act as a decongestant or significantly reduce cold symptoms persists in popular culture. However, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited. Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, including those summarized by the Cochrane Collaboration, have shown that routine Vitamin C supplementation does not reduce the incidence of colds in the general population. There is some evidence that high doses of Vitamin C might slightly reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms, but the effect is modest and not consistent across all studies. Importantly, Vitamin C does not function as a decongestant in the pharmacological sense (like pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine) and does not directly relieve nasal congestion. The continued use of Vitamin C for colds is best explained by tradition and anecdotal experience rather than robust scientific validation. In summary, while Vitamin C is safe for most people and may offer a small benefit in reducing cold duration, its use as a decongestant or primary treatment for colds is not strongly supported by scientific evidence.

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