Ascorbic acid and the common cold: reviewing the evidence.
Large-scale clinical trials of the effect of vitamin C on the common cold conducted since Pauling's pronouncement on its efficacy in 1970 have produced conflicting results. Benefits shown have been modest, and positive findings have not been reproducible. Reported benefits probably are due to statistical artifact, minor vitamin-induced physiologic changes, the placebo effect, or a combination of these.
D000293:Adolescent; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003139:Common Cold / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos
D010919:Placebos; D001205:Ascorbic Acid