title: Beneficial therapeutic effects of vitamin C on recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: preliminary data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether supplementation of vitamin C has a beneficial effect in the prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Moreover, we evaluate the main risk factors that predispose to the development of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty children have been enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: the control group (G1 N.=33) and the group at risk of recurrent RTIs (G2 N.=27). To G2 group was administered every day 100% orange juice with the content of vitamin C 70 mg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reduction in the incidence rate of RTIs (episodes pre-treatment: 182-6.75 episodes/child, after-treatment: 71-2.62 episodes/child, P<0.05), were observed in G2 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of vitamin C had a beneficial effect in our group of children with recurrent RTIs, reducing the number of infective episodes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pediatrics, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy - pietro.ferrara@unicatt.it.|Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy - pietro.ferrara@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pediatrics, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ianniello
authors.affiliation: Unit of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quintarelli
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cammerata
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quattrocchi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gloria M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Terranova
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacinto A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Miggiano
authors.affiliation: Unit of Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casale
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid