How good is Vitamin C?

If you don't run a marathon, you probably won't get much protection against common colds from a daily dose of vitamin C supplements, according to the most recent review of 30 studies.

Made over a few decades and with more than 11,000 participants, everyday people use at least 200 milligrams of vitamins, an assessment also found that vitamin C does not significantly reduce the time and level of flu, According to researchers at the Australian National University and the University of Helsinki.

However, they discovered: those who perform high-intensity activities - such as marathon runners, ski runners and soldiers - can reduce their risk of getting a cold if they use it every day. vitamin C.

Meanwhile, the authors argue that, for most people, the benefit of this popular treatment is so little that it is not worth the cost and effort.' It is not reasonable to take vitamin C 365 days a year to reduce the risk of colds ,' said Professor Harri Hemilä of the University of Helsinki (Finland).

One glass of orange juice has about 97 milligrams of vitamin C (Photo: Johnpratt)

This conclusion is published in the latest edition of The Cochrane Library , a journal of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic assessments will draw evidence-based conclusions in medical treatment after considering both the content and quality of the controversial medical tests.

Since the vitamin was discovered in the 30s, there has been much debate about its effectiveness in treating common diseases from lung infections to colds. In the 1970s, Nobel laureate Linus Pauling popularized the regular use of Vitamin C. His book, 'Vitamin C and Common Cold,' encourages people to use 1,000 milligrams of vitamins. C every day.

Currently, the recommended daily dose of Vitamin is 60 milligrams. A glass of orange juice has about 97 milligrams of vitamin C.

Although there are many different results in the beginning and then evidence of the effectiveness of vitamin C, the prestigious chemist Pauling remains the world champion of vitamin C.'Pauling never retracted his opinion,' said Wallace Sampson, emeritus professor of medicine, at Stanford University.

Although there is evidence against it, vitamin C is still popular because many people want to believe it works, said Professor Wallace Sampson, who argued with chemist Paulung on the radio and by mail.

Today, there is little interest in studying vitamin C and the common cold, Mr. Hemilä - who studied the vitamin for more than 25 years, said. The Cochrane Review was first published in 1998 and updated in 2004 and this year. The most recent update includes a single study that focuses on the relationship between colds and vitamin C.

However, researchers continue to study Vitamin C and vitamin C alone in combination with other vitamins and substances, such as Echinacea, which work to prevent and treat diseases including cancer.

Professor Hemilä said, he found that there were not many benefits in further studies for colds in adults. However, he wanted more rescues for vitamin C and flu in children and vitamin C and pneumonia because although Vitamin C is not a panacea, it is not useless.

Thanh Van