Vitamin C and Infections

Nutrients

Harri Hemilä¹ 

[1] Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland;

关键词: ascorbic acid;    bacteria;    bacterial toxins;    common cold;    herpes zoster;    pneumonia;    protozoa;    respiratory tract infections;    viruses;    tetanus;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu9040339

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In the early literature, vitamin C deficiency was associated with pneumonia. After its identification, a number of studies investigated the effects of vitamin C on diverse infections. A total of 148 animal studies indicated that vitamin C may alleviate or prevent infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. The most extensively studied human infection is the common cold. Vitamin C administration does not decrease the average incidence of colds in the general population, yet it halved the number of colds in physically active people. Regularly administered vitamin C has shortened the duration of colds, indicating a biological effect. However, the role of vitamin C in common cold treatment is unclear. Two controlled trials found a statistically significant dose–response, for the duration of common cold symptoms, with up to 6–8 g/day of vitamin C. Thus, the negative findings of some therapeutic common cold studies might be explained by the low doses of 3–4 g/day of vitamin C. Three controlled trials found that vitamin C prevented pneumonia. Two controlled trials found a treatment benefit of vitamin C for pneumonia patients. One controlled trial reported treatment benefits for tetanus patients. The effects of vitamin C against infections should be investigated further.

【 授权许可】

Unknown