In a two-part article, we will look at vitamin C and its properties. We will start by questioning some scientific studies made on this vitamin and see what's wrong with them.
I. Can Science be Trusted?
With many contradictory scientific results through the years, not least within the medical world, one may wonder whether science can be trusted. I am tempted to answer that with a resounding “no”. Science is often wrong. Suffice it to look at its history; one has to be blind not to notice all the errors. This would not be a real problem, if everyone were aware of the uncertainty and the factors that can make a scientific result erroneous; but it becomes dangerous if everything expressed as "scientific" is blindly believed. Results are often misinterpreted, and studies are often badly designed - yet the worst is that misinterpretation as well as bad design can be, and often are, deliberate. Prestige, money, and power, not a genuine desire for knowledge, are the major driving forces within the contemporary scientific community. Many researchers do not hesitate to manipulate their results, suppress facts which do not support their theories, or even lie to advance their own professional position or wealth.
Another factor is that the media want sensations. They eagerly blow up and exaggerate scientific results, no matter whether they are credible or not. For the general public it is hard, maybe impossible, to know what to believe.
New headlines on health turn up almost on a daily basis. Healthcare is big business. To evaluate credibility of the result of a new study, it is necessary to be able to evaluate at least its design and the interpretation of the result. The general public cannot reasonably be expected to possess sufficient knowledge to do so, so there is a lot of room for manipulation.
Yet it would be wrong to say that science is unreliable. Humans are. All those who abuse science, either deliberately or by ignorance, are to blame. Science is a powerful tool, in spite of its limitations - and it does have limitations. It can mislead us sometimes, but if we are aware of the uncertainties and limitations involved, there is no danger.
II. Some Studies about Vitamin C
In July 2005, New Scientist published an article named "Vitamin C left out in the cold". (http://tinyurl.com/2sazrk) The article covered a project of Australian National University, where they had looked at 55 studies during 65 years. The result: "...regular doses of at least 200 milligrams of vitamin C do not reduce the risk of a cold in the general population."
Later the text states: "Only one study, in which people were given a massive 8-gram dose on the first day of symptoms, found any effect, albeit very slight (PLoS Medicine, vol 2, p e168)."
This is not surprising, because all these studies are badly designed and cannot possibly show any significant effect. They are absolutely meaningless. Yet this result made headlines in the international media.
In August 2005, Nature published the result of a Japanese study named: "Effect of vitamin C on common cold: randomized controlled trial". (http://tinyurl.com/23wyy2)
They gave "Daily vitamin C supplementation of 50 mg (low-dose group) or 500 mg (high-dose group)."
It states: "No apparent reduction was seen for the severity and duration of the common cold." But they found a slight reduction in the frequency of colds
Just in Europe, there are at least six studies with similar results.
It should be stated though, that several studies show a significant result for individuals with extremely low vitamin C intake; and for individuals who are under acute stress.
Some of the Studies
Anderson TW, Reid DBW, Beaton GH (1972). Vitamin C and the common cold: a double-blind trial. Can Med Assoc J 107, 503–508.
Karlowski TR, Chalmers TC, Frenkel LD, Kapikian AZ, Lewis TL, Lynch JM (1975). Ascorbic acid for the common cold: a prophylactic and therapeutic trial. JAMA 231, 1038–1042.
Elwood PC, Lee HP, Leger AS, Baird IM, Howard AN (1976). A randomized controlled trial of vitamin C in the prevention and amelioration of the common cold. Br J Prev Soc Med 30, 193–196.
Ludvigsson J, Hansson LO, Tibbling G (1977). Vitamin C as a preventive medicine against common colds in children. Scand J Inf Dis 9, 91–98.
Pitt HA, Costrini AM (1979). Vitamin C prophylaxis in marine recruits. JAMA 241, 908–911.
Briggs M (1984). Vitamin C and infectious disease: a review of the literature and the results of a randomized, double-blind, prospective study over 8 years. In: Briggs MH (ed.), Recent Vitamin Research. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 39–82.
III. What was Wrong?
These and other studies either show an astonishing ignorance about how vitamin C works, or they are deliberately set up to be misleading (sponsored by the medical drug industry).
The doses given are too low, and the "massive" dose of 8g that was mentioned is not necessarily all that "massive". In any case, you can not set a fixed dose and give it to everyone. The dose needed depends on a large number of individual factors. The body has to become in a sense "saturated", in order for vitamin C to have any noticeable effect on an acute infection or inflammation.
The way to determine your optimal oral dose is to increase the dose until you get a diarrhoea. From there you lower it slightly, and there you have it! This can be 5g, or 20g, or whatever, depending on your condition. Note that your optimal dose will grow when your body houses an infection.
Yet I think the common cold is too much of a trifle for all this attention. Although it is common, it's hardly a serious disease. A cold now and then might even be good, as it trains the immune system and keeps it in good shape. But there are many serious infections and inflammations where vitamin C can be really useful. Difficult influenza, of course, but also pneumonia, measles, or meningitis, just to mention a few. They sometimes require a very high dosage, which should be injected. Orally administered it would be too hard on the stomach. The level of "saturation" can also be determined by a urine test.
Another way to take vitamin C is by nasal spray, which increases the vitamin concentration in the sinuses 1000 times, compared to oral intake.
However you take it, the normal "Recommended Daily Allowance" will do nothing more than keep away ACUTE symptoms of avitaminos (deficiency), and studies whose design is not based on how the vitamin really works, are totally meaningless.
(Continue reading about vitamin C in part 2 of this article: Vitamin C (part 2): How to Use & What it Does
Other articles related to vitamins/nutrients:
Understanding Dietary Fats Part 1 (of 2)
Understanding Dietary Fats Part 2 (of 2)
Why Dietary Supplements are Needed
Supplements, Getting Them Right: Some Points to Consider
Lutein & Zeaxanthin: Nutrients that Protect Your Eyes from Ageing
Not Only Beta-Carotene: Carotenoids (Carotenes & Xanthophylls)
Salicylic Acid: Is Aspirin a Vitamin?
Vitamin D – Underrated Vitamin?
Nicotinic Acid, the Real Super Vitamin!
Vitamin E - A Powerful Vitamin
Copyright © 2007, 2019, 2021 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved.
(The lead image shows Mandarins, a source of vitamin C. Photo by Couleur/Pixabay, CC0/Public Domain.)
Here you find my articles related to nutrients & supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) and here to health & medicine.
Interested in health & medicine, join my community "The Mechanisms of Health (d52e)"
You find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic, here.
My 5 most recent articles:
An Ugly Philosopher, a Nagging Wife, and an Illustrious Student
Your article is generating comments! I like that. But I did not read the comments (only the article). I really like that you say the same as I think:
I fully agree. And I think that the "social distancing" and "stay home orders" are just bad for our mental sanity and societies as a whole. I feel that my immune system doesn't understand what happened. I was used to so much more social interactions and it felt healthy.