Ascorbic acid and the common cold. Evaluation of its efficacy and toxicity

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Abstract
Brief descriptions are given of the thirteen controlled trials that have been made of ascorbic acid in comparison with a placebo in relation to the common cold, with the ascorbic acid or placebo given to subjects over a period of time and with the subjects in good health at the beginning of the trial and exposed to cold viruses in the ordinary way. The integrated morbidity (amount of illness per person) found in these trials was an average of 36% less for the ascorbic-acid subjects (average intake 1 g per day) than for the placebo subjects. Several investigators have re- ported that no serious adverse effects of ascorbic acid were observed. So far there is no significant evidence for the various adverse reactions that have been hypothe- sized. The apparent benefit in health from an increase in intake of ascorbic acid justifies its widespread use.

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