The idea that vitamin C supplementation might be of benefit against colds achieved wide popularity in the 1970s when Linus Pauling wrote a best-selling book titled Vitamin C and the Common Cold. Linus Pauling was a prominent chemist who won two Nobel prizes. Whether or not vitamin C helps prevent or cure the common cold remains a matter of great controversy. While supplementary vitamin C has not been confirmed to lower the incidence of colds, vitamin C consumed in fruits and vegetables is correlated with a lower incidence of colds.
There are many other excellent nutrients in fresh produce that may contribute to fewer colds. Vitamin C taken as a supplement in doses totaling one gram or more daily has been correlated with lessened severity and slightly shorter duration of colds in some studies. To fight infections, immune system phagocytes release oxidizing agents to kill viruses and bacteria. These oxidizing agents can also be harmful to our own cells.
Vitamin C, in its role as an antioxidant, protects our cells against the free radicals released by phagocytes. Histamine is produced by immune cells and can cause inflammations such as a stuffy nose. The antihistamine effects of vitamin C can help with the symptoms of a stuffy nose.
How Vitamin C May Help with Colds
By reducing damage from phagocyte-released free radicals.
With an antihistamine effect.
By keeping phagocytes and leukocytes “charged” with vitamin C.
By increasing the production of interferon.
By reducing the likelihood of a cold progressing to pneumonia.
More vitamin C is needed during colds.
It is also interesting that vitamin C is found in high concentrations in phagocytes and lymphocytes, indicating that vitamin C may have important functional roles in these immune system cells. Vitamin C increases the production of interferon in the body. Interferon inhibits viral proliferation, including colds. Lack of vitamin C has been found to raise the risk of many infections, especially pneumonia.
One benefit identified in cold studies is an 85 percent reduction in pneumonia incidence with supplemental vitamin C intake. Studies with human subjects have found decreased vitamin C levels in plasma, leukocytes, and urine during various infections including the common cold. This may indicate that more vitamin C is needed during infections. The vitamin C levels inside leukocytes can be reduced to half during a cold, but the level returns to the original level about a week after the episode. Vitamin C supplementation in high doses of six grams daily has been found to greatly reduce the decline of vitamin C in leukocytes caused by colds. Vitamin C levels are also depleted by stress, smoking, and alcoholism.
There are many other excellent nutrients in fresh produce that may contribute to fewer colds. Vitamin C taken as a supplement in doses totaling one gram or more daily has been correlated with lessened severity and slightly shorter duration of colds in some studies. To fight infections, immune system phagocytes release oxidizing agents to kill viruses and bacteria. These oxidizing agents can also be harmful to our own cells.
Vitamin C, in its role as an antioxidant, protects our cells against the free radicals released by phagocytes. Histamine is produced by immune cells and can cause inflammations such as a stuffy nose. The antihistamine effects of vitamin C can help with the symptoms of a stuffy nose.
How Vitamin C May Help with Colds
By reducing damage from phagocyte-released free radicals.
With an antihistamine effect.
By keeping phagocytes and leukocytes “charged” with vitamin C.
By increasing the production of interferon.
By reducing the likelihood of a cold progressing to pneumonia.
More vitamin C is needed during colds.
It is also interesting that vitamin C is found in high concentrations in phagocytes and lymphocytes, indicating that vitamin C may have important functional roles in these immune system cells. Vitamin C increases the production of interferon in the body. Interferon inhibits viral proliferation, including colds. Lack of vitamin C has been found to raise the risk of many infections, especially pneumonia.
One benefit identified in cold studies is an 85 percent reduction in pneumonia incidence with supplemental vitamin C intake. Studies with human subjects have found decreased vitamin C levels in plasma, leukocytes, and urine during various infections including the common cold. This may indicate that more vitamin C is needed during infections. The vitamin C levels inside leukocytes can be reduced to half during a cold, but the level returns to the original level about a week after the episode. Vitamin C supplementation in high doses of six grams daily has been found to greatly reduce the decline of vitamin C in leukocytes caused by colds. Vitamin C levels are also depleted by stress, smoking, and alcoholism.
More about C-Vitamin:
0 comments