If you feel a cold coming on and take a couple of Vitamin C tablets, will this prevent the cold from forming?

Question

Or is this just an old wives tale?

Answer 1

there is evidence vitamin C helps, but its kinda misconstrued. many of the studies that have found it to be effective in preventing colds were done on highly stressed groups like soldiers in training and endurance athletes. so if youre under a lot of physical stress, it might help you out. but for the average joe it doesnt do much to prevent colds.

a lot of people swear airborne and zicam.... i dont think there is much evidence airborne works at all. its pretty much an overpriced multivitamin. if you look at the back of an original zicam it says the active ingredient is "Zincus Gloconorium" which sounds fancy, but its really just latin for zinc gluconate (which is the zinc supplement that is in multi vitamins and zinc supplements). some studies say zinc works, some say it doesnt work any better than a sugar pill, so the jury is out. if you want to try zinc id use zinc lozenges like Halls zinc cough drops or Cold Eeze (as directed on the package), theyre a lot cheaper than zicam. plus people are suing zicam because people who use the nostril swabs heavily are claiming to have lost their smell, dont know if there is any truth to that or not.

Answer 2

Yes, but it depends how long you've felt the cold coming on. Load up on that Vitamin C and try to take it on a daily basis. Get the 1000 mg so you only have to take it once a day, in case you forget to take it twice. Also, try Airborne, it REALLY works. The instant you feel a cold coming on take a tablet. You can get this at any local pharmacy, like CVS, Eckerd or Wall greens.

Answer 3

old wives tale. But, there is hope yet. Zicam nasal swabs, basically a zinc preparation, will shorten the length and decrease the severity of a cold. I have used it for four years on a prophylactic basis, and I haven't had a cold for four years. I give it to my son when he gets a cold and his are over in two or three days. Try the Zicam, it works.

Answer 4

Vitamin C is supposed to give your immune system a boost to help fight the cold faster. A good dose is 2 x500mg Vitamin C tablets a day. And drink lots of fluids!

Answer 5

Take Airborne- you can get it at Long's, Walgreens, kinda like Alka Selzter but you take it when you get the sniffles, or a sore throat and you think you are going to be around alot of people. Also taking 60 millegrams of Zinc is good every day for a week, one tablet. Go off of it for another week, then do it again.

Answer 6

No, it won't stop a cold from forming. It will boost the amount of vitamin C in your system, which may help fight off the cold.

Answer 7

GDAY MATEY ON BUDDYS DAY ON 360?WELL IRECKON MATE VITAMIN C TABLETS ARE GREAT FOR PREVENTING ALOT OF THINGS YES THE FLUE GOOD BEFORE DrINKING OR SMOKING BECAUSE THESE THINGS REDUCE YOUR LEVELS OF VITAMIN C IMPORTANTLY DONT OVERDO IT IT OR IT WILL CANCEL OUT THE DESIRED EFFECTS, i take vitamin c and B because im over 40 so me brain is suffering a bit?as youve noticed.

Answer 8

No, but some say it will lessen the severity and duration of the cold. Cod liver oil and echinacea tablets also work.

Answer 9

I think it really works, if you catch it in time. Also try Zicam nasal spray. It works great!

Answer 10

No