Relationship: Infection and vitamin C

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C
For the health condition: Infection

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has a well-established historical and scientific association with the prevention and treatment of infections, especially respiratory infections like the common cold. The traditional use of vitamin C for infection dates back to the 20th century, popularized by Linus Pauling in the 1970s, who advocated its regular use to prevent and treat colds. Scientifically, vitamin C plays a crucial role in immune function: it supports various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system, enhances the skin's barrier function against pathogens, and promotes the oxidative killing of microbes by phagocytes. Deficiency in vitamin C impairs immunity and increases susceptibility to infections.

Numerous randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have investigated vitamin C supplementation for infection. Evidence suggests that while routine supplementation in the general population does not significantly reduce the incidence of colds, it may modestly reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. The effect is more pronounced in individuals under physical stress (e.g., athletes, soldiers) or those with inadequate dietary intake. For more serious infections like pneumonia or sepsis, some studies suggest potential benefits, but evidence remains limited and inconclusive.

Overall, the use of vitamin C to support infection is supported by moderate scientific evidence, especially for reducing symptom duration in specific populations. It is not considered a cure but may offer some benefit as an adjunct to conventional treatments.

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Other ingredients used for Infection

2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Aerva lanata
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
AHCC
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alkylglycerols
Allicin
Alliin
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
alpha-humulene
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
animal protein
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Aquilegia viridiflora
arabinogalactan
Ardisia
artesunate
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
astragalus
aucubin
Aureobasidium pullulans
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Basidiomycota
bayberry
bearberry
bee pollen
bee propolis
Beef liver
Belamcanda
benzyl isothiocyanate
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium infantis
bignay
birch
bisabolene
bitter principals
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black walnut
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bupleurum
burdock
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
caprylic acid
cardamom
carvacrol
cassava
cassia bark
cat's claw
catechu
celandine
Celastrus
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
chaga mushroom
chervil
Chiococca alba
chirata
Chlorophytum
Cinchona
Cistus
citral
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
corktree
croton seeds
cubeb
cuspidatum root
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dense fruit dittany
deoxyandrographolides
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
elderberry
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
figwort
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucoidan
furans
Galbanum
Gallesia
genipap
geranial
geraniol
ginger
Globulins
Glucan peptides
Glucanase
glyceryl monolaurate
Golden Willow
goldenseal
Graviola
green chiretta
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hygrophila
hyssop
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian nightshade
iodine
Isoalantolactone
judastree
Kefiran
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lentinan
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lomatium
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
malabar nut
Malva sylvestris
mangosteen
mangostin
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Milk Protein
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Osha
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Pareira
Patrinia
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pelargonium
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
pogoda tree
Pokeweed
Polygonum
Polyporus
polysaccharides
Portulaca
Premna
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
ravinsara
red root
reishi mushroom
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
Schizophyllum commune
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Skunkvine
Smoketree
Solanum anguivi
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
spirulina
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
sweet wormwood
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Tansy
Terminalia
Terpinen-4-ol
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Trametes
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Tylophorine
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
Verbena
Veronica
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
Water Pepper
White oak
Winter Begonia
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Zinc
Zingerone

Other health conditions supported by vitamin C

Abrasions
Abscesses
Acne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Addictions (general remedies for)
Addison's Disease
Adrenal Fatigue
Age Spots
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Anemia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Antibiotics (side effects of)
Anxiety
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Bell's Palsy
Bites and Stings
Bladder Infection
Bleeding (external)
Bleeding (internal)
Blood Poisoning
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Bruises (prevention)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Capillary Weakness
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemical Poisoning
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colon (atonic)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cuts
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Debility
Dementia
Denture Sores
Depression
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Environmental Pollution
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Problems
Eyesight (poor)
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Free Radical Damage
Gall Stones
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glaucoma
Gonorrhea
Gout
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hot Flashes
Hypertension
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Knees (weak)
Laryngitis
Lead Poisoning
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Leukemia
Ligaments (torn or injured)
Liver Detoxification
Lyme Disease
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Metabolic Syndrome
Mononucleosis
Mumps
Nose Bleeds
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type H
Pneumonia
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prolapsed Uterus
Prostatitis
Radiation Sickness
Rashes and Hives
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Scurvy
Shingles
Shock
Sinus Infection
Skin (infections)
Skin Care (general)
Sore Throat
Spider Veins
Spinal Disks
Sprains
Strep Throat
Stretch Marks
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Teeth (loose)
Tendonitis
Thrush
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Extraction
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Uric Acid Retention
Urinary Tract Infections
Vaginitis
Varicose Veins
Warts
Wounds and Sores
Wrinkles

Products containing vitamin C

Health Concerns

Brands

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C
For the health condition: Infection

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Infection

Other health conditions supported by vitamin C

Products containing vitamin C

Health Concerns

Brands

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin CFor the health condition: Infection

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Infection

Other health conditions supported by vitamin C

Products containing vitamin C

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C
For the health condition: Infection