Back in 1988-1989 I began taking a vitamin C supplement. There was a scientist named Linus Pauling who had espoused the virtues of vitamin C in reducing the incidence and severity of colds. I did a little research on him at the library (there was no Internet back in 1988-1989!) and found out he was one of only two people to ever win two Nobel Prizes in different disciplines. Marie Curie was the other. I figured if this guy thought it was a good idea, what the heck. I’ve been pretty religious about taking 1000mg each day since then. I used to get the typical cold and sore throat a few times a year like most people. Since taking the vitamin C supplements for the past 20 years, I’ve never gotten a cold or sore throat. However, about a month ago, I decided to stop taking any supplements and see if they were really having any effect on me. This past week I was down in Florida visiting friends. One of them had a cold, and sure enough, I got it from her. I had even bragged beforehand that I never got colds. At the time, I had forgotten that I stopped taking the vitamin supplement. Only on my way back home later that week, did I remember that I was no longer taking them.
If you read all the recent literature on the efficacy of vitamin C in preventing and reducing the severity of colds, the conclusion is that no scientific study supports it. It’s hard to go against the overwhelming body of evidence that points in that direction. My unscientific study of one would not pass muster as being statistically valid. However, even if in my case it’s due to the placebo effect, I’m going to start taking the vitamin C again. Let’s see how long I can go without getting another cold. I’ll keep you posted on the results.
