Every year, up to 15% of the population develops a respiratory infection. Most of our respiratory infections happen because of a virus. And quite often, these viruses follow a seasonal pattern of infection. They peak around the colder months and disappear a few months later.
The majority of us prevent infections by being proactive. We get vaccinated, wash our hands (often), clean surfaces, etc. We also run out to our closest pharmacy to pick up a few essentials for managing a respiratory infection: tissues (for your runny nose & to cover your cough), disinfectants (to stop the spread), fever or pain medicine, decongestants (for your stuffy nose), and vitamin C supplements or products.
But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you grab vitamin C in the first place? The tissues and pain medicine are pretty self-explanatory. What does vitamin C do to make it essential?
Why Vitamin C?
For centuries, people regarded vitamin C as a treatment option for the common cold and other respiratory infections. But there wasn’t any substantial evidence behind this claim.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that research suggested vitamin C has some effect at shortening the length and severity of respiratory infections and their symptoms.1
At the time, the findings were inconsistent. Vitamin C showed some benefit only for special populations (people in the military or runners) or lessen the incidence of colds in roughly half of the general population. But, this did not stop vitamin C from being popularized.123
However, there is a reason that vitamin C showed moderate benefit against respiratory infections.
Vitamin C has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Essentially, vitamin C can slow or prevent damage to your tissues (antioxidant), reduce inflammation in your body (which is your body’s natural healing response after an injury), support immune health (your defense against infections).2
The Takeaway
Vitamin C has many effects on respiratory and immune health. (So much so that vitamin C sales soared during the earlier stages of the pandemic). Its health benefits offer up to moderate positive effects for most of us when used at the onset of new respiratory symptoms.
So, you wake up to a new sore throat, cough, or runny nose (and have not been exposed or testing negative for Covid-19)⎯ take your vitamin C!