Medical science is a constantly changing thing. New discoveries signal departures from age-old treatments, while new inquiries into ?traditional? medicine often reveals previously unknown substances with curative, preventive and healing properties. It is always important, of course, to maintain what is called an ?evidence-based? view of health and nutrition, while remaining reasonably open-minded about ?new things,? however old they are!



When the subject of vitamins comes up, there are many voices competing for your ears, mind ? and wallet. Americans spend billions of dollars a year on over-the-counter treatments, vitamins, mineral supplements and other ?natural? healing products. Some work, most are harmless at best but some can be damaging to your body. In fact, taking megadoses of the wrong vitamins can have serious consequences. Always take care to use the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals and don't ?get creative? without seeking authoritative counsel with your doctor.

Fighting and treating colds

The vitamin most often mentioned as a treatment for the common cold (coryza virus) is Vitamin C. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner (chemistry and, later, peace) was a lifelong advocate for the substance and recommended megadoses of it for most everyone. However, he was never able to show conclusively that Vitamin C ?prevented? a cold.

Other researchers considered prevention too narrow a study target, and began other, broader studies. Although, to this point, there is no credible evidence that Vitamin C prevents a cold, it has been shown to shorten the duration of the cold virus in humans. More importantly, researchers have tied vitamins, minerals, diet and general health condition to a tendency to ward off colds, suffer less severe symptoms and recover more quickly.

Stay abreast of the research

Research is being done in scores of laboratories worldwide on the value of Vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals. Since the ?state of the art? in this area changes continuously, you must invest a little time in staying abreast of the latest findings. Any company selling vitamins and other supplements should be responsible enough to refer its customers to the best information available. Most often, the ?mainstream? medical websites such as WebMD, EverydayHealth and Healthline will carry a good selection of current articles on the subject.

However, even some ?complementary and alternative medicine? (CAM) sites can be of help in your vitamin research, as long as they reference peer-reviewed literature and maintain acceptable scientific (evidence-based) standards. Again, it is a matter of balance. Don't sign on to some anti-AMA (American Medical Association) site expecting ?just the facts.? Neither should you limit your reading to just one AMA-approved site. Use your head, get (and stay) informed, consider the evidence and make up your own mind.

Some B vitamins and folic acid, as well as some herbs, have been touted as preventatives for colds. Various numbers of people swear by citrus fruits, honey, Echinacea and other items, too. Of course, anecdotes ? stories about healings and healing substances ? do not constitute ?science,? and there could be many other variables at work in uncontrolled settings. The fact is, too, that people normally recover from a cold in four to seven days, regardless of treatment, so anything they take as a ?cure? during that time frame may seem to them to be effective.

Bottom line

Quite a few articles suggest that Vitamin C is no way responsible for fighting off the common cold, but a like number do insist that it can moderate the cold and help it end a day or two sooner. The ?old wives? tale? about lemons is getting some scientific backing now, as it is reported that the rind contains a type of natural antiviral compound. But the best evidence available suggests that maintaining good overall health will result in a healthy immune system that can better ward off, and fight, common ailments.

By keeping the immune system in good working order you will help the body to fend off the worst of the symptoms of a cold or flu. This brings our focus full-circle, since getting your RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamins, minerals, protein, etc., is part of the best and most basic health plan there is. It's pretty much as your mom taught you, too: Get enough exercise, eat wisely, maintain good personal hygiene, reduce exposure to contagious diseases, see your doctor for an annual checkup ? and take your vitamins!