Why is vitamin C beneficial for the common cold?
Vitamin C plays an important role in our immune system health. The Immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, organs and chemicals that act as a defence system to help protect against foreign invaders and other threats to our health.
Aids in the production of white blood cells
Vitamin C assists white blood cell function, which may help to eliminate harmful foreign invaders like the common cold virus.
Is vitamin C an antioxidant?
Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, helps defends the body against free radicals.
Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals than can be kept in balance by antioxidants. This is when free radicals can start causing damage to cells, tissue and proteins in your body, which can lead to ill health.
A free radical is a molecule that is unstable and reactive because it has one or more unpaired electrons. This behaviour is called oxidation.
Antioxidants, like vitamin C, sacrifice some of their own electrons, which helps to neutralise free radicals so they become stable.
It can’t prevent colds but can support your immune system and reduce the duration of the common cold
It is in this way that vitamin C supports the immune system and acts as an antioxidant to help reduce oxidative stress.
Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C cannot prevent catching the common cold. Taking vitamin C supplements may help shorten the length of a cold by a day or so and may also help reduce the severity of symptoms. However, taking vitamin C supplements is not a guaranteed way to prevent or treat the common colds.
In general, to help avoid getting sick, practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Vitamin C helps supports the cells of the skin and the mucous membranes in the eye, nose and digestive tract, which are the first line of defence against invaders. This is according to Dr Servaas Binge in his book 'Immune'.
“It also offers vital support to your body’s antiviral response. When your immune cells spring into action due to a viral infection, the oxidative stress drives them crazy and your vitamin C levels plummet. Taking extra vitamins during an acute infection thus makes a lot of sense, even just to maintain normal levels.”
Vitamin C supports white blood cell production
Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that helps support the skin barrier function of the immune system. It also works together with other nutrients like vitamins A, D and zinc to support immune cells function.
Vitamin C supports the production of white blood cells. White blood cells produce interferon when a virus is detected as our body's first line of defence against infective agents. According to the Nature Journal, interferons help block virus replication at many levels.
Vitamin C may help increase levels of proteins called cytokines, the messengers of the immune system. These cytokines are responsible for stimulating the production of interferons.
Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory agent
Antioxidants are molecules that help to protect the cells from oxidative damage, which may help reduce inflammation.
Caution should be taken and it is advised to see a doctor when considering taking vitamin C supplements for the common colds as they can interact with medications. Also because it enhances iron absorption, people with hemochromatosis may need to reconsider and at least see a doctor about this first before starting to take vitamin C.