Ascorbic acid for colds loading dose intravenously. The effectiveness of taking vitamin C for a cold: daily intake and contraindications

Medical experts are confident that high doses of ascorbic acid for colds or viral infections help to quickly cope with the disease. However, until now, no one knew the exact amount of vitamin for a successful fight against the disease.

The results of new research scientists on this issue were published in the periodical Nutrients.

The success of the treatment of colds after the use of ascorbic acid is dose-dependent: it is optimal if the amount of the drug taken is gradually increased to 6-8 g per day. By the way, this amount is 100 times higher than the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

Scientists already have a lot of information about ascorbic acid for colds, since a huge part of the experiments have been carried out on animals. The rodents were injected with vitamin C in various dosages, after which the results were recorded. In the vast majority of cases, ascorbic acid helped stop the development of a viral or microbial disease and soon improve the condition of the body.

Given the "universality" of the vitamin and its positive effect on immune defense, scientists from the Finnish University of Helsinki decided to conduct a study involving people - patients with a cold or SARS.

How much vitamin C should be consumed to speed up the healing process and not harm the body?

To answer this question, experts led by Professor Harry Hemil analyzed data from two large-scale placebo studies.

The first experiment was as follows: two groups of volunteers were asked to take ascorbic acid in an amount of 3 g / day, participants in the third group were asked to take 6 g of the vitamin per day, and participants in the fourth group had to take a placebo. In patients of the third group, the disease was cured 17% faster compared to the fourth group. In patients from the first two groups, the efficiency was estimated at almost 9%.

Then a second experiment was conducted: several groups of participants took ascorbic acid in the amount of 4 and 8 g / day, or placebo, but only once - during the first day of a cold. Compared with placebo, 8 g of ascorbic acid was able to reduce the severity of the clinical picture by 19%. Such an amount as 4 g was found to be less effective - about two times.

According to the results of the experiments, experts announced the existence of a linear relationship between the amount of vitamin C consumed and the duration of the disease.

Professor Hemilä claims that 8 mg of the vitamin is not the maximum possible amount of the drug. Probably, other experiments will be carried out a little later, using higher doses - for example, 15 mg / day and even more.

“The effectiveness of ascorbic acid in colds is undeniable. At this point, we believe that it is reasonable to take up to 8 g of the vitamin per day. At the same time, it is desirable that such treatment be started as early as possible,” the professor sums up.

Ascorbic acid is vitamin C. It belongs to water-soluble vitamins, which means that it is excreted from the body quickly and does not accumulate in reserve. Ascorbic acid is widely available for sale, as it is an essential vitamin for maintaining human health, it is non-toxic, it can be drunk in large doses, and it is allowed for children from a very young age. It is difficult to replenish the daily intake of the vitamin from ordinary food (at least 60-100 mg of the substance must be consumed per day), therefore it is recommended to take supplements with ascorbic acid daily. It is also known that it can be used to treat the symptoms of impending SARS or influenza. There are various recommendations and doses for taking this substance for colds. Useful properties of vitamin C

The substance strengthens the immune system, improves the condition of teeth and gums, also strengthens blood vessels and can be taken in combination with venotonic agents.
The additive improves tissue trophism, promotes wound healing
Prevents hypovitaminosis, some types of anemia, improves iron absorption
Helps treat colds and flu
It is a powerful antioxidant.

Signs of a lack of ascorbic acid:

The appearance of capillaries on the skin
Bleeding gums
Fragility of blood vessels and many bruises on the body
Premature aging and brittle hair
Sleep problems, depression
Fatigue
Visual impairment.

For more information about Ascorbic Acid, please visit

Vitamin C Warnings

It is known that ascorbic acid in increased amounts of more than two grams per day with constant intake can provoke the formation of calculi in the kidneys, which will cause urolithiasis. Also, too high a dosage of ascorbic acid prevents the normal absorption of glucose, which contributes to the appearance of a pre-diabetic state over time. In summer, during the hot season, it is not recommended to use excessive doses of the substance, otherwise it may provoke the development of anemia.

How to drink with flu or cold

With colds, you can take the substance in 2 ways. The first method is to take shock doses of ascorbic acid at the first symptoms of the disease. The optimal amount is 2 grams per day, divided into 2 doses of 1 gram. So you need to do the first 3 days, then the dosage can be gradually reduced to the daily norm. This is a good method of therapy, since shock doses really mobilize the protective functions of the body and contribute to an enhanced fight against pathogenic microflora.

The second option is to drink or inject intramuscularly at 200 mg of ascorbic acid. Some doctors consider the method of shock loading with a vitamin absurd and harmful. If a cold or flu has already occurred, then they should be treated with antiviral or antibiotics, and not with shock doses of vitamins. However, no one denies the benefits of this substance, so in any case, the vitamin should be additionally taken as a supplement to the main diet.

In any case, it is better to decide on your own how to take ascorbic acid for colds and flu. Both methods are good and effective, it's hard to say which is better. If a sick person with acute respiratory infections has problems with the kidneys or the urinary system as a whole, then it is better to limit yourself to the second option with minimal dosages for illness or completely abandon this idea. If there are no contraindications, and the attending physician has approved vitamin C therapy, then shock dosages can also be taken. In any case, before making a decision, you need to ask the doctor for advice and then start acting.

According to the latest data from the World Health Organization, increased consumption of ascorbic acid during a cold is not justified. The fact is that if the disease has already begun to develop, then ascorbic acid will not stop the development of the disease, since this substance does not have antibacterial and antiviral effects. Of course, large doses of a substance can really improve the patient's well-being during the flu or a cold, but these improvements will be mild, and maybe even invisible at all. The effectiveness of ascorbic acid during the treatment of acute respiratory infections is minimal and, according to many experts, ranges from 8-15% compared to targeted medications (antiviral and antibacterial).

There is another study that proves that large doses of ascorbic acid help the human body leading a busy lifestyle with increased physical activity (athletes or amateurs on a strict diet with frequent cardio). In other cases, it is better not to exceed the allowable intake of 50-100 mg daily. Given this information, you need to start monitoring the amount of ascorbic acid consumed per day, especially in children. After all, it is known that a dose of more than 1 or 2 grams per day is harmful to the human body, and chronic consumption in excessive dosages leads to the formation of oxalates, which is detrimental to the kidneys and the urinary system as a whole.

Most ascorbic acid is found in citrus fruits, currants, potatoes, apples, peaches, strawberries and bell peppers. Conclusion - you need to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, because this will not only increase the content of ascorbic acid in the body, but also fill it with other useful substances.

Colds are an integral part of the lives of many people, especially in the autumn-winter period. To get sick less, you need to increase your immunity. For this, the intake of vitamin C, or rather, preparations that contain it, is ideal.

True, many people attribute unrealistic possibilities to this vitamin, arguing that it not only helps in prevention, but also treats colds and many other diseases. Is it really?

What is Vitamin C

Vitamin C is inexpensive and yet very effective in combating various seasonal ailments. In addition, taking vitamin C is a recipe for beauty, because it contributes to:

improving the condition of the skin;
strengthening nails and hair.

But it's not that. Speaking of influenza, SARS and other colds, many people for some reason think that vitamin C is a panacea for these diseases. Moreover, they are sometimes tried to treat influenza and other serious diseases.

In fact, vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an organic low molecular weight compound with a simple structure that is found in many foods. Scientists have done a lot of research on them. For example, in 2007 they were trying to find out if 200 mg of vitamin C per day could cure a cold or affect its symptoms. As a result, we came to the conclusion that the daily use of preparations containing this vitamin reduces the duration of a cold by 10-15%, facilitates its course, but does not eliminate it completely.

What diseases are ascorbic acid used for?

All diseases, one way or another, are associated with a decrease in immunity. It is at this moment that viruses and bacteria enter the body and a runny nose, cough, sore throat and other unpleasant symptoms appear. In some, immunity is reduced due to hypothermia, in others, the main reasons are:

bad habits;
stress;
overwork;
sleep deprivation.

Symptoms of reduced immunity:

fatigue;
fever for no apparent reason;
headache;
colds that do not leave a person alone all year;
hair loss;
skin rashes;
herpes;
pallor of the skin;
exacerbation of long-forgotten chronic diseases.

All these symptoms will become much less disturbing if you take a certain dose of vitamin C daily. But with colds, the situation is more complicated, the patient must follow the recommendations of doctors. For example:

If you do not take antiviral agents for influenza, but treat it only with this vitamin, then various complications will appear, and sometimes everything can end in death.
Runny nose is treated with the introduction of antibacterial agents into the sinuses. If you do not drip your nose, but only take vitamin C, the cold will drag on for a long time.
With various types of cough, expectorants are required, antibiotics are often added to them, and vitamin C only shortens the treatment time.
With angina, antibiotics are also needed, and only then vitamin C.

Vitamin C boosts immunity, which means it gives the body the power to produce antibodies and fight viruses. It is an aid, not a standalone. It can also be used as prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of infectious diseases.

What foods contain this vitamin

It is not necessary to buy vitamin C-based immunostimulants in pharmacies, you can simply enrich your diet with it, because it is found in many products. They are rich in:

apples;
oranges;
lemons;
kiwi;
raspberry;
carrot;
cabbage;
pepper;
green pea;
beet.

And this is not the whole list of products in which you can find vitamin C.

Getting vitamins from food is convenient for those who are hypersensitive to drug components. Children often fall into this category: they are often allergic to vitamin components, and from the listed products, you can choose one that does not cause dermatitis.

Vitamin C preparations

The list of immunostimulating drugs based on vitamin C:

ascorbic acid in dragee;
peak;
vitakap;
jungle;
duovit;
maxamine;
multitabs;
oligovit;
decamevite;
supervit;
supradin;
centrum.

And this is not a complete list. All these vitamins are easy to purchase in pharmacies at the place of residence.

Important! Before you start taking drugs or give them to children, you should consult a doctor or at least pay attention to the dosage indicated in the instructions.

Dosage for children and adults

The daily dose of vitamin C should not exceed the norm, as even people who are not prone to allergies may experience itching and rashes. Approximate dosage of vitamin:

at the age of up to 2 years, a daily dose of 35 mg;
from 2 to 12 years - 40-50 mg;
from 12 to 18 years - 100-150 mg;
for adults - 200 mg.

Vitamin C is a good adjuvant, but not a cure for colds. In order to prevent the onset of the disease, speed up recovery, you should take the above dose of vitamin C once a day, while you must follow the doctor's recommendations.

For the prevention of diseases, vitamin intake should be combined with proper nutrition and hardening of the body. It is also advisable to limit contact with infected people.

Somehow, without hesitation, most people believe that large doses of vitamin C help strengthen the immune system, defeat the common cold. Is this really so, and what doses of ascorbic acid are good for health, we will consider in this article.

Why did ascorbic acid get the role of a "saving cold" vitamin? There are several dozen vitamins and biologically active substances, but it is ascorbic acid that we run to buy at the first sign of a cold, sometimes fearlessly taking doses that exceed physiological ones.

And such glory of vitamin C began as follows. In 1971, the winner of two Nobel Prizes: in chemistry (1954) and the Peace Prize (1962), as well as the International Lenin Prize "For the strengthening of peace among peoples" (1970) Linus Pauling published a book called "Vitamin C and the Common Cold".

In this work, a world-famous scientist talked about the miraculous properties of vitamin C and recommended the use of doses that are significantly higher than physiological ones. In particular, it was about the need for 1-2 grams per day.

It is worth noting here that at the moment the approved physiological norm of consumption is 50-75 mg per day.

Although L. Pauling's work was treated extremely coolly in scientific circles, the broad masses of readers considered the recommendations a guide to action. There are still many followers of this theory. It is worth noting that the dose increase did not stop at 1-2 g, and there are people who advocate the use of overdoses of 5, 10 and even 5 g.

Let's return to L. Pauling's monograph. Despite the high level of the scientist, in the work on vitamin C there is no approach familiar to all physicians with a wide evidence and experimental base. In fact, the work on vitamin C contains only theoretical calculations. On the plus side, Pauling believed that understanding the mechanism of action was not required in this case. One of the most famous quotes of a scientist on this topic:
"we can use ascorbic acid to improve health in ways that have been shown by experience, even without understanding the detailed mechanism of its action."
Of course, such an approach could not be accepted in official scientific circles.

The popularity of this theory went beyond the borders of the United States, and the Australian Robert Douglas and the Finn Harri Hemilaa decided to sort out all the studies on this topic.
In the well-known journal "Public Library of Science Medicine" they published the result of a study of 55 studies, which involved about 45 thousand people.

It turned out that no experiment has proven the relationship of vitamin C and its use in high doses with the development of colds and the frequency of their occurrence.

Let's briefly say that vitamin C is needed in reactions where oxygen is involved. With stress, sports, bad climatic conditions, the number of such reactions in the body increases, and therefore more vitamin C is consumed. In these cases, the need may increase from the norm of 70 mg per day to 200 mg per day.

If you want to use ascorbic acid above the norm, then you must warn you against this step. The maximum allowable daily dose is 700 mg per day. At the moment, it has been established that exceeding this level causes significant harm to health: blood pressure may increase, abortion may occur, insomnia, anxiety, a feeling of fever, headache, and diarrhea may develop. Fortunately, vitamin C is water-soluble and does not accumulate, therefore, with a healthy excretory system, the body can successfully cope with the desire of its owner for a long time to "get healthy" with horse doses of vitamin C.

This wonderful berry has a number of anti-aging, health-boosting properties.

Details about the decoction are described in the article "Rosehip decoction: benefits, recipe, how to take".
Here we only note that rose hips are the champion in vitamin C content (650 mg per 100 g of fresh and 1100 mg per 100 g of dried fruits).

For a better understanding, let us explain that the daily intake of vitamin C for an adult healthy person is from 60 mg to 100 mg. It turns out that 5-10 g of dry rose hips provide a person's daily need for one of the most important vitamins.

If a person catches a cold, he wants to be cured as soon as possible: it is known that the onset of a cold is always inopportune. In order for the treatment to be effective, one drug is not enough. An integrated approach is always the best. Of course, in combination with bed rest and the use of a sufficient amount of vitamin C. Many people ask about how to take vitamin C for a cold, is there a dosage limit and how much it helps in preventing colds. This will be discussed below.

The role of ascorbic acid in colds

Does vitamin C help with colds? The fact that it is a good prophylactic, and can also relieve the symptoms of a cold, became known in the 70s of the XIX century. Back then, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling advised his patients to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily. The same dosage was recommended for prevention purposes.

However, recent studies have shown that it is not particularly effective in preventing colds. Therefore, ascorbic acid should be taken mainly when a child or an adult already has the characteristic symptoms of SARS or influenza (runny nose, cough, lacrimation, fever). will be an excellent assistant in order to alleviate the course of the disease and mobilize the body's forces for recovery.

If you do not miss the time and start treatment with vitamin C at the beginning of the cold period, the likelihood that the flu or SARS will drag on for a long time will be much lower. Vitamin C during a cold will stimulate the production of white blood cells - leukocytes, which will help the immune system cope with the disease. Also, with the help of ascorbic acid, the active production of valuable proteins called interferons will begin. All substances together contribute to the creation of an acidic environment in the body, which prevents the reproduction of viruses and their spread in cells.

Sometimes a daily dose of vitamin C up to 1000 mg per day may be recommended by the attending physician, which will help to quickly recover from severe viral infections. Of course, in this case, the dose should be divided into several times and not taken all at once.

However, among experts there is an opinion that it is not particularly useful even if used during illness. This is not an entirely correct opinion: it has been proven that even if vitamin C is not a super-effective prophylactic agent during severe flu epidemics, it definitely helps to mobilize a person’s immune forces and prevents a protracted course of colds.

What products contain

There is also an opinion that taking vitamin C tablets for both adults and children is optional, and it can be consumed naturally, simply by balancing the daily diet.

Ascorbic acid is found in large quantities in vegetables, fruits and berries. Especially rich in it:

berries ;

If a person tolerates all these foods well and eats them with pleasure, it is often possible not to take vitamin C tablets as an additional remedy.

In principle, when it comes to seasonal epidemics of influenza or SARS, it never hurts to take the good old ascorbic acid. But when you are already taking well-known cold remedies (such as Thera-flu, Coldrex and Fervex), the necessary dose of ascorbic acid is already there, and you should not overdo it additionally. Also, any vitamin complex that you have may contain vitamin C. Therefore, when calculating the dose, you should be very careful, and best of all, consult a good doctor about this.

Dosage for colds

A lot of research has already been done on vitamin C. Although there are conflicting opinions about its effectiveness as a prophylactic and even a drug during the treatment of colds, there is a consensus about its dosages in large quantities. A loading dose of ascorbic acid (for example, more than a thousand milligrams per day) will not help prevent the onset of a cold.

In order to shorten the duration of the disease as much as possible, the dose of vitamin C for colds should be 1000 mg, and it should be divided into two to four doses to avoid side effects. It should be taken every day until the symptoms stop. Children who attend kindergartens and schools during influenza and SARS epidemics should also be given ascorbic acid. This will stimulate their immunity, increase resistance to infections.

If your work is associated with a strong psycho-emotional overstrain, you can take vitamin C at 250 milligrams per day. It will also help the body deal with stress.

The danger of "shock doses"

In conclusion, it should be explained what shock doses of vitamin C can be fraught with. If taken without proper control, this can help reduce the elasticity of the vascular wall, which leads to the development of atherosclerotic processes. Sand and stones can form in the kidneys, and glucose absorption will be impaired, which will contribute to the onset of diabetes.

And, of course, the most common side effect is allergic reactions of various kinds, from a rash on the skin to severe itching, in which you will have to take antihistamines.

The unpleasant consequences described can only occur in cases of extreme abuse of vitamin C. If you are very fond of ascorbic acid and wish to take it daily, the daily dose should not exceed 100 mg per day. During a cold, the dose can be increased, but before doing so, you should definitely consult a doctor, taking into account what medications and vitamins you are taking.