Vitamin C
Vitamins are necessary nutrients required by the body for proper growth and development. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water soluble vitamin required by the body for several functions. Vitamin C is most commonly associated with the formation of the tissue collagen. Collagen is utilized by the body for bone, muscle, blood vessels, and cartilage formation, as well as iron absorption.
Vitamin C is present in a variety of foods, including citrus fruits such as oranges, and many other fruits and vegetables. The recommended daily intake of vitamin C for adult men is 90 milligrams per day.
The Common Cold
The common cold is caused by the infection of a virus through the nasal passage. The cold virus thrives on cells located in the nose, using them as a host for replication. Viruses must have a host cell for replication to occur. The common cold has mutated over hundreds of thousands of years. To date there exist hundreds of different cold strains. One particular virus, the rhinovirus, is responsible for over half of all cold infections.
The Rhinovirus and your Cold
The rhinovirus is cause for the majority of cases of adult common colds. The name rhinovirus is derived from the greek term “rhin” meaning nose. The rhinovirus is equipped for infection, protected by a capsid, containing single stranded RNA, and four distinct proteins. The rhinovirus is prepared for host cell overtake from the first second it finds a proper host.
Cold Transmission
There are two ways in which you can become infected with the cold virus. The first is through direct contact of skin or another environmental surface that contains a cold virus to your eyes or nose. It is also possible to inhale the cold virus through air droplets containing the cold virus. Infection of the cold virus is typically a rapid process.
The Common Cold: Signs and Symptoms
The common cold is associated with many signs and symptoms. These symptoms typically last an average of one week, with minor infections lasting days and severe infections for two weeks or more. These symptoms vary based on the individual and other circumstances.
- Runny nose
- Sinus congestion
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Hoarseness
- Scratchy throat
- Cough
- Headache
- Fever
- Chills
- General discomfort
Vitamin C and Cold Prevention
Vitamin C and connections with possible cold prevention are still vastly controversial. The beginnings of these connections date back to the early 1970’s. Currently, there is no reliable scientific data to confirm that vitamin C prevents or treats the common cold. However, research continues in this subject area, as there do exist correlations linking vitamin C to decreased cold symptoms and time periods, in addition to an overall decrease in overall cold susceptibility.
These associations are particularly evident in the presence of extreme conditions, such as marathon runners or individuals living in harshly cold environments. For the average individual, to date, there exists no valid evidence to support that vitamin C prevents the common cold.
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Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-c/NS_patient-vitaminC
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/vitamin-c-for-common-cold
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/overview.htm
