Vitamin C: Can it prevent colds?

By Mayo Clinic Staff

In most cases, vitamin C supplements won't help prevent colds. However, taking vitamin C before the onset of cold symptoms may shorten the duration of symptoms. Vitamin C may provide benefit for people at high risk of colds due to frequent exposure: for example, children who attend group child care during the winter.

June 27, 2020 See more In-depth

See also

  1. Avoid rebound nasal congestion
  2. Breast-feeding and medications
  3. Can chicken soup cure a cold?
  4. Chicken soup: Can it treat a cold?
  5. Cold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body?
  6. Cold or allergy: Which is it?
  7. Cold remedies
  8. Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm?
  9. Common cold
  10. COVID-19: How can I protect myself?
  11. Cough
  12. Vitamin C and mood
  13. Does zinc work for colds?
  14. Echinacea: Is it effective for the common cold?
  15. Exercise and illness
  16. Fatigue
  17. Hand-washing tips
  18. Have a cold? Common sense rules
  19. Have a cold? Fight back with humidity
  20. Have a cold? Fight it with fluids
  21. Headache
  22. Honey: An effective cough remedy?
  23. How well do you wash your hands?
  24. Humidifier care 101
  25. Humidifiers
  26. Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't?
  27. Nasal Cleaning
  28. Nasal congestion
  29. Neti pot: Can it clear your nose?
  30. Neti pot solution: Can I make my own?
  31. Plugged ears: What is the remedy?
  32. Runny nose
  33. School health tips
  34. Stuffy nose? Try saline spray
  35. Symptom Checker
  36. Vicks VapoRub: An effective nasal decongestant?
  37. Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold?
  38. Watery eyes
  39. What is MERS-CoV?
  40. When to Take Your Child to the E.D.
  41. Do zinc supplements shorten colds?