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A CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL OF ASCORBIC ACID FOR THE COMMON COLD
Author(s) -
Lewis Thomas L.,
Karlowski Thomas R.,
Kapikian Albert Z.,
Lynch John M.,
Shaffer George W.,
George Dennis A.,
Chalmers Thomas C.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb29309.x
Subject(s) - george (robot) , library science , gerontology , medicine , art , art history , computer science
Vitamin C has been a popular medication for preventing the common cold and reducing the severity of cold symptoms for many years. -' Professor Pauling's recent book on the subject has led to even further use of vitamin C in even larger doses. This study was performed to look for a difference in the frequency and severity of colds in a generally healthy, middle-class, medically aware population of employees at the National Institutes of Health. High doses of vitamin C were used for both prevention and treatment; virus isolations were attempted in an effort to relate viral types to vitamin C response; and the study was continued for a nine-month period in an attempt to examine seasonal variations of viruses and colds. The study was conducted so that nurses, physicians, and volunteers did not know who received placebo and who received ascorbic acid. Only the consulting statistician and the pharmacist could relate patient code numbers to medication received. Progress was monitored by a research committee not connected with the day-to-day activities.