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VITAMIN C AND UPPER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS IN NAVAHO CHILDREN: PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS (1974)
Author(s) -
Coulehan John L.,
Kapner Louis,
Eberhard Susan,
Taylor Floyd H.,
Rogers Kenneth D.
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.tb29310.x
Subject(s) - public health , annals , gerontology , medicine , library science , history , sociology , classics , nursing , computer science
In a large double-blind study among Navaho school children, we evaluated the effects of vitamin C in 1- and 2-gram daily doses on acute respiratory illness during a 14-week period.' We found no evidence of significant prophylaxis, but our findings did suggest a modest therapeutic benefit in that children taking vitamin Chad from 28% to 34% fewer days of morbidity caused by respiratory episodes than those taking placebo. Likewise, in classroom surveillance, younger children on vitamin C had 26% fewer symptom-days of cough and nasal discharge recorded. These observations were consistent with other recent trials using 1 gram daily (4 grams during illness) in Canadian adults L' and 250-500 milligrams daily in Irish schoolchildren.3 The clinical significance of this modest therapeutic result in minor, selflimited illness was, in itself, questionable. However, further study was indicated to determine: (a) if use of vitamin C could prevent complications of the common cold in children, such as superinfections or otitis media; (b) if certain symptoms or symptom complexes responded specifically to vitamin C therapy; and (c) if indeed, as our data had suggested,l higher blood ascorbic acid levels were correlated with fewer days of illness. A second investigation was designed to confirm, if possible, and expand our previous findings. The second trial was conducted in two Navaho boarding schools during January through May 1974, using doses of 1 gram vitamin C daily versus placebo tablets. This report presents preliminary routine surveillance findings from the second study.