Reviewed By
Overview
SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Moderately Effective
Based on 2 Researches
8
USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 11 Reviews
8.2
Top Medical Research Studies
7
Effectiveness of Vitamin C on Colds
We explored the effects of vitamin C on the common cold and pneumonia by examining a range of studies. Interestingly, research on animals suggests that vitamin C may have protective effects against infections. However, when it comes to preventing colds in the general population, taking more than 1 gram of vitamin C per day didn’t show significant benefits.
But there's a twist! Participants engaged in heavy physical activities saw their cold incidence reduced by half with vitamin C supplementation. Additionally, regular intake of 1 gram or more daily was linked to a 15% decrease in cold severity. While some therapeutic trials showed inconsistent results when vitamin C was taken after cold symptoms appeared, two studies did indicate that larger doses (6-8 grams per day) could effectively shorten the duration of colds compared to lower doses.
Our investigation also looked into pneumonia, but the studies were conducted in unique settings, such as a boarding school and military recruits. This makes it hard to generalize the findings to the wider population. Yet, some trials suggested benefits for pneumonia patients. Finally, the role of vitamin C in treating COVID-19 and sepsis remains unclear, with mixed results.
Given that vitamin C seems to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of colds, while being safe and affordable, it might be worth considering a dose of 6-8 grams per day to see if it helps at an individual level.
But there's a twist! Participants engaged in heavy physical activities saw their cold incidence reduced by half with vitamin C supplementation. Additionally, regular intake of 1 gram or more daily was linked to a 15% decrease in cold severity. While some therapeutic trials showed inconsistent results when vitamin C was taken after cold symptoms appeared, two studies did indicate that larger doses (6-8 grams per day) could effectively shorten the duration of colds compared to lower doses.
Our investigation also looked into pneumonia, but the studies were conducted in unique settings, such as a boarding school and military recruits. This makes it hard to generalize the findings to the wider population. Yet, some trials suggested benefits for pneumonia patients. Finally, the role of vitamin C in treating COVID-19 and sepsis remains unclear, with mixed results.
Given that vitamin C seems to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of colds, while being safe and affordable, it might be worth considering a dose of 6-8 grams per day to see if it helps at an individual level.
Read More
9
We explored the effects of ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, on cold tolerance in tomato seedlings. In our study, we discovered that applying vitamin C significantly boosts the seedlings' ability to handle cold stress.
By enhancing the antioxidant defense system, vitamin C treatment increased the enzyme activity in the seedlings' leaves. Additionally, it raised levels of important compounds such as proline, sugar, and abscisic acid, all of which play crucial roles in plant stress responses.
Our observations showed that vitamin C also protects the photosynthesis system of tomato seedlings. This implies that it helps maintain chlorophyll function, which is critical for the plant's overall health, especially under cold conditions.
Moreover, we found that vitamin C treatments led to increased expression of genes linked to antioxidant enzymes and cold response mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that exogenous vitamin C is a beneficial approach to improve cold tolerance in tomatoes and may provide helpful insights for farmers looking to cultivate hardier varieties during colder months.
By enhancing the antioxidant defense system, vitamin C treatment increased the enzyme activity in the seedlings' leaves. Additionally, it raised levels of important compounds such as proline, sugar, and abscisic acid, all of which play crucial roles in plant stress responses.
Our observations showed that vitamin C also protects the photosynthesis system of tomato seedlings. This implies that it helps maintain chlorophyll function, which is critical for the plant's overall health, especially under cold conditions.
Moreover, we found that vitamin C treatments led to increased expression of genes linked to antioxidant enzymes and cold response mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that exogenous vitamin C is a beneficial approach to improve cold tolerance in tomatoes and may provide helpful insights for farmers looking to cultivate hardier varieties during colder months.
Read More
Most Useful Reviews
7.5
End of cold sores
5 people found this helpful
I ran out and switched to a generic brand... and got sick. After 2 years of being healthy, I fell ill. After taking Ester-C consistently, I noticed no more cold sores or allergies. I had terrible flu symptoms recently, but the lip sore I feared didn't appear and disappeared within days. I can't promise the same for everyone, but I believe it greatly helped me!
Read More
9
Years of wellness
13 people found this helpful
Likely the BEST Vitamin C! I take this when I encounter someone clearly unwell and try to avoid sharing their infection. My regimen includes Astragalus and Ester-C. Over the years, I can't recall the last time I was sick. Perhaps my routine works, and I feel these two products together are all I need for my health.
Read More
9
Quick cold relief
8 people found this helpful
Quality Vitamin C. I typically take 1-2 of these daily, and up to 6 when I start feeling cold symptoms. They really eliminate a cold or flu virus quickly and are easy on my stomach. I've been using them for years without issues. The larger 1000 mg tablets can be hard to swallow, so it’s best to take one with a piece of bread rather than chugging it with water. Once the outer coating dissolves in water, it becomes chalky, so it’s best to swallow quickly!
Read More
Medical Researches
SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Moderately Effective
Based on 2 Researches
8
- All Researches
9
We explored the effects of ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, on cold tolerance in tomato seedlings. In our study, we discovered that applying vitamin C significantly boosts the seedlings' ability to handle cold stress.
By enhancing the antioxidant defense system, vitamin C treatment increased the enzyme activity in the seedlings' leaves. Additionally, it raised levels of important compounds such as proline, sugar, and abscisic acid, all of which play crucial roles in plant stress responses.
Our observations showed that vitamin C also protects the photosynthesis system of tomato seedlings. This implies that it helps maintain chlorophyll function, which is critical for the plant's overall health, especially under cold conditions.
Moreover, we found that vitamin C treatments led to increased expression of genes linked to antioxidant enzymes and cold response mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that exogenous vitamin C is a beneficial approach to improve cold tolerance in tomatoes and may provide helpful insights for farmers looking to cultivate hardier varieties during colder months.
By enhancing the antioxidant defense system, vitamin C treatment increased the enzyme activity in the seedlings' leaves. Additionally, it raised levels of important compounds such as proline, sugar, and abscisic acid, all of which play crucial roles in plant stress responses.
Our observations showed that vitamin C also protects the photosynthesis system of tomato seedlings. This implies that it helps maintain chlorophyll function, which is critical for the plant's overall health, especially under cold conditions.
Moreover, we found that vitamin C treatments led to increased expression of genes linked to antioxidant enzymes and cold response mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that exogenous vitamin C is a beneficial approach to improve cold tolerance in tomatoes and may provide helpful insights for farmers looking to cultivate hardier varieties during colder months.
Read More
7
Effectiveness of Vitamin C on Colds
We explored the effects of vitamin C on the common cold and pneumonia by examining a range of studies. Interestingly, research on animals suggests that vitamin C may have protective effects against infections. However, when it comes to preventing colds in the general population, taking more than 1 gram of vitamin C per day didn’t show significant benefits.
But there's a twist! Participants engaged in heavy physical activities saw their cold incidence reduced by half with vitamin C supplementation. Additionally, regular intake of 1 gram or more daily was linked to a 15% decrease in cold severity. While some therapeutic trials showed inconsistent results when vitamin C was taken after cold symptoms appeared, two studies did indicate that larger doses (6-8 grams per day) could effectively shorten the duration of colds compared to lower doses.
Our investigation also looked into pneumonia, but the studies were conducted in unique settings, such as a boarding school and military recruits. This makes it hard to generalize the findings to the wider population. Yet, some trials suggested benefits for pneumonia patients. Finally, the role of vitamin C in treating COVID-19 and sepsis remains unclear, with mixed results.
Given that vitamin C seems to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of colds, while being safe and affordable, it might be worth considering a dose of 6-8 grams per day to see if it helps at an individual level.
But there's a twist! Participants engaged in heavy physical activities saw their cold incidence reduced by half with vitamin C supplementation. Additionally, regular intake of 1 gram or more daily was linked to a 15% decrease in cold severity. While some therapeutic trials showed inconsistent results when vitamin C was taken after cold symptoms appeared, two studies did indicate that larger doses (6-8 grams per day) could effectively shorten the duration of colds compared to lower doses.
Our investigation also looked into pneumonia, but the studies were conducted in unique settings, such as a boarding school and military recruits. This makes it hard to generalize the findings to the wider population. Yet, some trials suggested benefits for pneumonia patients. Finally, the role of vitamin C in treating COVID-19 and sepsis remains unclear, with mixed results.
Given that vitamin C seems to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of colds, while being safe and affordable, it might be worth considering a dose of 6-8 grams per day to see if it helps at an individual level.
Read More
User Reviews
USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 11 Reviews
8.2
- All Reviews
- Positive Reviews
- Negative Reviews
7.5
End of cold sores
5 people found this helpful
I ran out and switched to a generic brand... and got sick. After 2 years of being healthy, I fell ill. After taking Ester-C consistently, I noticed no more cold sores or allergies. I had terrible flu symptoms recently, but the lip sore I feared didn't appear and disappeared within days. I can't promise the same for everyone, but I believe it greatly helped me!
Read More
9
Years of wellness
13 people found this helpful
Likely the BEST Vitamin C! I take this when I encounter someone clearly unwell and try to avoid sharing their infection. My regimen includes Astragalus and Ester-C. Over the years, I can't recall the last time I was sick. Perhaps my routine works, and I feel these two products together are all I need for my health.
Read More
9
Quick cold relief
8 people found this helpful
Quality Vitamin C. I typically take 1-2 of these daily, and up to 6 when I start feeling cold symptoms. They really eliminate a cold or flu virus quickly and are easy on my stomach. I've been using them for years without issues. The larger 1000 mg tablets can be hard to swallow, so it’s best to take one with a piece of bread rather than chugging it with water. Once the outer coating dissolves in water, it becomes chalky, so it’s best to swallow quickly!
Read More
7.5
Reduced illness duration
8 people found this helpful
My Crohn's disease made me prone to prolonged colds, but these have immensely improved my immune response. Since starting them, I recover faster and don’t get sick as often, although they are quite large pills. They lack flavour, but I can tolerate that now.
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9
Effective against cold
2 people found this helpful
Healthy in 2020. My husband has been taking Ester-C for over 12 years, working in all sorts of weather. He gets sick maybe once a year with a cold, but he doubles up on the dosage and gets over it quickly. So far in 2020, we have remained healthy by taking Ester-C. We discovered this product from a 99-year-old lady at our church who had been taking it since its release while always supplementing with extra vitamin C. She lived another five happy years!
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Frequently Asked Questions
No FAQs are available for this product and symptom.
References
- Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for the common cold and pneumonia. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2025;135. 10.20452/pamw.16926
- Wang X, Ran C, Fu Y, Han L, Yang X, et al. Application of Exogenous Ascorbic Acid Enhances Cold Tolerance in Tomato Seedlings through Molecular and Physiological Responses. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25. 10.3390/ijms251810093
