Overview

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Moderately Effective
Based on 5 Researches
8.2
USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 12 Reviews
8.2

Top Medical Research Studies

8
Zinc’s effects on colds
We explored how zinc might help in treating and preventing the common cold. The study focused on zinc's effects, isolating it from other treatments to understand its true impact on cold symptoms. By doing this, the researchers aimed to clarify whether zinc could genuinely shorten the duration of a cold or alleviate its symptoms.

The findings were intriguing but showed that zinc might not yield significant benefits for everyone. While some individuals reported a slight reduction in cold symptoms, the evidence did not strongly support zinc as an effective treatment overall.

This means that, for those seeking relief from a nasty cold, zinc alone might not be the go-to solution we hoped it would be. It’s essential to consider this information when deciding on a cold treatment plan and to approach zinc with realistic expectations.
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.
Read More
9
Vitamin C improves cold tolerance
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.
Read More

Most Useful Reviews

7.5
Immune support value
19 people found this helpful
I prefer these chewables over fizzy tabs and find Airborne much more effective for my immune support compared to Emergen-C. Regular doses keep me energetic and help prevent sickness. Since I began taking this regularly, I haven't fallen ill, even after travel. However, the price is steep, and I wish it contained fewer artificial additives.
Read More
9
Believer in results
6 people found this helpful
This stuff works! If I had known this bottle only had 5 days of medicine, I wouldn't have bought it. I battled a strong cold that affected my kids and husband. Just as they improved, I felt a tickle in my throat and panicked. I took the full dose frequently, and within a day, I went from a severe cold to a mild sore throat, feeling nearly back to normal by day two. I'm convinced this stopped my cold.
Read More
9
Prevents winter colds
6 people found this helpful
My Life Savers! These Airborne chewable tablets are brilliant! I ordered them because I've never seen a 64 count in my local chemists, and they were also cheaper than the lesser count I usually buy. The delivery was incredibly fast (within a few days). I work in the medical field, closely interacting with many people who are sick and have colds. I keep these in my bag and as soon as I hear a cough or someone complaining about being unwell, I grab my Airborne. Since I began doing this, everyone's winter colds have, thankfully, passed me by. I cannot recommend these tablets and the seller highly enough!
Read More

Medical Researches

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Moderately Effective
Based on 5 Researches
8.2
  • All Researches
9
Vitamin C improves cold tolerance
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.
Read More
9
Zinc enhances rice cold resistance
We explored the impact of zinc-amino acids chelate on cold stress resistance in machine-transplanted early rice. Our investigation included other cold-resistant agents like uniconazole and abscisic acid, but we found zinc to be particularly effective. When applied during the regreening stage, zinc notably enhanced rice growth by promoting tillering and increasing the leaf area, which led to better yields.

We noted that zinc-amino acids chelate improved antioxidant enzyme activities, which are crucial for helping rice withstand cold temperatures. The yield of rice treated with zinc was approximately 9.22% higher than with uniconazole and 7.14% higher than with abscisic acid.

Additionally, we observed that using 750 g/ha of zinc-amino acids chelate during the transplanting and regreening stages yielded the best results. The timing of the application played a critical role, as spraying during these specific phases maximized both yield and cold resistance.

Overall, zinc treatments stand out as a promising option for improving cold stress resilience in early rice, making it a key consideration for farmers dealing with cold climate conditions.
Read More
We explored the impact of regular gargling with an antimicrobial mouthwash that contains both cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc on upper respiratory symptoms. A total of 150 participants were split into two groups; one group just brushed their teeth, while the other group brushed and gargled with the mouthwash twice a day over three months.

Our findings revealed that those using the mouthwash experienced a 21.5% reduction in the frequency and an 11% decrease in the severity of respiratory symptoms. This strongly suggests that incorporating zinc, alongside cetylpyridinium chloride, can provide benefits for those suffering from cold-related symptoms.

However, it’s important to note that this study’s design involved multiple components, and we can’t isolate zinc’s effectiveness from the impact of the other ingredients. Still, the results encourage us to view mouthwash with these ingredients as a helpful addition to our daily hygiene routines, especially during cold and flu season.

Ultimately, this research indicates that gargling with a mouthwash containing zinc and cetylpyridinium chloride can indeed help alleviate some unpleasant cold symptoms, but we should be mindful of the combination's effects when interpreting these outcomes.
Read More
8
Zinc’s effects on colds
We explored how zinc might help in treating and preventing the common cold. The study focused on zinc's effects, isolating it from other treatments to understand its true impact on cold symptoms. By doing this, the researchers aimed to clarify whether zinc could genuinely shorten the duration of a cold or alleviate its symptoms.

The findings were intriguing but showed that zinc might not yield significant benefits for everyone. While some individuals reported a slight reduction in cold symptoms, the evidence did not strongly support zinc as an effective treatment overall.

This means that, for those seeking relief from a nasty cold, zinc alone might not be the go-to solution we hoped it would be. It’s essential to consider this information when deciding on a cold treatment plan and to approach zinc with realistic expectations.
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.
Read More

User Reviews

USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 12 Reviews
8.2
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
7.5
Immune support value
19 people found this helpful
I prefer these chewables over fizzy tabs and find Airborne much more effective for my immune support compared to Emergen-C. Regular doses keep me energetic and help prevent sickness. Since I began taking this regularly, I haven't fallen ill, even after travel. However, the price is steep, and I wish it contained fewer artificial additives.
Read More
9
Believer in results
6 people found this helpful
This stuff works! If I had known this bottle only had 5 days of medicine, I wouldn't have bought it. I battled a strong cold that affected my kids and husband. Just as they improved, I felt a tickle in my throat and panicked. I took the full dose frequently, and within a day, I went from a severe cold to a mild sore throat, feeling nearly back to normal by day two. I'm convinced this stopped my cold.
Read More
9
Prevents winter colds
6 people found this helpful
My Life Savers! These Airborne chewable tablets are brilliant! I ordered them because I've never seen a 64 count in my local chemists, and they were also cheaper than the lesser count I usually buy. The delivery was incredibly fast (within a few days). I work in the medical field, closely interacting with many people who are sick and have colds. I keep these in my bag and as soon as I hear a cough or someone complaining about being unwell, I grab my Airborne. Since I began doing this, everyone's winter colds have, thankfully, passed me by. I cannot recommend these tablets and the seller highly enough!
Read More
7.5
Keeps colds away
2 people found this helpful
Airborne for the win! I absolutely love these chewables; they taste significantly better than the water tablets and work effectively. My immune system is compromised and these have kept several colds at bay, preventing a few from worsening. I will definitely keep this product on hand!
Read More
10
Stops colds quickly
1 people found this helpful
I always take these when my children first exhibit symptoms of a cold or when I notice it in myself. I've used them religiously three times since starting and have avoided catching a cold altogether. I love Airborne!
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

No FAQs are available for this product and symptom.

References

  1. Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for the common cold and pneumonia. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2025;135. doi:10.20452/pamw.16926
  2. 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. doi:10.3390/ijms251810093
  3. Muniz FWMG, Casarin M, Pola NM, Rösing CK, Silveira TMD, et al. Efficacy of regular gargling with a cetylpyridinium chloride plus zinc containing mouthwash can reduce upper respiratory symptoms. PLoS One. 2025;20:e0316807. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0316807
  4. Wieland LS. Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold: Summary of a Cochrane review. Explore (NY). 2025;21:103111. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2025.103111
  5. Yuan S, Qin S, Shi Q, Chen P, Tu N, et al. Effects of different cold-resistant agents and application methods on yield and cold-resistance of machine-transplanted early rice. Front Plant Sci. 2024;15:1422374. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1422374
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