Daily supplements of vitamin C have a very limited effect in preventing the common cold, the BBC reported on Wednesday, citing a review of 30 studies, which involved 11,350 people.

The researchers at the Australian National University and the University of Helsinki have found that for most people, taking at least 200 mg daily had a small impact on the duration of the colds.

It doesn't make sense to take vitamin C 365 days a year to lessen the chance of catching a cold," the BBC quoted Harri Hemila, one of the authors of the report, as saying.

While the body cannot overdose on vitamin C, excess quantities are flushed out of the system.

However, its usefulness increases for those people who are subjected to severe cold or physical stress.

"It sounds biologically plausible because vitamin C does help improve our immune systems, but it only seems to work if people are deficient in it in the first place, which is very rare," according to dietician Catherine Collins.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!