Current evidence from published systematic reviews indicate that oral intake of vitamin C may assist with symptoms of acute viral respiratory infections (ARI) by reducing fever and chills, relieving chest pain and assist in reducing symptoms of common cold-induced asthma. Intravenous (IV) vitamin C administration may reduce the need for vasopressor support and the duration of mechanical ventilations in critically ill patients in hospital. COVID-19 has similar signs and symptoms of ARI. Further studies involving patients with COVID-19, either through administration of oral vitamin C in mild cases or IV vitamin C in critical cases, would be advantageous to examine if it is safe and efficacious. Oral vitamin C may assist with the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections (ARI) and common cold-induced asthma but no studies have been identified justifying oral vitamin C for the prevention or treatment of coronavirus infections including COVID-19. When taken at onset of ARI, oral vitamin C may reduce the duration of symptoms including fever, chest pain, chills and bodily aches and pains. It may also reduce the incidence of hospital admission and duration of hospital stays. For individuals admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia, vitamin C may improve respiratory function in more severe cases. No major adverse events nor interactions were reported by either method of administration. However, there is an absence of high quality, contemporary clinical research examining this topic. Current evidence suggests further studies are needed to better understand the value of both oral and IV vitamin C for ARI, including COVID-19.
OBJETIVO: Presentar una evaluación crítica de la evidencia actual en relación con el valor terapéutico de la vitamina C para la profilaxis y el tratamiento del resfriado común.
FUENTES DE DATOS: Cochrane, PubMed, Natural Standard, y el Centro Nacional de bases de datos de medicina complementaria y alternativa se realizaron búsquedas para identificar y adquirir informes primarios de investigación, revisiones bibliográficas y análisis secundarios relacionados con el objetivo clínico. Los ensayos publicados clínicos, revisiones bibliográficas, meta-análisis, revisiones sistemáticas y se evaluaron para determinar las implicaciones prácticas basadas en la evidencia.
Conclusiones: La vitamina C se utiliza con frecuencia para el tratamiento y la profilaxis del resfriado común; Sin embargo, no hay recomendaciones publicadas fueron encontrados en una revisión de la literatura profesional de enfermería que abordan específicamente la eficacia de la vitamina C para el resfriado común. Nuestra revisión de la literatura reveló que la vitamina C no es eficaz en la prevención del resfriado común en la población general adulta; Sin embargo, es eficaz en la prevención de los resfriados cuando se consume regularmente por los atletas que entrenan en condiciones subárticas. También se encontró que el consumo regular de vitamina C puede reducir la duración de los síntomas del resfriado en los adultos y los niños, pero no disminuir la gravedad de los síntomas del resfriado.
Implicaciones para la práctica: PN deben aconsejar a sus pacientes que el consumo regular de vitamina C puede disminuir la duración de los síntomas del resfriado, pero no afecta la gravedad de los síntomas o actuar como profilaxis.
Current evidence from published systematic reviews indicate that oral intake of vitamin C may assist with symptoms of acute viral respiratory infections (ARI) by reducing fever and chills, relieving chest pain and assist in reducing symptoms of common cold-induced asthma. Intravenous (IV) vitamin C administration may reduce the need for vasopressor support and the duration of mechanical ventilations in critically ill patients in hospital. COVID-19 has similar signs and symptoms of ARI. Further studies involving patients with COVID-19, either through administration of oral vitamin C in mild cases or IV vitamin C in critical cases, would be advantageous to examine if it is safe and efficacious. Oral vitamin C may assist with the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections (ARI) and common cold-induced asthma but no studies have been identified justifying oral vitamin C for the prevention or treatment of coronavirus infections including COVID-19. When taken at onset of ARI, oral vitamin C may reduce the duration of symptoms including fever, chest pain, chills and bodily aches and pains. It may also reduce the incidence of hospital admission and duration of hospital stays. For individuals admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia, vitamin C may improve respiratory function in more severe cases. No major adverse events nor interactions were reported by either method of administration. However, there is an absence of high quality, contemporary clinical research examining this topic. Current evidence suggests further studies are needed to better understand the value of both oral and IV vitamin C for ARI, including COVID-19.
