The examine used information from the Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate correlations between vitamin C ranges and up to date respiratory points, reporting that the optimistic affiliation remained constantly vital throughout varied well being and demographic subgroups.
“Our findings recommend that vitamin C supplementation could also be probably used for the prevention and remedy of RIs [respiratory infections], which must be validated in future well-designed research,” wrote researchers at Youngsters’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou College in China.
Vitamin C and respiratory sickness
Earlier analysis has demonstrated that vitamin C might assist scale back the danger of respiratory sicknesses.
For instance, a UK study of 19,357 adults discovered that greater ranges of vitamin C are related to a decreased danger of each cancerous and non-cancerous respiratory sicknesses. One other study reported that kids consuming orange juice with 70 mg of vitamin C had fewer respiratory infections, analysis means that intravenous vitamin C may reduce the severity of pneumonia in children.
Different research have proven that vitamin C deficiency can improve the danger of respiratory infections and prolong hospital stays. Situations equivalent to irritable bowel syndrome, celiac illness and continual infections might contribute to deficiency because of decreased absorption, elevated nutrient losses and decreased meals consumption. This highlights the significance of the complement for older populations and people with well being circumstances.
The mechanisms concerned in vitamin C’s advantages embody its antioxidant, immunoregulatory and anti inflammatory properties.
The present examine notes that vitamin C neutralizes free radicals and protects epithelial cells within the respiratory system. It helps immune cells clear pathogens, modulates cytokine manufacturing and inhibits irritation, shortening the period of respiratory infections.
Research particulars
The examine drew information from the Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018, which included 1,344 kids and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19.
The researchers analyzed individuals’ serum vitamin C ranges, as decided by laboratory testing, and tracked incidence of respiratory infections based mostly on self-reported well being questionnaires.
They used applicable statistical measures to research the associations between 4 vitamin C teams, allotted in keeping with individuals’ serum ranges, and the danger of respiratory infections.
Virtually 18% reported a respiratory an infection up to now 30 days, and vitamin C was negatively related to the danger of growing such an an infection.
“After adjusting for all potential confounders, a rise of the vitamin C degree by 10 models indicated a lower of the RI danger by 7%,” the researchers wrote, noting that the affiliation was constantly vital throughout all subgroups with completely different well being and demographics.
As well as, people within the group with the best serum vitamin C ranges had a 50% decrease danger of respiratory infections in comparison with these within the lowest group.
“Our findings spotlight the protecting position of vitamin C towards RIs, which can present helpful steerage for future prevention and remedy of RIs amongst kids,” the researchers concluded, calling for additional research to validate their outcomes.
Supply: Entrance. Nutr., 05 June 2025, Sec. Dietary Epidemiology; Quantity 12 – 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1601218; “The affiliation between serum vitamin C ranges and respiratory infections in kids and adolescents.” Authors: C. Li et al.
