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Vitamin C for preventing and treating pneumonia
1University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, POB 41, Mannerheimintie 172, Helsinki, Finland, FIN-00014. harri.hemila@helsinki.fi
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Vitamin C may reduce pneumonia incidence and mortality, particularly in those with low intake or plasma levels. Further research is needed, but therapeutic use in pneumonia patients with low vitamin C is promising.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in young children globally and a significant issue for the elderly in developed countries.
- Vitamin C's role in infection prevention and treatment is of interest due to its antioxidant and immune-modulating properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prophylactic (preventative) and therapeutic (treatment) effects of vitamin C on pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of controlled trials was conducted, searching multiple databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science.
- Trials assessing prophylactic effects required controlled conditions, while therapeutic trials specifically selected placebo-controlled studies.
- Data extraction and analysis were performed independently by two review authors.
Main Results:
- Three prophylactic trials suggested vitamin C significantly reduced pneumonia incidence by 80% or more in military recruits and boarding school boys.
- Two therapeutic trials indicated vitamin C lowered mortality and improved respiratory symptoms in elderly pneumonia patients and reduced recovery time in adults.
- The benefits in therapeutic settings were most pronounced in the most ill patients or those with low plasma vitamin C levels.
Conclusions:
- Further investigation into prophylactic vitamin C use is warranted for populations with high pneumonia incidence and low dietary vitamin C.
- Therapeutic vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial for pneumonia patients with low plasma vitamin C levels due to its low cost and risk.
- Current evidence is insufficient to recommend widespread prophylactic vitamin C for the general population.
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