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Vitamin C and the common cold: a second MZ Cotwin control study

A B Carr, R Einstein, L Y Lai

Acta Geneticae Medicae Et Gemellologiae

|January 1, 1981

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Vitamin C did not prevent colds in identical twins overall. However, vitamin C reduced colds in twins living apart, while placebo reduced colds in twins living together, possibly due to perceived treatment.

Area of Science:

Clinical Nutrition
Psychoneuroimmunology
Twin Studies

Background:

The common cold remains a significant health concern with limited preventive strategies.
The efficacy of vitamin C for cold prevention is debated, with mixed results from previous studies.
Twin studies offer a unique model to control for genetic and environmental factors in health research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the preventive effect of daily vitamin C supplementation on common cold incidence in identical twins.
To explore potential modifying factors, such as cohabitation and personality traits, on vitamin C's efficacy.
To assess the placebo effect in a controlled twin study setting.

Main Methods:

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 95 pairs of identical twins (aged 14-64).

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Participants received either 1g of vitamin C or a placebo daily for 100 days.

Self-reported cold data and personality assessments (neuroticism) were collected.

Main Results:

No overall preventive effect of vitamin C on common colds was observed in the total sample.
A significant preventive effect of vitamin C was found in twins living apart (approx. 20% reduction).
A significant placebo effect was observed in twins living together, potentially linked to treatment perception errors.

Conclusions:

Vitamin C may offer a modest preventive benefit against colds, particularly in individuals not sharing environments with their twin.
The perceived treatment in cohabiting twins significantly influenced cold incidence, highlighting the power of the placebo effect.
Neuroticism correlated with reported cold symptoms, suggesting a psychological component in illness perception.