By Sue Mueller
Nov 13, 2008
A study found that taking megadoses of vitamin C can effectively prevent flu and relieve flu symptoms.

The study showed that those who took 1000 mg of vitamin C three times a day were 85 percent less likely to have flu or more likely to reduce flu symptoms.

The study led by Gorton HC and Jarvis K and published in Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 252 students aged 18 to 30 as study subjects and 463 students aged 18 to 32 as controls.

The study subjects were asked to use 1000 mg of vitamin C hourly within the first 6 hours of getting flu and three times daily thereafter.   Those study subjects who did not get flu were also advised to use 1000 mg of vitamin C three times a day.

The controls were asked to use pain relievers and decongestants.

The researchers found that reported flu cases in the study group decreased 85 percent compared to the controls after administration of high doses of vitamin C.

Cold symptoms were also reduced and relieved in the vitamin C group.

Studies have found that taking vitamin C boosts immune responses.