Vitamin C and the common cold: a retrospective analysis of Chalmers' review [in Chinese]

Hemilä, Harri; Herman, Zelek S

doi:10.5281/zenodo.6469735

Vitamin C and the common cold: a retrospective analysis of Chalmers' review [in Chinese]

Hemilä, Harri; Herman, Zelek S

Publisher: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6469735
Repository: zenodo.org
Language: en

Abstract

Chinese translation of DOI 10.1080/07315724.1995.10718483 PMID Abstract In 1975 Thomas Chalmers analyzed the possible effect of vitamin C on the common cold by calculating the average difference in the duration of cold episodes in vitamin C and control groups in seven placebo-controlled studies. He found that episodes were 0.11 +/- 0.24 (SE) days shorter in the vitamin C groups and concluded that there was no valid evidence to indicate that vitamin C is beneficial in the treatment of the common cold. Chalmers' review has been extensively cited in scientific articles and monographs. However, other reviewers have concluded that vitamin C significantly alleviates the symptoms of the common cold. A careful analysis of Chalmers' review reveals serious shortcomings. For example, Chalmers did not consider the amount of vitamin C used in the studies and included in his meta-analysis was a study in which only 0.025-0.05 g/day of vitamin C was administered to the test subjects. For some studies Chalmers used values that are inconsistent with the original published results. Using data from the same studies, we calculated that vitamin C (1-6 g/day) decreased the duration of the cold episodes by 0.93 +/- 0.22 (SE) days; the relative decrease in the episode duration was 21%. The current notion that vitamin C has no effect on the common cold seems to be based in large part on a faulty review written two decades ago.

Full text

ffitt#ffitÐ +EffiñË++Ë vol.ll, No.l 2 0 O 3 + 3 E CHINESE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION March, 2003 .äffi+ËÉr{Ë. gE+.# C -5ffi8 : IÚ Chalmers #i.ô Ê+Jtltn Vitamin C and the Common Cold Hani Hemila, PhD ZeIek S. Herman, PhD (Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland (H.H.) and Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, Palo Alto, Cali{omia (Z.S.H.) lËg te75 +, Thomas charmers ìÉü 71ËE{ñljxtflRìil& , '"tH,f xtffit1frEnF.HÆ+.# c cåÉËåBEf+â Bú|FJZt4ffJ+trÊ.+, xtÆ+.R cãBH+ffJ4,ÊE+FHt$î1Thffi" lþ,È.il,Æ+.â ceål*Ër+4HúlÈJfrxûll1tllLffi Æ (0.11x0.24) x, Eitti,\åÆ+.Ãc ¡ftâÈl*HËã'ryEÉ!ftry.." È,Ê, chalmers É!ìIffi'lËrãË&*È=b+^l Ëfi€ÌàffiãlÆ" lEE, 6ãeff#ì h, Æ+.â cFI.ÐäìdEÆHrf 9lËÈ!ãfrÈ)tr" ìEüì+Æâffi, #,{¡11È.il, Chalmers ffJìÈY#ÆÈ-4l,b?#.FÉ.Ê1fr,å, lr Chalmers lË.ãtÈ.r\Æåä C Ë!ñ|lËÃffi, ælþF¡tfffiffijî,hfi^ +, ìil&9å4åã c tIñJË lyh 0.02s -0.05 g/d" æ.nrl-l&ffiãF, chalmers &Æ T-& 5ïffiEf ñ,#Rñ-$ ffr&.ß. filllftjÆ8ffiå0ìil&fr^Èil,Æ+.# c (1-6 c/d) 4t€BEf+äEülej.EãTPë (0.e3r0.22) X, BË++ æ H{ 14 fE xt Pã 1ft, 2tva . â X+ itâ't+ lt - Ð tlfr ñffi ^. " 'F Eâ*Ë Rl5l.2 iffi+ñiRLl A tËffiË 1008-s882(2003)01-0058-04 fi Pauling ffiÊffJlfrfr,friLlÅÆ+R c xfl*Elâ Ètuï-,*.R, {E ElffiE+nm\Æ+,ã c xf /* E tâ)? fi-*.h,å È+ jü fù " ft'fll?Iå, H Èiüffi Æ+.# c Iú-*.û, È 4 W f Chalmerslg7s + F¡ WE É! â ìô . Chalmers xf 1975 +Uffifu1îIfñ,tr/fîT%è/ìtfr, Iþ ffiulrc 7 +Mfr,W#XfræN,, i+H-txf AR¿E5EÉ HÆ+ Ã c ,årü E f+ä Et lnl k! È+rr (0.11 + 0.2a) X, ÃË.1üd,ÈË4û f "ætÈFâìägô+ , qã{ñû xf flR¿Ël*EÈ:l/tElnPÊ", IEi hÈffiÈ# "4P'M. 44', Itfr.E'V|". Chalmers È#FBA t É f eä-XT fi trfr.mËrüË > r s/d FüÉ!KHË,IAÉ0F+[, Et ÈL 5H E Ëä-Ë (ÃËË'l*lRzJ. ) É! fr,W.*#1++6 nÁÈ Étfi ,* F it+, ^fi Èt+üffi ÈÈå " Chalmers Èffi' I Ë Ê! ãl Æ $ft Pauling XË É0 E ,f* (ä 1), m Pauling ffiAÐ ü,É4È.f V.41ffi, lE #l Èt (RDA) +E*t€91f Pauling #J#àh fñ, {E*lJ¿¡.} Pauling Wffifr,F_ffii*.tu1. Elë*'WÈ. frÉl€#+, 4É.,).Ê'^tëgJ pauline kISÃH Meta tIffi , lE Chalmers É0IË*tJlA tFkÆ+.# C Ër?l* B fr^\.ffJ if.ffiffi %.H W1lÆ . Chalme" ÉÛ äìâ 5 A lþí+ * + Ê e,êEÊ i+ * È +, 4 r Brù ü w È Fü. î1/ùffi "t t Æ+.Rc 5/*ËôH*lffiÊtãtÆn& 4,ft Chalnem É!IÈ Pauling É! Meta âlf Pauling Éf ffi4fl 19'70-19'74 j '75 rg'ts - t979 24 15 t23 19Bo - 1984 18 6 69 1985 - 1989 14 2 35 1990-1992 5 I 15 ,åËlÆhä 61 3t 317 fi Chalmers *Ë#Jtfffi chalmers f Ë+ t [ Ê!f*H ÊHIË+, Chalmers Ê!7ù,å ÈFlëü Ætn É!Ëõü Zt, ä il +EÈT Êi å "lãftlJËÊÉ!ìfr&ffiã" " hf iñFÅ Chalmers ä II É0@,fr, bU,#.T Hryffilt,Ë,â+ñÈlå É0zÑ IFJ , ftfll++:|6 Chalmers É0t II tû t (ã'z) " fr¡ AÌ4f åxf |E#ffiñ,w,É.r!*hffirüT* 3. ftt.n ffi-fBnef , Chalmert fFlH, Cowan $ tuïWñ,ft "Ëìfrå+Ëìfrh", mÄ "EìAÊWîl.# 1H Æ+.â c 5ÆH: xf chalmers *iÈffitfffi 59 â Ed ã fi ÍÃ fr. M.Æffi È K{,ñü xf fl€ rå " " {El chalmers *p Æi&r +frt+T -uffi.Êw.Ê.. EÆã.ffiôrt. ü,ZiË XXÈWffiã.,, ffi*>W Cowan g#Jîfrñ,tú^* I . lÅ &^H È.*Ê, üîìfr &$ cowan + É0rfr hiF Ë'fE lU, FF_Æ&ã c ÉtñûËgt*E (r s/d). ÉüL EIUÊ $, ChalmersfrfrftfÍlùðf ffiìfr&ffiãEf lA ãÆ'tÊ*+rñ-ÉûÆIü (Ë 3 ). t z fìtrift m5ÆE : Chalmers r,låElËË&ËÉtìd&frã ìâ&ffiã fr,fifr.w Ëtrñ¡J Eü^& +4f+æHft4 (i) Ëifr^tr +4T+ä8il4 (x) l*ËffiäEfr4k¡È+ (x) Andemon et al' 1972 Anderson et al 19'14 Coulehan et al. 1974 Wilson et al 1973 Karlowski et al 1974 Cowan et al. 1942 Cowan et aI 1942 Ritzel 1961 4n 578 320 t44 89 194 120 140 3.96 3.28 4.'71 2.65 6.80 1.10 1.70 1.35 40'7 583 321 158 101 231 227 139 3.18 5.92 2.79 4.18 6.30 1.60 1.00 0.22 -0.10 t.2t 0.14 0.50 0.50 -0.70 0.11x0.'A (x*so) 0.60 1.95 ffiá È.ñ4, ffi ; ffi Tlü4 # hÈ ffieü,ãåtlE É0&ffi t ¡ fì'6mm5ÆH D'.F.tâùl+l+üffrÆ+ ìd&ffiã Æ4ä c ñ|lå G/d) fifim& äÆ*ñJ Éìd^fr +4ffi4ÊftFr(^) Éìfr^ry +4ffäFfH(t) l*Ht+4 Ftt4É,!å+ (x) PE lfllÊ>t s/d Anderson et al. L972 Charleston & Clegg 1972 Anderson et al, 1974 Coulehan et a|. 1974 Karlowski et al 19'75 Ritzel 1961 l+3 40'l 4'7 860$ 860$ 190. - 131-- 87 57 139 3.96" 1.04. 3.5 1.74' 1.74, 4.95 4.44 6.59 5.92 1.8 4n 43 2851 293# 192 t28 46 46 r40 155 94 58 86 4. l8 r.32 4.2 1.76 1.54 5.s6 6.29 7.r4 7.14 2.6 0.'73 0.42 3.10 2.48 -0.22 -0.28+ P < 0.05 -0.'7+ P < 0.05 -0.02 +0.20 -0.70+ P<0.01r- -1.85+ P < 0.05" -0.55 -1.22+ P<0.02$$ -0.8+ P < 0.05 -0.93+0.22+ -21 x3 P=0.01+ P= 0.001 +P < 0.000004"" -0.15 -21 +0.29 +69 -0.48 - t5 +0.20 +8 1 1-5 1-5 I I 3 3+3 I ñJÈlcl g/d Cowan et al, Cowan et al Wilson e¡ al Wilson ¿¡ ¿l 0.2 0.025 - 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.58- - - 0.71... 2.62 2.68 1942 1942 1973 1973 209#1 n0#r 70--- R0 rtt * È{tf+48ü14; +EXXW; +'fÉÌtËl$4Ë+tõrËiå, |\V.Ê.4Èì+Ê#.ß1\NJt ôâ&; $ìd&lå #r, #2ffi #3 â*mfi , &4EñIAW 1e/d;rÈ.ffiñltï*4t #qË{ilJ¿Ë#6; **gg2s/dffJÈFt./..++ffi&*.rs/dffi[ft,4**È; ++Èñîry,Ë.,f4ffiffi+ÃÈE'*IL¡ i*à+ffiÊ ( + ) å4ìfr&Eì+HüÊl{ffiS; ##ñW8âË,&ÉlEìfrã, Chalmers.i[4'tfiTìfr&f ffiEtffJâìJn^W." êxf 0.0250.0sgldlfllÊfrttffiflt, ËfithrÄâ-)b-' *x*€îÈftfrlÆXfi, Chalmers 4\hüTFÍãñfr|É!,Ë.fti4t&i +++kä4.t +++H +fr. 60 +Er |16ÆËiF*Ë 11Ë fi[^¿ËÉã c r.lÈtsôÆ-5r.f HHfrfrTFrrÉJ ÆffiF, Æ+.# c 5/*E'Jeññ, Æ+.â c É!{ÊÆËË-1 lF H É F #J âW. {E Chalme's *lJ ,H'1â ,ã. W-f )X+ 4 ff . Chalmer. lÈ+ 9l Æ É! Cowan +É!ìil&+, ìfr &Æ,Æ+-â c ÉlñlJË lylr 0.02s-0.05 g/d (*.2, 3)" [W1*.Æ4Ë c ilrrhåÊfr,ffiBW+.4t19.ñ, flF /a-ñ,¡fr.ù,ææ _ I ñü Ë -,*.Ìfr., 4 Æ +.#. c ñü Ë lR {ft jg lA " El fr , l\#- 1fft ñ!J =HtE F-4F'.xtrn q,Æ+.# C tlfil* E À{R tul " Mrl, Êl.ü Cowan $É!ìil& F, ìfr&rÄÉiilåth4'ñü Ê.Æ+ Ã c tF, ðlÉHüBR ffiTÆ+.# A. D. ñ,MR. M,È*. MM-++ttffi., Erltìfr&ä+^ÊEâÈF UÆ+.â c *ffift" Æ+ R c tâ,?l* H É! Ë.{+ñü Ê.tuïffixÊuffi È. " Pauling l|ffi+F¡¡nÆÉ!ìil&, HÆÈR c ñtJË4 > 0.1. g/d" -El^ Pauling fr.-ÐffiH, Ê Ritzel É!ìil9ô +, ñüËËlt9Ë (ts/d) É!Èt+Ë.nä, ElriL Paulins ëì1.{ËÆ 1 s/d 4Ftftj Ë É! Æ+.# c ffr ø' fElâ)?BÊ" Æ Chalmers F¡9lHÉ!ìd&+, &4r)l ffiRîtJÆ+.# c tÍñüË-ÌtD*ñ. {+ñüË > r g/d É! ìfr & 4 Wfi+T #h Fn.fl Él l{ R , ffi zJ' ñJ Ë ìfr &Étìf +,[Û7li EE.'fl. frí-A Coulehan $f[ Darlowski $ È.il,, FjtñüËÉt4åä c ¡IffiXFt. E.EäÉ! ÊtrX\.R (ä ¡). Ë Anderso"#Ufñ,+, *.ìÅâÆ l*BÆ | XW.hA td 8 g ffiÆ+.Ë c, ìEìjxf 8 1 ft Ì tuI tI ffi &.WtJ È.fl , xñJÊ.4ltutrlãÈ -,*.R fr.# SATzJ'ñü Ê.Æ," ü jtq n, Chalmers Æ,WT tñüË Æ+.â c (> 1 c/d) láf ,*E É!.fl#i{D. tkr¡., ÆþW.Æ+,# C (>t s/d) xû,*E'ÉtË ËÌf R Bü, DP+åfäftü xf flRrËËìil Ê r È + Æ+.R c É!ffi^Ë, ã'È-bìfr&É0xûnRgaÉifrå€ E æ^+ ãÉtzjtÆ5ffi,#, LRÈ+ffJÆ+.Å c æ^ trJ$ 0.5 c/d, ÈieÈT RDA tF#ffJ€ H æ^Ë , ÈA)ç.W Æ+.# c F^Ë, Ì4ââ*FüÈ{r}r6#Æäã c É! ÊÈ¡À\.Ro Anderson +e,È.fÃ,, Xf flFie F Ë'zlcRffi ^#.,t ffJ ^*in , # fr,Æ +.R c xf /* E É! lâ lÈ if R #.fJFn.Þ, FJ'[Ël*ÊÊ "&xXW" W.,]'48vo; ffi xt*.p"ztKF-Ét^*ìI,, Æ+.# C É0Ìf+fi59 , ly-lÊ. "Æ*XW" W,,'. ZZVo. Karlowski ìil& + Ét Éìfrã fr h xEl EÌ,r.äM^w (NrH) #Jf-+F ^n, lþ, 'fllÉ0&lÉuJ<+&È, Æ+"R c €8ffi^åd4ÈT t EE R É!+€ß, $trIÊEË Karlowski ìil$ôtr Èñü ÉÆ+.# c filsEÌtÆ7r..n#wlíwz- (ä 3). ,É.2, Æ+.# c -E B ffi^ËË- +î[ÉFffiffinñW ä, m chalmers +wãf'Ê,3ÜìÌîElã" ÊñJñJ trËõËËFT,ËË ä C $ T4,fr ffi F fi È ÊiFE Chalmers ì lJ , XryìÅ,WF¡Ê.Wil!Æ+Å C fi I* E Ìf ü FJ ÊEËãã{ñil ÈÍD Ë¡Ì ffi [HA",füìÉ ü Darlowski ìfr&*ìÌ,EA ìå-lL,F. , æüîìfr& F , EE{ñüXÆ*Lrd#, Et hÆ+.R c Ëm* , fr¡-T?LffilJ frËffi , EirlL Ê.A,#4Êãn ^WÊt ÆftJ t É É åRÆ tu1 FÆ+.R c ðËqã{ñü, È r}Lâxüìfr hÆ RP +. FIIII, fune,Í[ H áEF.HÆt.ä C É!Éìfrâtr|ÊVàë )tÆ+.R c É! Àf R " lÛF--tfr.tù.È.a*, ÊË lþ,í+ øiî, hF, ãã{ñrJË'H' hfttäw, 5 tÊ+.Ê c T n 8 h " Btk, æ.)ftHTâìÉqã{ñû É0ìfr$ô +, Æ+.â c É! fi l* H Ìt ü ^ trI ÊE E È, N.ñJ -*, rfr.Ê. ËÍ.Y! [W.* " ú,i+Ê ^àlql, æ Darlowski É!ìfr&+ , Eãffi *Ø. Chatme" Þf ËùU É! ãtJË , tflf qã{fÜ È4ñ Ë Ëf,frtJ[H^" æüfìillsÆfrÊ, Darlowski lü.T -+ 1nÈ, È.ili+ 4*.jÅ,#+ É ffi t[ T É É nftffi W] FÆ å.ä C ðË+L/Ê. Darlowski rBÉ.iÅ,#hfuñt\ ¿ ffi r ÃEÉ,%.ffial H aflvëöffi XÉ! gìfr ã, ffi 2 Æ,ft. lkã *ffi Ê t flF.H 4l /¿ä tu1 * ìÅ,È . Nt ffi r 9E #J h tfr +.Fn, Æ+.Å c rå Étl* E r+48ü lcj EE.fl ffi Æ ; xf H 2 tlilt hffi #.8Å, Æ+.# c tHS *,ffi.ñü råÆ E T+ 9*Ef l4rtBE fl*.#. ElJtr, Chalmers ì^å, Aìilh F¡NRÐ#JÆ+.ä C fiI* B ñiDË É ËE{ñÜÈf üË ËÀV'J[H^" F* iÈ chalmers ìåffi'Jeï,* Ê 5Æ+-#, C X^ tullÈ ËHÈirËäË c xûÆÊfrM.x¿,É!Ë7àäfû , ffiH4. H h#+Ë#F¡41Æ " AlfF t T Chalme" IË F t+*pÉffiÌÃ. FI.n,, Æ+.Ã c xfÆEfiNji./¿.ftÊ É!IËÊä Ê , ãi+9ÈtrñünË ìilhä' )1tufilÅ T Æ+.# C ffJffiqTfiPé'* E ÈtrA. M-H. , H Êi É *F //f T ffiT Æ+.Ã c ñ/* E É!e4ôrt fr\ " FtJtn , Æ+. ã c 4lfift!|ffiËB*Bütrrtrfr¡0È4ã É Éä, H Füð4{,8¡t r Ì,fi E ÆMffJÆ+.F.D , fiü#+dùË É0 4.¡1. +-ntf ffi ÆRt BE, .R gxû Chalmers Fn ¡ltn W ìil&ffi ã ìü T-¡ è Æill fr#. ¿' F tT & fr Iil h.fr4 ffi hffi , "pfr,à È.f,ü,Æ+,# c il,Jffitr| fr.#ffiffi.,* E T+ä 1ffi #+.Ã C 5ÆH: Xf Chatmers #frffJrfffi 6l Hf 14 " È1Æ RE Chalmers UÉ ^Ë-ûþ,LfuïUf ñr**R ôEæ. ffi-H., ,Vt Chalmers ÊälÈã.+ , &rnffiry., e,BïffiÌ[* r KHflEÆ tñù Ë Æ+.â c ffi qâË, lyã,4'ÈßtIrt_Ë^¡ËÆtñüÊ.Æ+_#. c (> 4 s/d) Ê fr il,W.'E + â M É EÌfr." {8,* F,ä å EIr,fÊ 4 H' ¡ËÆ 30 s/ d WÆ+.Ã c ü,^â ü1il,W.18, ìIìÌ,EE l* B,Ë, ÊÆ+.# c É!{tiåf,lËÐü*,il,f &A" ,Ë.z., .ðHi+ øiÉ.ffitEE, ÊÆânw7trüË (lâ,?ñüË) åRÆ Æ+,Ã c trJ,Eär,iãl* Ë ft )tr " lE&Ê ^r¡_å ËË Æ+.â c xf t* H É! Ë,?Àt+ EI Êv,àE *î " 6 + r ffi(ffi) (2m2-04-04 Wtñ) ffi#e È'+'12Cf,2 + 10ä 4ÆÈ-+.È&È&.e. "++*-HÈ+L++#r-+krâñ" -rÊ, i f ¿åé'l #t fr,Ê &* H*+r+i*Ê ÆñùMw, +&-1àþrÈæÈ&e.å.ñai4t" tr Ë ÉT ËËÆÈ1T +ft + E il6ñ H # * ËÆ *fiÊrr, f*tUlfiä*tuI "++*ÆËtFf ++#J-W.4n " É!Ìâl , ffilllàXãFtTÆtEi*f FtLü, ñl ,ù'1F Hffi A, qþ#,xt',È.SlÆl^ ffi ø+L, ÆflFwûfrrlÈffi,flfi É! E H ææ8, ËßäÃ T,ù,U1, ffi frT *,t'L,fr., R%x[.+tu*Ik+E#,^nlry.+EüT Et*, ü úü#,i/11ÆTT TffiZg&. &lllè xxt !&% 9#,Ë " H Èift kI H l+ËrfÍ, lpÊ 4t /¿FJffi, .R,Ëâm.xÊ t\ttlÍ., m.Ëfr fr {ft , il&Æ ftlffi4ü , 14Hflft. "ßht?" 4lñ,ffi., ffinðâffiË. ffi èx*r ÈEöTI. 2003+28228