Supplementing vitamins C and D does not prevent flu or cold – 07/21/2023 – Equilibrium

With the arrival of winter and the increase in cases of respiratory diseases, some start consuming vitamins C and D on their own, in addition to other vitamin and mineral supplements, hoping to avoid colds and flu. The idea is that the products increase immunity and protect against common conditions of the coldest time of the year.

However, respiratory illnesses can be avoided with some basic care, such as staying in ventilated environments, keeping vaccinations up to date against the flu and Covid-19, and practicing good hygiene.

Although supplementation can bring benefits and is indicated for some patients, it does not treat flu or colds. Experts recommend seeing a doctor to check for deficiencies and what they are, in order to indicate the best supplement, which should be prescribed individually.

Experts also recommend vitamin and mineral supplementation for patients with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, osteopenia (gradual loss of bone mass) or osteoporosis. Cancer and immunosuppressed patients can also benefit.

Patients undergoing some types of bariatric surgery, such as those that remove the area of ​​intestinal absorption, may also need supplementation.

“Some patients will not have the absorptive capacity of some vitamins and minerals. So, even if the person has a complete diet, he may need to supplement”, says Celso Cukier, nutritionist at Albert Einstein Hospital. “This is also what happens in some inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease.”

According to experts, there is no indication of routine supplementation without a deficiency of vitamins and minerals detected by blood tests.

The nutritionist and president of the Brazilian Society of Food and Nutrition, Sueli Longo, says that vitamin and mineral supplementation is not related to the seasons. That is, it will not prevent respiratory diseases if used preventively, nor will it be a treatment if the patient already has a cough, runny nose and sneezing.

“It is indicated when the individual is unable to ingest the recommended amount of the nutrient through their food matrix or when they have a nutrient deficit diagnosed through clinical symptoms and confirmed by laboratory tests”.

According to Cukier, consumption should be guided. “Taking nutritional supplements aimlessly, simply thinking that there will be an improvement in physical performance or disease prevention is a lot of speculation and should not be done routinely”, he adds.

A balanced and diversified diet can provide all the necessary vitamins in adequate amounts.

Foods like orange, lemon, tangerine and guava are rich in vitamin C. For example, 100 ml of orange juice from bahia contains 94.5 mg of vitamin C, which already meets the daily requirement recommended by international bodies.

On the other hand, vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced when the skin is exposed to the sun. Dermatologist Ivonise Follador, from the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, recommends that healthy people sunbathe their legs or arms for at least 15 minutes twice a week. However, it is important to avoid sun exposure between 10am and 4pm.

The guidance for those who have flu-like symptoms is the same as for the pandemic: wear masks to prevent the spread of viruses and, whenever you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose. In addition, it is essential to wash your hands frequently, maintain adequate nutrition and avoid closed environments with large crowds of people.

Risks of consumption without indication

Vitamins are divided into two groups: fat-soluble, such as vitamins A, E, D and K, which are stored in the body, and water-soluble, such as vitamin C and B-complex vitamins, which are eliminated more quickly.

For both groups, there are health risks when they are present in excess in the body.

“The exaggerated use of vitamin D can cause symptoms of toxicity in the body, even causing neurological conditions, such as drowsiness, confusion and even depression. Excess vitamin C can cause kidney stones, for example. It is also described in the medical literature that the use of high doses of vitamin A for long periods of time can even be related to liver cirrhosis.