* Embargoed to 12 Noon, 30 September, 2001

ANU study of alternative therapies and the common cold

A study by researchers from The Australian National University, has found that megadoses of vitamin C do not alter either the duration or severity of colds in adults with good nutrition. The results of the study by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health are reported in the Medical Journal of Australia this week (Oct 1). The research involved 184 volunteers using real and placebo tablets that looked and tasted identical. The participants took the tablets for the first three days after they developed a cold and completed report cards on the development of the illness.

"For one quarter of these volunteers the tablets contained a daily dose of 30 mg, that is less than the minimum required daily dose of vitamin C," Study leader Professor Bob Douglas said. "Participants in the other three arms of the randomised study received a daily dose of 1G, 3G or 3G supplemented by flavenoids. The high doses of vitamin C didn't result either in shorter or less severe colds than those in the "placebo" low dose group."

"There is no longer any basis for believing that long term maintenance dosage of megadose vitamin C prevents the incidence of colds in normally nourished adults, That has been clear for some years. But the evidence from previous studies against its value in treating colds once they have begun, was more debatable." Professor Douglas said. "The results of the ANU trial were convincing in their failure to show benefit. The group who had the shortest and least severe colds were those who used the tiny dose of vitamin C."

In another common cold trial reported in the same issue of the journal, the ANU authors described a study of a combination of Chinese herbs which is widely sold in Australian health food stores. Using a similar evaluation model to the study on vitamin C megadoses, the authors found no evidence among 181 volunteers that this particular herbal preparation shortened or eased the severity of colds.

"We thought we might be on to a winner last year, when we carried out a third small study of a new rye extract that is sold in health food stores," said Professor Douglas. "Our pilot study results on the rye preparation, looked fantastic and we rushed into recruiting a group of volunteers to test it properly before the winter colds dried up."

A total of 94 Canberrans agreed to test the preparation for us in a double blind trial. "When we checked the research results recently our pilot results were not confirmed. There are still some tantalising questions about that study but it doesn't look as though we've reached the holy grail yet."

Professor Douglas has spent much of his academic life evaluating new approaches to the prevention and treatment of common respiratory infections, but believes that a cure for the common cold is as elusive as ever.

"The common cold still offers an exciting challenge to the next generation of medical researchers. It continues to be a leading cause of absenteeism, discomfort and use of medical care," Professor Douglas said.

* Betacam SP video tapes will be available for TV stations. please contact Leah Slattery on 02 6125 5001 (w).

For interview: Professor Douglas is travelling and will be available only on Friday 28th September on Mobile 0409 233 138.

ANU Public Affairs contact: Leah Slattery 02 6125 5001(w), 0416 249 108 (mob).

No:74/2001

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002