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      Vitamin C and SARS coronavirus

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          Abstract

          Sir, Recently, a new coronavirus was identified as the cause of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).1 In the absence of a specific treatment for SARS, the possibility that vitamin C may show non-specific effects on severe viral respiratory tract infections should be considered. There are numerous reports indicating that vitamin C may affect the immune system,2 , 3 for example the function of phagocytes, transformation of T lymphocytes and production of interferon. In particular, vitamin C increased the resistance of chick embryo tracheal organ cultures to infection caused by an avian coronavirus.4 Studies in animals found that vitamin C modifies susceptibility to various bacterial and viral infections,3 for example protecting broiler chicks against an avian coronavirus.5 Placebo-controlled trials have shown quite consistently that the duration and severity of common cold episodes are reduced in the vitamin C groups,3 indicating that viral respiratory infections in humans are affected by vitamin C levels. There is also evidence indicating that vitamin C may affect pneumonia.3 In particular, three controlled trials with human subjects reported a significantly lower incidence of pneumonia in vitamin C-supplemented groups,6 suggesting that vitamin C may affect susceptibility to lower respiratory tract infections under certain conditions. The possibility that vitamin C affects severe viral respiratory tract infections would seem to warrant further study, especially in light of the recent SARS epidemic. * Tel: +359-0-191-27573; Fax: +358-0-191-27570; E-mail: harri.hemila@helsinki.fi

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          J Antimicrob Chemother
          J. Antimicrob. Chemother
          jac
          jac
          Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
          Oxford University Press
          0305-7453
          1460-2091
          December 2003
          December 2003
          : 52
          : 6
          : 1049-1050
          Affiliations
          Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014 Finland
          Article
          dkh002
          10.1093/jac/dkh002
          7110025
          14613951
          49edd4ed-80be-4521-a6b0-fec36a0a3cfa
          The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

          This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or until permissions are revoked in writing. Upon expiration of these permissions, PMC is granted a perpetual license to make this article available via PMC and Europe PMC, consistent with existing copyright protections.

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          Categories
          Correspondence

          Oncology & Radiotherapy
          keywords: ascorbic acid, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome

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