Vitamin C a waste of money?

[Sunflower_2]

Hi all

So my Tinnitus was caused by the worst cold I'd ever had 6yrs ago and I've recently been told that if I take a Vitamin C supplement it will prevent me getting a bad cold? Thing is I have Interstitial cystitis and vit c supplements are not great as there acidic so unsure if it's true as I don't want to cause my IC to flare. My urologist said that a study in 2013 found that it's a myth that vit c does not prevent or cure a cold and it would be very bad for my IC.

A friend who is a fellow tinnitus sufferer had been taking vit c for the last 4yrs until she got a cold and hers was just as bad the only difference was she didn't get a runny or blocked nose but everything else about the cold was the same and she feels it was a waste of money and doesn't take it anymore.

Anyone know if it is a waste of money taking a Vit C supplement to prevent a bad cold?

because I'm tempted if it means my ears may be safe from my next cold if I take a Vit c supplement but my partner thinks I can do the same naturally through food by eating plenty of fruits and veg? Which I already do and I know my vit c levels are normal.

[Sunflower_2]

Anyone?

[doglover1973]

Hello. I'm a great believer in supplements because the soil is depleted of vits and mins nowadays. I eat a healthy diet but I take Vit C and Vit D too. This is more to do with my other health problem than T . You can get a VitC powder form Higher Nature that's easy on the stomach. Whether it would suit you or not I don't know. Maybe worth a try?

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Sunflower

If you're confident that you're getting the correct level of vitamin c from your diet, I personally can't see any measurable benefit for health or real world application to tinnitus that taking a supplement would provide.

I'm sure other community members will have their own views on this.

[Happyrosie]

vit C cannot prevent a cold. If it could, we would all have been taking it.

Echinacea has traditionally been used in some communities to help with a cold. If I get the first symptoms of a cold (which for me is a feeling in the back of my throat) I take echinacea. Sometimes the symptoms go away again, sometimes they don’t. I also use a product called First Defence that may help to kill viruses in your nose - look it up.

Staying fit and healthy is a good way to avoid colds (along with hand washing and all that) so if you are eating plenty of veg and fruit then that ought to be sufficient. But sometimes you can’t avoid a cold!!!

[rabbits65]

interesting what you say about vitamin c supplement possibly affecting your cystitis , as cystitis is so painful I wouldn’t take the supplement but continue with your very good diet of fruit and vegetables which would enable you to get enough vitamin C naturally.

[Sunflower_2 in reply to rabbits65]

I don't take a Vitamin C supplement yet I was just asking if it's worth taking as I was told it can help a cold not be as bad as in it shortens the duration of a cold and since my Tinnitus was caused by a cold that's why I'm interested in taking one but because I have IC I don't want to annoy my bladder but I have been told that IC patients can take buffered vit c which is gentle on the bladder

[doglover1973 in reply to Sunflower_2]

I take buffered Vit C 🙂

[Sunflower_2 in reply to doglover1973]

I asked on an IC Facebook group and a large number suggested biocare vit c powder as it's only one ingredient magnesium ascorbate. I can put one scoop in my morning smoothie

[doglover1973 in reply to Sunflower_2]

Biocare products are very good quality but a bit pricier than HN. Probably worth it for you if other people with IC use it with no ill effects.

[Sunflower_2 in reply to doglover1973]

It will definitely be worth it even though they are more expensive. I already take vitamin D with K2 by time health and felt a difference since taking them my vit d levels tested low.

[doglover1973 in reply to Sunflower_2]

It's not unusual to have low levels of VitD because we spend more time inside than we used to do. Vit D is crucial for immunity. If I could only take one supplement it would be VitD.

[Philip6]

Hello. I take one multivitamin pill each day, that gives me 100% of all the vitamins you need plus some minerals, etc. You can get vitamin C from eating fruit so if you have 5 portions a day you should be fine. I take echinacea for a cold, at the first sign of a cold I start taking it and more often than not the cold is gone next day. Same as Happyrosie 😊.

[Ponay]

I wouldn’t worry about getting more vitamin c than your body needs as you’ll just wee out any excess anyway.

[Fleur29]

I take a lot of supplements, including vitamins C and D. When I got covid 2 years ago, I was left with Chronic fatigue syndrome and asthma (and several sinus infections, allergy flares.) So my Dr recommended elderberry and zinc to boost immunity.

COVID also left me with pulsatile tinnitus but so far it doesn't seem to be triggered by any meds I take.

I hope you find something that helps!

[doglover1973 in reply to Fleur29]

I have CFS (or ME as we call it in the UK) too - as a result of a bad bout of flu over 20 years ago. There's a much better understanding of what viruses can do in the wake of Covid.

[Fleur29 in reply to doglover1973]

I'd like to ask you about ME/CFS. Can I send you direct message to keep this thread on task?

[doglover1973 in reply to Fleur29]

Yes. Of course 🙂

[Kellythecat-74]

I use cranberry for cystitus. I get the bottle one , need to dilute. Then I can have it a bit stronger than the carton ones.