The Science of Vitamin C: Can Taking It Prevent a Cold?

But does boosting your vitamin C intake do anything to prevent or shorten colds? Some studies suggest taking vitamin C has a modest effect on the common cold, but don't expect miracles, one expert says. "It's fair to say that vitamin C supplementation both shortens duration of cold and offers some protection against colds, though it's not very dramatic," said Stephen Lawson, a researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, who studies micronutrients.