Beneficial therapeutic effects of vitamin C on recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: To demonstrate whether supplementation of vitamin C has a beneficial effect in the prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Moreover, we evaluate the main risk factors that predispose to the development of this disease.

METHODS: Sixty children have been enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: the control group (G1 n = 33) and the group at risk of recurrent RTIs (G2 n = 27). To G2 group was administered every day 100% orange juice with the content of vitamin C 70 mg.

RESULTS: Significant reduction in the incidence rate of RTIs (episodes pre-treatment: 182-6.75 episodes/child, after-treatment: 71-2.62 episodes/child, P <0.05), were observed in G2 group.

CONCLUSIONS: The administration of vitamin C had a beneficial effect in our group of children with recurrent RTIs, reducing the number of infective episodes.