The risk of upper respiratory infections (URIs) is increased in people who are under heavy physical stress, including recreational
and competitive swimmers. Additional treatment options are needed, especially in the younger age group. The aim of this study
was to determine whether 1 g/day vitamin C supplementation affects the rate, length, or severity of URIs in adolescent swimmers.
We carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial during three winter months, among 39 competitive young
swimmers (mean age 13.8 ± 1.6 years) in Jerusalem, Israel. Vitamin C had no effect on the incidence of URIs (rate ratio = 1.01;
95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.70–1.46). The duration of respiratory infections was 22% shorter in vitamin C group, but
the difference was not statistically significant. However, we found a significant interaction between vitamin C effect and
sex, so that vitamin C shortened the duration of infections in male swimmers by 47% (95% CI: −80% to −14%), but had no effect
on female swimmers (difference in duration: +17%; 95% CI: −38% to +71%). The effect of vitamin C on the severity of URIs was
also different between male and female swimmers, so that vitamin C was beneficial for males, but not for females. Our study
indicates that vitamin C does not affect the rate of respiratory infections in competitive swimmers. Nevertheless, we found
that vitamin C decreased the duration and severity of respiratory infections in male swimmers, but not in females. This finding
warrants further research.
Keywords Athletes – Sport – Common cold – Antioxidants – Randomized controlled trial – Ascorbic acid
Constantini and Dubnov-Raz contributed equally to this paper.