Maybe vitamin C really does keep you healthy during cold and flu season. Research appearing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (April 5, 1975;112:823-826) randomly divided 622 subjects into two groups, giving one a placebo and the other 500 mg of vitamin C each week. Upon getting ill both groups were told to increase the dosage of their “pills”, with the vitamin group increasing the dosage to 1,500 mg on the first day and 1,000 mg for the next four days following the onset of symptoms. The subjects receiving vitamin C supplementation spent less time being ill than the placebo group, with 25% fewer days spent indoors as a result of sickness. This study was to test low-dose vitamin C supplementation. Earlier studies had shown higher doses to be even more effective.