Following the former mail:
In the Netherlands I don't know any sensible GP who prescribes
ascorbic acid in such huge quantities as 5 gr. It is very
'non-regular' medicine. Therfor, as far as I can remember, the result
of the systematic lit. review was a suprise: there could be some,
though minor, effect of ascorbic acid on the occurence or course of
common colds, with rather high dosages around 1 gr; but certainly not
as high as 5 gr.
Furthermore, to my opinion, the effect size (if any or if real) is
not clinically relevant. Why treat common colds? Common colds should
be handled by the practice nurse by phone. And if the remaining
small selection of these patients manage to reach me my task is to
diagnose 'common cold', shake hands and go on with the next patient.
No prescription, no advice, no suggestion of a professional sensible
task for me apart from excluding treatable respiratory health
problems.
Nico van Duijn
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|