So, I went to the drugstore to get some Airborne today (for those who aren't familiar with the name, it's basically an effervescing tablet that gives you 1,000mg of vitamin C, and thus, boosts your immune system, help you fight against/prevent you from getting a cold, flu, sinusitis, or some other airborne, but not too serious, ailments). In your opinion/experience/wild imagination, does it actually work, or is it a marketing ploy?
Ah Airborne. I remember my roommate/old friend used to always chug one down with water on a daily basis whenever the winter came. And towards the end of winter, he usually comes down with a cold at least once. So im not sure if its really that effective, but my friend's immune system isn't that great to begin with as he isn't the healthiest person. He would complain about the taste of it with water, but i thought it was fine. hope that helps ;x
The Wikipedia info., if accurate, doesn't surprise me. In the US, anyway, none of the dietary supplement has FDA backing, and probably none has undergone extensive research... so the "controversy" that Wikipedia attributed is not specific to Airborne. If anything, it's just epic PR fail. (I mean, how can you be as bad as to let it slip that your "research company" is actually two guys in a basement?) I find it funny that one of my housemates (from whom I contracted this nasty sinusitis, and on whom I shall unload my crankiness all weekend, lol), who works as a registered nurse, doesn't believe in taking medication, but swears by this stuff.
Taking vitamin C supplements is only useful if you're short on it. Like the link says, taking too much can be dangerous. Whether or not it actually works, people are buying it. Successful marketing ploy!