By

Michelle Castillo /

CBS News/ January 23, 2013, 4:44 PM

Vitamin C

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Curing kids' colds: 14 secrets parents must know

Vitamin C, found in various non-prescription cold remedies, does little to reduce either the length or severity of colds among the general population and has not been proven to treat the common cold, Dr. Jennifer Collins, an assistant professor of Allergy and Immunology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, said.

However, Graham said one study showed that it may lower the risk of catching a cold among people whose bodies are under high physical stress. They were 50 percent less likely to catch a cold if they took a daily dose of vitamin C.