Allergic rhinitis is a multifactorial disease induced by the interaction between genes and the environment. The onset of allergic rhinitis is often due to the patient's own allergic body, when the allergen enters the nasal cavity can not be discharged in a timely manner, triggered by allergic rhinitis, and at present, there is no method of complete eradication.

But it is rumored that vitamin C tablets can help reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis eat vitamin C tablets really useful? Liang Donghui, chief physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, answered these questions in a previous interview with Family Doctor Online.

What is the main use of vitamin C tablets?

Vitamin C tablets are commonly used medicines in daily life, many people know that it can be used to prevent scurvy, but also used in a variety of acute and chronic infectious diseases and purpura and other adjuvant treatment, but do not understand its pharmacological effects.

The main pharmacological role of vitamin C is to participate in the body antibody and collagen formation, tissue repair (including some redox), phenylalanine, tyrosine, folic acid metabolism, iron, carbohydrate utilization, fat, protein synthesis, as well as to maintain immune function, hydroxylation of 5-hydroxytryptophan, to maintain vascular integrity, and to promote the absorption of non-heme iron.

Is it useful to take vitamin C tablets for allergic rhinitis?

Leung Tung Fai, chief physician, also pointed out that the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis is due to the invasion of foreign substances (antigens) into the body, the body produces antibodies corresponding to the antigen, the combination of the two antigen-antibody reaction, resulting in the release of histamine and other reactive substances from the effector cells, which leads to allergic reactions. The released histamine can stimulate the parasympathetic nerves and make their function abnormally active, which leads to the symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as sneezing, running nose and itchy nose, etc. The release of histamine can stimulate the parasympathetic nerves and make their function abnormally active.

And vitamin C can inhibit the production of histamine in the body, and can improve the permeability of capillaries, reduce the exudation of tissue fluid, thus reducing the symptoms.

Therefore, vitamin C can indeed reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and be used as an adjunctive treatment for allergic diseases.

It is recommended that patients with allergic rhinitis consider increasing their intake of vitamin C-rich foods such as fresh dates, tomatoes, kiwis, etc. as appropriate or taking vitamin C supplements to reduce symptoms.