No, neither Emergen-C nor Airborne has been shown to prevent colds, and neither label claims to. Both are mostly a large dose of vitamin C, which does not prevent colds for most people and only slightly shortens them. In 2008 Airborne's makers agreed to pay up to $30 million after the FTC said there was no good evidence for their cold claims. One product taken as the label directs stays within the vitamin C and zinc limits below, but stacking them can push you past.
What is actually in Emergen-C and Airborne?
Both are dietary supplements, not cold medicines. Each label carries the standard line that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Here is what recent labels list per serving, from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Formulas change, so check the box you own.
- Airborne effervescent tablet (Zesty Orange): 1,000 mg vitamin C, 8 mg zinc, plus vitamins A and E, riboflavin, magnesium, selenium, manganese and a small proprietary herbal blend that includes echinacea and ginger. The label limit is 2 tablets a day.
- Airborne chewables (Citrus): 4 tablets together give 1,000 mg vitamin C and 8 mg zinc, with the same herbal blend. The label says 4 tablets daily.
- Emergen-C 1,000 mg packet (Acai Berry): 1,000 mg vitamin C, 2 mg zinc, 7 B vitamins and electrolytes. One packet daily, ages 14 and up.
- Emergen-C Immune+ packet (Raspberry): 1,000 mg vitamin C, 10 mg zinc, 25 mcg vitamin D3 and 200 mg of a beta glucan called BetaVia. One packet daily, and the label says it is not formulated for children.
Does the vitamin C in them prevent or shorten a cold?
For most people, no on prevention and only a little on length. NCCIH, the NIH center for complementary health, says vitamin C does not prevent colds in the general population and shortens them only slightly. NCCIH and MedlinePlus both say that starting vitamin C after a cold has already begun does not appear to help. That last point matters, because grabbing a packet at the first sniffle is how most people use these products.
One exception: NCCIH says vitamin C does seem to reduce colds in people under short bursts of extreme physical stress, such as marathon runners and skiers. For everyone else, the 1,000 mg in one serving is more than 10 times what adults need in a day (MedlinePlus lists 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men), and MedlinePlus says the leftover amount leaves your body in urine.
What about the zinc and the herbs?
NCCIH says oral zinc can reduce the length of colds in adults. But no source we read tested Airborne or Emergen-C themselves, or said whether the 2 to 10 mg of zinc per serving in these products matches the zinc used in studies. Do not assume these products work the same as the zinc products that were studied.
The herbal blend in Airborne includes echinacea and ginger plus several other plant extracts, such as Lonicera japonica, Forsythia suspensa and Isatis tinctoria. NCCIH says echinacea has not been convincingly shown to help, though some products may have a weak effect, and some people are allergic to it. For Chinese herbal medicines in general, NCCIH says there is not enough evidence to show whether they prevent or relieve colds.
Why did Airborne settle with the FTC?
In August 2008 the Federal Trade Commission charged Airborne's makers with deceptive advertising. The FTC said the company claimed the tablets could prevent or reduce the risk of colds, fight germs, protect you in crowded places and reduce how bad or how long a cold lasts. The FTC said there was no competent and reliable scientific evidence for those claims.
The settlement, together with a private class action, brought the total to up to $30 million for consumer refunds and attorneys' fees. The order bars the company from making false or unsupported cold-prevention and germ-fighting claims. Settling did not mean the company admitted breaking the law. The refund deadline was September 15, 2008. Airborne is still sold, and its recent label calls it an immune support supplement.
How much is too much?
Taking one product as the label directs keeps you at or under the vitamin C and zinc limits below. The risk comes from stacking products or taking extra tablets when you feel sick.
- Vitamin C: MedlinePlus says more than 2,000 mg a day is not recommended and can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and, rarely, kidney stones. NCCIH notes too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. 2 Airborne tablets already reach 2,000 mg. Add 1 Emergen-C packet and you are at 3,000 mg, before food.
- Zinc: The NHS advises no more than 25 mg a day from supplements unless a doctor tells you otherwise, because high doses reduce copper absorption, which can lead to anemia and weaker bones. 2 Airborne tablets (16 mg) plus 1 Emergen-C Immune+ (10 mg) is 26 mg. A daily multivitamin or zinc lozenges add more.
- Hemochromatosis: NCCIH says people with this iron storage disease should avoid high doses of vitamin C.
- Pregnancy: MedlinePlus says large doses of vitamin C are not recommended in pregnancy. Both brands' labels say to check with a doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take medication.
- Kids: The Airborne effervescent tablets are labeled for ages 14 and up, with no more than 1 tablet a day at ages 12 to 13. The Airborne chewables are labeled for ages 12 and up. The Emergen-C packets listed above are for ages 14 and up.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911See a doctor soon if you have a high temperature for more than 3 days, your cold symptoms get worse, they don't get better after 10 days, you have a cough for more than 3 weeks, or you have cold symptoms and a long-term condition such as diabetes or a heart, lung or kidney condition, or a weakened immune system.
Get medical care right away if a fever or cough gets better and then comes back or gets worse, or a long-term condition gets worse.
Call 911 or get emergency care for trouble breathing or shortness of breath, ongoing chest pain or pressure, confusion or you can't be woken, a seizure, or bluish lips or face.
In children, get emergency care for fast or troubled breathing, ribs pulling in with each breath, no urine for 8 hours, not being alert when awake, or a seizure. Any fever in a baby under 12 weeks needs medical care right away.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›So should I keep buying them?
If you like the taste and stay within the label limit, you stay within the vitamin C and zinc limits on this page. Just don't expect them to stop a cold, and don't double up when you get sick. If you want something with a better track record for shortening a cold, NCCIH says oral zinc can shorten colds in adults, but check the total zinc across everything you take. Don't use zinc nasal gels or swabs: NCCIH warns they can cause loss of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent.
If you take prescription medicine or have a long-term condition, ask a pharmacist before adding any of these. You can also text our AI doctor with your list of supplements and medicines to check your daily totals.
Common questions
Do Emergen-C and Airborne actually work for colds?
Neither has been shown to prevent colds, and neither label claims to. Their main ingredient, vitamin C, does not prevent colds for most people and only slightly shortens them. The FTC said in 2008 that there was no good evidence for Airborne's cold claims.
Can I take Emergen-C and Airborne on the same day?
It's easy to go over the limits if you do. 2 Airborne tablets plus 1 Emergen-C packet is about 3,000 mg of vitamin C, above the 2,000 mg MedlinePlus says is not recommended. Zinc can also add up past the NHS limit of 25 mg a day from supplements.
Is it bad to take Emergen-C every day?
One packet gives 1,000 mg of vitamin C, half the 2,000 mg a day MedlinePlus says not to exceed, and far more than you need, so the extra leaves your body in urine. If you also take a multivitamin or zinc, add up the totals, and check with a doctor if you are pregnant or have hemochromatosis.
Does taking Emergen-C at the first sign of a cold help?
Probably not. NCCIH and MedlinePlus say starting vitamin C after a cold begins does not appear to help. NCCIH says oral zinc can shorten colds in adults, but no source we found tested Emergen-C or Airborne themselves.
Why does Emergen-C give me diarrhea?
1,000 mg of vitamin C is a big dose, and NCCIH says too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. MedlinePlus says more than 2,000 mg a day can upset your stomach. If it happens, try cutting back or stopping.
Did Airborne get sued?
Yes. In 2008 Airborne's makers settled FTC charges of deceptive advertising and a private class action, for up to $30 million in total. They did not admit wrongdoing, and the order bars unsupported cold-prevention claims.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.