Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk

    Written by:
    Bill Willis
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) risk is an assessment of the risk for contracting a URTI, which are commonly caused by colds and influenza.

    58,999 participants in 89 trials

    Summary

    URTI is an umbrella term used to describe infections of the upper respiratory tract (which includes the nose, sinuses, and throat) that commonly involve symptoms like coughing, a sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.

    Examine Database: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Examine Database References

    1. Vitamin D - Ginde AA, Blatchford P, Breese K, Zarrabi L, Linnebur SA, Wallace JI, Schwartz RSHigh-Dose Monthly Vitamin D for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Long-Term Care Residents: A Randomized Clinical TrialJ Am Geriatr Soc.(2017 Mar)
    2. Vitamin C - Gormly PJMegadosage of ascorbic acid in an Antarctic expeditionBr J Nutr.(1977 Mar)
    3. Vitamin C - Coulehan JL, Eberhard S, Kapner L, Taylor F, Rogers K, Garry PVitamin C and acute illness in Navajo school childrenN Engl J Med.(1976 Oct 28)
    4. Vitamin D - Simpson S, Mei I, Stewart N, Blizzard L, Tettey P, Taylor BWeekly cholecalciferol supplementation results in significant reductions in infection risk among the vitamin D deficient: results from the CIPRIS pilot RCTBMC Nutr.()
    5. Vitamin D - Goodall EC, Granados AC, Luinstra K, Pullenayegum E, Coleman BL, Loeb M, Smieja MVitamin D3 and gargling for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trialBMC Infect Dis.(2014 May 19)
    6. Vitamin C - Anderson TW, Reid DB, Beaton GHVitamin C and the common cold: a double-blind trialCan Med Assoc J.(1972 Sep 23)
    7. Vitamin C - Dahlberg G, Engel A, Rydin HThe Value of Ascorbic Acid as a Prophylactic against Common ColdsActa Medica Scandinavica.()
    8. Echinacea - Sperber SJ, Shah LP, Gilbert RD, Ritchey TW, Monto ASEchinacea purpurea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus coldsClin Infect Dis.(2004 May 15)
    9. Echinacea - Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston SLEchinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysisClin Ther.(2006 Feb)
    10. Vitamin C - Elwood PC, Lee HP, St Leger AS, Baird M, Howard ANA randomized controlled trial of vitamin C in the prevention and amelioration of the common coldBr J Prev Soc Med.(1976 Sep)
    11. Vitamin D - Dubnov-Raz G, Rinat B, Hemilä H, Choleva L, Cohen AH, Constantini NWVitamin D supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in adolescent swimmers: a randomized controlled trialPediatr Exerc Sci.(2015 Feb)
    12. Vitamin C - Sabiston BH, Radomski MWHealth problems and vitamin C in Canadian northern military operations.()
    13. Vitamin D - Camargo CA Jr, Ganmaa D, Frazier AL, Kirchberg FF, Stuart JJ, Kleinman K, Sumberzul N, Rich-Edwards JWRandomized trial of vitamin D supplementation and risk of acute respiratory infection in MongoliaPediatrics.(2012 Sep)
    14. Zinc - Farr BM, Conner EM, Betts RF, Oleske J, Minnefor A, Gwaltney JM JrTwo randomized controlled trials of zinc gluconate lozenge therapy of experimentally induced rhinovirus coldsAntimicrob Agents Chemother.(1987 Aug)
    15. Vitamin D - Aloia J, Islam S, Mikhail MVitamin D and Acute Respiratory Infections—The PODA TrialOpen Forum Infect. Dis..()
    16. Echinacea - Tiralongo E, Lea RA, Wee SS, Hanna MM, Griffiths LRRandomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of echinacea supplementation in air travellersEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
    17. Zinc - Al-Nakib W, Higgins PG, Barrow I, Batstone G, Tyrrell DAProphylaxis and treatment of rhinovirus colds with zinc gluconate lozengesJ Antimicrob Chemother.(1987 Dec)
    18. Echinacea - Hall H, Fahlman MM, Engels HJEchinacea purpurea and mucosal immunityInt J Sports Med.(2007 Sep)
    19. Vitamin C - Coulehan JL, Reisinger KS, Rogers KD, Bradley DWVitamin C prophylaxis in a boarding schoolN Engl J Med.(1974 Jan 3)
    20. Lactobacillus Casei - Tiollier E, Chennaoui M, Gomez-Merino D, Drogou C, Filaire E, Guezennec CYEffect of a probiotics supplementation on respiratory infections and immune and hormonal parameters during intense military trainingMil Med.(2007 Sep)
    21. Vitamin C - Kim TK, Lim HR, Byun JSVitamin C supplementation reduces the odds of developing a common cold in Republic of Korea Army recruits: randomised controlled trialBMJ Mil Health.(2020 Mar 5)
    22. King of Bitters - Saxena RC, Singh R, Kumar P, Yadav SC, Negi MP, Saxena VS, Joshua AJ, Vijayabalaji V, Goudar KS, Venkateshwarlu K, Amit AA randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical evaluation of extract of Andrographis paniculata (KalmCold) in patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infectionPhytomedicine.(2010 Mar)
    23. Vitamin C - FRANZ WL, HEYL HL, SANDS GWBlood ascorbic acid level in bioflavonoid and ascorbic acid therapy of common coldJ Am Med Assoc.(1956 Nov 24)
    24. Vitamin D - Aglipay M, Birken CS, Parkin PC, Loeb MB, Thorpe K, Chen Y, Laupacis A, Mamdani M, Macarthur C, Hoch JS, Mazzulli T, Maguire JL, TARGet Kids! CollaborationEffect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Wintertime Vitamin D Supplementation on Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Young Healthy ChildrenJAMA.(2017 Jul 18)
    25. Vitamin D - Hauger H, Ritz C, Mortensen C, Mølgaard C, Metzdorff SB, Frøkiær H, Damsgaard CTWinter cholecalciferol supplementation at 55°N has little effect on markers of innate immune defense in healthy children aged 4-8 years: a secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trialEur J Nutr.(2019 Jun)
    26. Lactobacillus Reuteri - Di Nardo G, Oliva S, Menichella A, Pistelli R, De Biase RV, Patriarchi F, Cucchiara S, Stronati LLactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730 in cystic fibrosisJ Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.(2014 Jan)
    27. Vitamin C - Cowdan D, Diehl H, Baker ABVitamins For The Prevention Of ColdsJAMA.()
    28. Vitamin C - Karlowski TR, Chalmers TC, Frenkel LD, Kapikian AZ, Lewis TL, Lynch JMAscorbic acid for the common cold. A prophylactic and therapeutic trialJAMA.(1975 Mar 10)
    29. Vitamin C - Carr AB, Einstein R, Lai LY, Martin NG, Starmer GAVitamin C and the common cold: a second MZ Cotwin control studyActa Genet Med Gemellol (Roma).(1981)
    30. Vitamin C - Clegg KM, Macdonald JML-Ascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid in a common cold surveyAm J Clin Nutr.(1975 Sep)
    31. Echinacea - Jawad M, Schoop R, Suter A, Klein P, Eccles RSafety and Efficacy Profile of Echinacea purpurea to Prevent Common Cold Episodes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
    32. Vitamin D - Laaksi I, Ruohola JP, Mattila V, Auvinen A, Ylikomi T, Pihlajamäki HVitamin D supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection: a randomized, double-blinded trial among young Finnish menJ Infect Dis.(2010 Sep 1)
    33. Vitamin C - Carrillo AE, Murphy RJ, Cheung SSVitamin C supplementation and salivary immune function following exercise-heat stressInt J Sports Physiol Perform.(2008 Dec)
    34. Vitamin C - Anderson TW, Beaton GH, Corey P, Spero LWinter illness and vitamin C: the effect of relatively low dosesCan Med Assoc J.(1975 Apr 5)
    35. Vitamin C - Himmelstein S, Robergs R, Koehler K, Lewis S, Qualls CVitamin C supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in marathon runnersJ Exerc Physiol Online.()
    36. Colostrum - Crooks CV, Wall CR, Cross ML, Rutherfurd-Markwick KJThe effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on salivary IgA in distance runnersInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2006 Feb)
    37. Garlic - Josling PPreventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled surveyAdv Ther.(2001 Jul-Aug)
    38. Vitamin C - Walker GH, Bynoe ML, Tyrrell DATrial of ascorbic acid in prevention of coldsBr Med J.(1967 Mar 11)
    39. Vitamin C - Baird IM, Hughes RE, Wilson HK, Davies JE, Howard ANThe effects of ascorbic acid and flavonoids on the occurrence of symptoms normally associated with the common coldAm J Clin Nutr.(1979 Aug)
    40. Vitamin D - Grant CC, Kaur S, Waymouth E, Mitchell EA, Scragg R, Ekeroma A, Stewart A, Crane J, Trenholme A, Camargo CA JrReduced primary care respiratory infection visits following pregnancy and infancy vitamin D supplementation: a randomised controlled trialActa Paediatr.(2015 Apr)
    41. Colostrum - Brinkworth GD, Buckley JDConcentrated bovine colostrum protein supplementation reduces the incidence of self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in adult malesEur J Nutr.(2003 Aug)
    42. Vitamin C - Pitt HA, Costrini AMVitamin C prophylaxis in marine recruitsJAMA.(1979 Mar 2)
    43. Vitamin C - Carson M, Cox H, Corbett M, Pollitt NVitamin C and the common coldJ Soc Occup Med.(1975 Jul)
    44. Vitamin C - Peters EM, Goetzsche JM, Grobbelaar B, Noakes TDVitamin C supplementation reduces the incidence of postrace symptoms of upper-respiratory-tract infection in ultramarathon runnersAm J Clin Nutr.(1993 Feb)
    45. Phlebodium aureum - Marí Solivellas B, Cabanes Martín TPolypodium leucotomos Extract use to prevent and reduce the risk of infectious diseases in high performance athletesInfection and Drug Resistance.()
    46. Zinc - Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, Fitzgerald JT, Snell DC, Steinberg JD, Cardozo LJZinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stressAm J Clin Nutr.(2007 Mar)
    47. Vitamin D - Avenell A, Cook JA, Maclennan GS, Macpherson GCVitamin D supplementation to prevent infections: a sub-study of a randomised placebo-controlled trial in older people (RECORD trial, ISRCTN 51647438)Age Ageing.(2007 Sep)
    48. Vitamin D - Shimizu Y, Ito Y, Yui K, Egawa K, Orimo HIntake of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Reduces Duration and Severity of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Comparison StudyJ Nutr Health Aging.(2018)
    49. Vitamin D - Rees JR, Hendricks K, Barry EL, Peacock JL, Mott LA, Sandler RS, Bresalier RS, Goodman M, Bostick RM, Baron JAVitamin D3 supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in a randomized, controlled trialClin Infect Dis.(2013 Nov)
    50. Vitamin D - Manaseki-Holland S, Qader G, Isaq Masher M, Bruce J, Zulf Mughal M, Chandramohan D, Walraven GEffects of vitamin D supplementation to children diagnosed with pneumonia in Kabul: a randomised controlled trialTrop Med Int Health.(2010 Oct)
    51. Echinacea - Melchart D, Walther E, Linde K, Brandmaier R, Lersch CEchinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trialArch Fam Med.(1998 Nov-Dec)
    52. Garlic - Andrianova IV, Sobenin IA, Sereda EV, Borodina LI, Studenikin MIEffect of long-acting garlic tablets "allicor" on the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in childrenTer Arkh.(2003)
    53. Vitamin D - Jung HC, Seo MW, Lee S, Kim SW, Song JKVitamin D₃ Supplementation Reduces the Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection during Winter Training in Vitamin D-Insufficient Taekwondo Athletes: A Randomized Controlled TrialInt J Environ Res Public Health.(2018 Sep 14)
    54. Vitamin C - Lewis TL, Karlowski TR, Kapikian AZ, Lynch JM, Shaffer GW, George DAA controlled clinical trial of ascorbic acid for the common coldAnn N Y Acad Sci.(1975 Sep 30)
    55. Vitamin C - Schwartz AR, Togo Y, Hornick RB, Tominaga S, Gleckman RAEvaluation of the efficacy of ascorbic acid in prophylaxis of induced rhinovirus 44 infection in manJ Infect Dis.(1973 Oct)
    56. Vitamin C - Van Straten M, Josling PPreventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled surveyAdv Ther.(2002 May-Jun)
    57. Echinacea - Turner RB, Bauer R, Woelkart K, Hulsey TC, Gangemi JDAn evaluation of Echinacea angustifolia in experimental rhinovirus infectionsN Engl J Med.(2005 Jul 28)
    58. Vitamin D - Martineau AR, MacLaughlin BD, Hooper RL, Barnes NC, Jolliffe DA, Greiller CL, Kilpin K, McLaughlin D, Fletcher G, Mein CA, Hoti M, Walton R, Grigg J, Timms PM, Rajakulasingam RK, Bhowmik A, Rowe M, Venton TR, Choudhury AB, Simcock DE, Sadique Z, Monteiro WR, Corrigan CJ, Hawrylowicz CM, Griffiths CJDouble-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of bolus-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in adults with asthma (ViDiAs)Thorax.(2015 May)
    59. Echinacea - Taylor JA, Weber W, Standish L, Quinn H, Goesling J, McGann M, Calabrese CEfficacy and safety of echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized controlled trialJAMA.(2003 Dec 3)
    60. Vitamin C - Charleston SS, Clegg KMAscorbic acid and the common coldLancet.(1972 Jun 24)
    61. Echinacea - O'Neil J, Hughes S, Lourie A, Zweifler JEffects of echinacea on the frequency of upper respiratory tract symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialAnn Allergy Asthma Immunol.(2008 Apr)
    62. Lactobacillus Casei - Gleeson M, Bishop NC, Oliveira M, Tauler PDaily probiotic's (Lactobacillus casei Shirota) reduction of infection incidence in athletesInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Feb)
    63. Vitamin D - Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Greenberg L, Aloia JF, Bergman P, Dubnov-Raz G, Esposito S, Ganmaa D, Ginde AA, Goodall EC, Grant CC, Janssens W, Jensen ME, Kerley CP, Laaksi I, Manaseki-Holland S, Mauger D, Murdoch DR, Neale R, Rees JR, Simpson S, Stelmach I, Trilok Kumar G, Urashima M, Camargo CA, Griffiths CJ, Hooper RLVitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: individual participant data meta-analysisHealth Technol Assess.(2019 Jan)
    64. Vitamin C - Ludvigsson J, Hansson LO, Tibbling GVitamin C as a preventive medicine against common colds in childrenScand J Infect Dis.(1977)
    65. Vitamin C - Tyrrell DA, Craig JW, Meada TW, White TA trial of ascorbic acid in the treatment of the common coldBr J Prev Soc Med.(1977 Sep)
    66. Echinacea - Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, Coleman CIEvaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysisLancet Infect Dis.(2007 Jul 25)
    67. Vitamin C - Hunt C, Chakravorty NK, Annan GThe clinical and biochemical effects of vitamin C supplementation in short-stay hospitalized geriatric patientsInt J Vitam Nutr Res.(1984)
    68. Vitamin D - David D Chandy, Jahnavi Kare, Shakal N Singh, Anjoo Agarwal, Vinita Das, Urmila Singh, V Ramesh, Vijayalakshmi BhatiaEffect of vitamin D supplementation, directly or via breast milk for term infants, on serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and related biochemistry, and propensity to infection: a randomised placebo-controlled trialBr J Nutr.(2016 Jul)
    69. Echinacea - Turner RB, Riker DK, Gangemi JDIneffectiveness of echinacea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus coldsAntimicrob Agents Chemother.(2000 Jun)
    70. Vitamin D - Camargo CA, Sluyter J, Stewart AW, Khaw KT, Lawes CMM, Toop L, Waayer D, Scragg REffect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on acute respiratory infections in older adults: A randomized controlled trialClin Infect Dis.(2019 Aug 17)
    71. Colostrum - Crooks C, Cross ML, Wall C, Ali AEffect of bovine colostrum supplementation on respiratory tract mucosal defenses in swimmersInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2010 Jun)
    72. Vitamin D - Bergman P, Norlin AC, Hansen S, Rekha RS, Agerberth B, Björkhem-Bergman L, Ekström L, Lindh JD, Andersson JVitamin D3 supplementation in patients with frequent respiratory tract infections: a randomised and double-blind intervention studyBMJ Open.(2012 Dec 13)
    73. Vitamin D - Martineau AR, Hanifa Y, Witt KD, Barnes NC, Hooper RL, Patel M, Stevens N, Enayat Z, Balayah Z, Syed A, Knight A, Jolliffe DA, Greiller CL, McLaughlin D, Venton TR, Rowe M, Timms PM, Clark D, Sadique Z, Eldridge SM, Griffiths CJDouble-blind randomised controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory infection in older adults and their carers (ViDiFlu)Thorax.(2015 Oct)
    74. Vitamin D - Murdoch DR, Slow S, Chambers ST, Jennings LC, Stewart AW, Priest PC, Florkowski CM, Livesey JH, Camargo CA, Scragg REffect of vitamin D3 supplementation on upper respiratory tract infections in healthy adults: the VIDARIS randomized controlled trialJAMA.(2012 Oct 3)
    75. Vitamin C - Miller JZ, Nance WE, Norton JA, Wolen RL, Griffith RS, Rose RJTherapeutic effect of vitamin C. A co-twin control studyJAMA.(1977 Jan 17)
    76. Echinacea - David S, Cunningham REchinacea for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysisComplement Ther Med.(2019 Jun)
    77. Garlic - Nantz MP, Rowe CA, Muller CE, Creasy RA, Stanilka JM, Percival SSSupplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition interventionClin Nutr.(2012 Jun)
    78. Vitamin D - Denlinger LC, King TS, Cardet JC, Craig T, Holguin F, Jackson DJ, Kraft M, Peters SP, Ross K, Sumino K, Boushey HA, Jarjour NN, Wechsler ME, Wenzel SE, Castro M, Avila PC, NHLBI AsthmaNet InvestigatorsVitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Colds in Patients with AsthmaAm J Respir Crit Care Med.(2016 Mar 15)
    79. Vitamin D - Li-Ng M, Aloia JF, Pollack S, Cunha BA, Mikhail M, Yeh J, Berbari NA randomized controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation for the prevention of symptomatic upper respiratory tract infectionsEpidemiol Infect.(2009 Oct)
    80. Echinacea - Linde K, Barrett B, Wölkart K, Bauer R, Melchart DEchinacea for preventing and treating the common coldCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2006 Jan 25)
    81. Vitamin C - Constantini NW, Dubnov-Raz G, Eyal BB, Berry EM, Cohen AH, Hemilä HThe effect of vitamin C on upper respiratory infections in adolescent swimmers: a randomized trialEur J Pediatr.(2011 Jan)
    82. Echinacea - Grimm W, Müller HHA randomized controlled trial of the effect of fluid extract of Echinacea purpurea on the incidence and severity of colds and respiratory infectionsAm J Med.(1999 Feb)
    83. Vitamin D - Loeb M, Dang AD, Thiem VD, Thanabalan V, Wang B, Nguyen NB, Tran HTM, Luong TM, Singh P, Smieja M, Maguire J, Pullenayegum EEffect of Vitamin D supplementation to reduce respiratory infections in children and adolescents in Vietnam: A randomized controlled trialInfluenza Other Respir Viruses.(2019 Mar)
    84. Vitamin E - Meydani SN, Leka LS, Fine BC, Dallal GE, Keusch GT, Singh MF, Hamer DHVitamin E and respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents: a randomized controlled trialJAMA.(2004 Aug 18)
    85. Elderberry - Crawford C, Brown LL, Costello RB, Deuster PASelect Dietary Supplement Ingredients for Preserving and Protecting the Immune System in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review.Nutrients.(2022 Nov 1)
    86. Beta-glucans - Zhong K, Liu Z, Lu Y, Xu XEffects of yeast β-glucans for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Nutr.(2021 Dec)
    87. Resveratrol - Indolfi C, Mignini C, Valitutti F, Bizzarri I, Dinardo G, Klain A, Miraglia Del Giudice M, Di Cara GEffects of Nasal Solution Incorporating Resveratrol and Carboxymethyl-Β-Glucan in Preschool Non-Atopic Children with Wheezing.Nutrients.(2024 Jul 10)
    88. Vitamin D - Bournot AR, Darling AL, Givens ID, Lovegrove JA, Lanham-New SA, Hart KHEffect of vitamin D status and vitamin D supplementation on immune function and prevention of acute respiratory tract infections in dark-skinned individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Public Health Nutr.(2024 Oct 28)
    89. Elderberry - Tiralongo E, Wee SS, Lea RAElderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialNutrients.(2016 Mar 24)