What claims did Linus Pauling make about vitamin C and the common cold?

Linus Pauling, a distinguished American scientist, famously advocated for the use of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in high quantities, which he termed "megadoses." He claimed that consuming these large amounts would enable the body to effectively fight off the common cold and various other diseases.1

He detailed these views in his 1970 best-selling book, Vitamin C and the Common Cold. This interest eventually expanded into his broader advocacy for "orthomolecular medicine," which posits that health can be maintained or restored by manipulating substances naturally present in the body.12

It is important to note that while Pauling was a highly accomplished scientist, his claims regarding vitamin C were met with significant skepticism and were ultimately rejected by the medical establishment. Furthermore, subsequent clinical investigations, such as those conducted at the Mayo Clinic, failed to corroborate his findings regarding the efficacy of high-dose vitamin C in treating conditions like cancer.1