Airborne tablets do not prevent colds or reduce how long a cold lasts, according to the studies that have tested them

Airborne is a tablet you dissolve in water that contains vitamins, minerals, and herbs. The brand markets it as a way to support your immune system during cold season. In 2008, the company paid $23.3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission because the tablets did not work the way the ads claimed. The FTC found that Airborne had no solid evidence that the product stopped colds from developing or made them shorter.

The most rigorous test was a study published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2010. Researchers gave some people Airborne and others a placebo (a fake tablet that looked identical). Neither group got fewer colds or recovered faster. The people who took Airborne did not report feeling better than the placebo group. Since that study, no new research has shown the tablets prevent colds or speed recovery.

Airborne contains vitamin C, zinc, ginger, and echinacea. Vitamin C and zinc have been studied separately for cold prevention, and the results are mixed at best. Vitamin C does not prevent colds in most people. Zinc may shorten a cold by a day or two if you start taking it within 24 hours of symptoms, but Airborne's dose is lower than what those studies used. The other ingredients in Airborne have little to no research backing their use for colds.

Key Takeaways

  • Airborne tablets have no scientific evidence showing they prevent colds or reduce cold duration, according to FTC-mandated testing and peer-reviewed studies.
  • The company settled a $23.3 million lawsuit in 2008 for making unproven claims about how well the product works.
  • Individual ingredients like vitamin C and zinc have weak or mixed evidence for cold prevention, and Airborne's doses are often lower than what research studies used.
  • If you want to reduce your cold risk, washing your hands regularly and avoiding people who are sick are the only methods with strong evidence behind them.

What the FTC settlement revealed about Airborne's claims

Airborne's original marketing said the tablets could prevent colds if you took them before you got sick. The ads also claimed the tablets would make a cold go away faster if you took them after symptoms started. The company did not have research to back up either claim when it made those ads.

The FTC required Airborne to stop making those specific promises. The company also had to pay $23.3 million and put money into a fund to refund customers who had bought the product based on the false claims. Today, Airborne's packaging and ads use softer language like "supports your immune system" instead of "prevents colds," but the product itself has not changed.

How Airborne's ingredients compare to what research actually shows

Vitamin C: Airborne contains 1,000 mg of vitamin C per tablet. Studies show that taking vitamin C every day does not prevent colds in most people. If you take it after a cold starts, it does not make the cold shorter or less severe. The only exception is people who exercise hard in extreme cold — for them, daily vitamin C may cut cold risk slightly. A single dose of vitamin C after symptoms start does not help.

Zinc: Airborne contains 13.3 mg of zinc. Research shows that zinc lozenges or syrup may shorten a cold by 24 hours if you start within 24 hours of your first symptom. However, the studies that showed this benefit used much higher doses — 75 mg per day or more. Airborne's dose is too low to match what worked in those studies. Zinc also has side effects at high doses, including nausea and a metallic taste.

Echinacea and ginger: These herbs are popular cold remedies, but the research is weak. Some studies show echinacea might shorten a cold by a day, but other studies show no benefit. Ginger has almost no research for cold prevention or recovery. Neither ingredient has enough evidence to recommend it as a cold treatment.

What actually works to avoid catching a cold

The methods with the strongest evidence are straightforward and free. Washing your hands regularly with soap and water reduces your risk of catching a cold. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick also lowers your risk. If you are already sick, staying home keeps you from spreading the cold to others.

Getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying hydrated support your immune system in general, but they do not prevent colds once you have been exposed to the virus. If you do catch a cold, rest and fluids are the main treatments. Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease aches and fever, but they do not shorten the cold itself.

Why Airborne is still sold if it does not work

The FTC settlement did not pull Airborne off store shelves. The company straightforward had to change how it advertised the product and pay the fine. Airborne is still sold at drugstores, supermarkets, and online retailers because the company now makes claims that are harder to prove false — like "supports your immune system" instead of "prevents colds."

The word "supports" is vague enough that it does not make a specific promise the FTC can challenge. Many supplements use this same language. The fact that a product is still on the market does not mean it works; it means the company has learned to market it in a way that avoids legal trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Airborne work better if you take it before you get sick?

No. The 2010 study tested people who took Airborne before cold season and found no difference in how many colds they caught compared to people who took a placebo. Taking it after symptoms start also does not help, according to the same research.

Is Airborne safe to take?

Airborne is generally safe for most adults at the recommended dose. However, people taking blood thinners should check with their doctor before using it because some ingredients may interact with those medications. Pregnant or nursing women should also ask their doctor first.

What should I take instead if I feel a cold coming on?

If you think you are getting sick, rest and drink fluids. If you have a sore throat or body aches, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Zinc lozenges might shorten your cold by a day if you start them within 24 hours of your first symptom, though the evidence is modest and side effects are common.

Why do people think Airborne works if studies show it does not?

Most colds go away on their own in 7 to 10 days. If you take Airborne and your cold ends, it is straightforward to think the tablet helped — but the cold would have ended anyway. This is called the placebo effect. People also remember the times a remedy seemed to work and forget the times it did not.