| | Airborne Orange Citrus, Effervescent Tablets | Emergen-C Super Orange, Powder |
| Calories | 15 | 35 |
| Total carbohydrates | 4 grams (g) | 8 g |
| Added sugars | 3 g (6% Daily Value, DV) | 6 g (12% DV) |
| Sodium | 45 mg (2% DV) | 65 mg (3% DV) |
| Magnesium | 40 mg (10% DV) | 60 mg (14% DV) |
| Manganese | 3 mg (150% DV) | 0.5 mg (22% DV) |
| Zinc | 8 mg (53% DV) | 2 mg (18% DV) |
| Vitamin C | 1,000 mg (1,667% DV) | 1,000 mg (1,111% DV) |
| Vitamin A (retinyl acetate) | 2,000 IU (40% DV) | None |
| Vitamin E | 30 IU (100% DV) | None |
| Selenium | 15 mcg (21% DV) | None |
| Calcium | None | 50 mg (4% DV) |
| Chromium | None | 10 mcg (29% DV) |
| Phosphorous | None | 38 mg (3% DV) |
| Potassium | None | 200 mg (4% DV) |
| Vitamin B6 | None | 10 mg (588% DV) |
| Vitamin B12 | None | 25 mcg (1,042% DV) |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) | None | 167 micrograms, mcg, 100 mcg folic acid (42% DV) |
| Vitamin B3 (niacin) | None | 4 mg (25% DV) |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamin) | None | 0.38 mg (32% DV) |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | None | 0.43 mg (33% DV) |
| Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) | None | 2.5 mg (50% DV) |
| Herbs | Ginger root, echinacea, Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), weeping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa), Japanese catnip (Schizonepeta tenuifolia), simpleleaf chastetree (Vitex trifolia), woad(Isatis tinctoria) | None |
| Other Ingredients | Maltodextrin, dextrose, natural and artificial flavor, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sucralose | Fructose, maltodextrin, citric acid, malic acid. Less than 2% of: acacia, beta-carotene, glycine, L-aspartic acid, natural flavors, orange juice concentrate, orange oil, silicon dioxide, tartaric acid, tocopherols |
Airborne and Emergen-C are both marketed to boost your immune system, but they have some key differences
Both supplements contain high-dose vitamin C, with 1,000 milligrams per serving. However, Emergen-C has almost twice as much added sugar as Airborne. However, Emergen-C has almost double the amount of added sugars compared to Airborne, an essential consideration for those monitoring their sugar intake, including people with diabetes. This can be important if you’re watching your sugar intake, such as if you have diabetes.
Airborne contains herbs, which Emergen-C does not include. When it comes to minerals, Airborne uses magnesium oxide and sulfate, whereas Emergen-C uses magnesium hydroxide and carbonate. Emergen-C offers B vitamins, while Airborne provides fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Conversely, Airborne includes fat-soluble vitamins A and E, absent in Emergen-C.
Additionally, Airborne has both natural and artificial flavors, whereas Emergen-C only contains natural flavors. Both products include silicon dioxide to prevent clumping.
You can find both products in chewable tablet and gummy forms. Airborne also comes in effervescent tablets that dissolve in water, and Emergen-C is available in powder packets and mouth-dissolving crystals.
It’s important to understand that neither product has been proven effective through clinical trials, highlighting the need for more research to measure their impacts.
All About Airborne: Key Facts and Uses
Airborne is a dietary supplement line that combines antioxidants, minerals, and herbs, potentially boosting your immune system.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Ingredients: Airborne Original includes vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. It contains vitamins A, C, and E; minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium, and manganese; and herbs such as ginger, echinacea, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese catnip (Schizonepeta tenuifolia), weeping forsythia, Vitex trifolia, and woad (Isatis tinctoria).
- Purpose: Airborne is marketed to support immune health.
- Formulations: Available forms include effervescent tablets, chewables, and gummies.
- Precautions: You should avoid using Airborne during pregnancy, while nursing, or when taking other medications unless advised by a healthcare provider.
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How Emergen-C Works for Your Health
Emergen-C, similar to Airborne, is a dietary supplement that may support your immune system.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Ingredients: Emergen-C’s original formula contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. It includes vitamin C, B vitamins (such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folate), as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, sodium, and potassium. Unlike Airborne, Emergen-C does not contain herbs.
- Purpose: It is marketed as a supplement to support the immune system and enhance energy.
- Formulations: It’s available in various forms, including powders, chewables, gummies, and crystals.
- Precautions: Emergen-C’s manufacturer suggests consulting your healthcare provider before using its product during pregnancy, nursing, or taking other medications.
How Effective Are the Ingredients?
Here’s what the research says about some of the active ingredients found in Airborne and/or Emergen-C:
- Vitamin C: Taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for three months in the winter can reduce the incidence of colds in men with low baseline vitamin C levels. It can also reduce the symptoms of an existing cold.
- Zinc: A large review of 34 studies showed that zinc has little, if any, effect on preventing colds, but it may shorten the duration by a few days. Of note, a dose of Airborne has 4 times the amount of zinc than Emergen-C (8 milligrams vs. 2 milligrams).
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is found in Airborne but not in Emergen-C. Studies of vitamin E’s use to prevent or treat respiratory infections have yielded mixed results. Some have even shown that vitamin E can worsen symptoms and cause longer colds.
- Echinacea: This herbal supplement is found in Airborne, but not in Emergen-C. Evidence shows that echinacea may slightly lower the risk of catching a cold but doesn’t shorten its duration.
- B vitamins: These are ingredients in Emergen-C, but not in Airborne. B vitamins, at recommended daily doses, are associated with a healthy immune system. However, some amounts of the B vitamins in Emergen-C, like vitamins B6 and B12, are much higher than recommended.
Risks to Consider for Airborne and Emergen-C
If you take either Airborne or Emergen-C, keep the following considerations in mind:
- Allergies: Do not take these products if you are allergic to any of their ingredients. Do note the herbs in Airborne to ensure you’re not allergic or hypersensitive to them.
- Side effects: High doses of vitamin C can cause headaches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Zinc may cause side effects like a metallic taste, loss of smell, and gastrointestinal problems.
- Precautions: Discuss taking Emergen-C with your healthcare provider before using if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking other medications. Airbone’s manufacturer suggests avoiding its product in these situations. Airborne contains maltodextrin, as does Emergen-C. The latter also contains fructose. Maltodextrin and fructose may be inappropriate for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or on a low-FODMAP diet. For those monitoring their sugar intake (ex., diabetes), Emergen-C contains almost double the added sugars as Airborne.
- Interactions: Because of the high vitamin C, Airborne and Emergen-C may interact with some cancer treatments, potentially making chemotherapy and radiation less effective. High-dose vitamin C may also increase your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (“good” cholesterol), enhancing the effects of some cholesterol medications. It also increases iron uptake. Zinc can counteract the effects of corticosteroids and organ transplant medications.
Special Considerations
Consider the following when using these supplements:
- Airborne: The herbal ingredients in Airborne may cause drug interactions. For example, echinacea can interact with medications such as cyclosporine, caffeine, and sedatives like midazolam. The fat-soluble vitamins A and E in Airborne are best absorbed with a small amount of fat.
- Emergen-C: Includes high doses of vitamin B6, which may cause skin lesions, sun sensitivity, and nausea. Long-term use at these doses may lead to toxicity, affecting movement coordination.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it does for prescription medications. This means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN or RD), or pharmacist.
What Else Can I Do to Boost My Immunity?
Consider these practical tips to keep yourself healthy during cold and flu season or after being exposed to someone who is sick:
- Practice good hygiene: Hand-washing is an easy and effective way to prevent catching and spreading diseases. Washing your hands more often can prevent up to 20% of colds.
- Get recommended immunizations: Vaccines prevent diseases by teaching your body how to fight specific infections. Consider flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, plus any others your healthcare provider recommends, to prevent illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers vaccination resources and immunization schedules to help you keep up-to-date.
- Get good sleep: Not sleeping enough can lower your immune system’s response to infections and make getting sick easier. Getting to the bottom of and addressing any sleep issues can boost your immune health.
- Eat a healthy diet: Consuming the recommended daily amounts of nutrients like vitamins, zinc, iron, and selenium is vital to a healthy immune system. You will likely not need to supplement unless you are deficient in these nutrients (have very low amounts). If you’re concerned, talk to your healthcare provider about having labs drawn so you can know for sure if you have enough of these nutrients.
- Exercise: Regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes at least three times a week, has proven benefits for the immune system.
- Manage stress: Not surprisingly, chronic stress negatively affects the immune system. Some ideas to counter stress include mindfulness exercises, yoga, physical activity, being outside, and art or music therapy.
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