Zinc lozenges may shorten common cold duration

Hemilä, Harri

doi:10.1586/ers.12.30

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Eby [169] has previously discussed the effect of differing forms of zinc in treatment of the common cold, claiming that while ionic zinc is highly effective in shortening cold duration, many zinc products on the market provide inadequate levels of ionic zinc and are unlikely to be beneficial. Further, Hemilä [170] pointed out that while zinc tablets and syrups have systemic effects, zinc lozenges show local effects which may work to reduce symptoms in the mouth, throat and nose. Accordingly, the form and dose of zinc are critical.…”

Section: Individual Nutrients and Phytochemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19: Reducing the risk via diet and lifestyle

Campbell¹

2023

Journal of Integrative Medicine

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Section: Individual Nutrients and Phytochemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19: Reducing the risk via diet and lifestyle

Campbell¹

2023

Journal of Integrative Medicine

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“…Although dissolving lozenges in the oro‐pharyngeal region leads to the highest zinc levels in that anatomical region, a recent meta‐analysis found no evidence that zinc acetate lozenges have less effect on nasal symptoms compared with cold symptoms that originate in lower anatomical regions . Other systematic reviews on zinc and the common cold have been published , but some of them had methodological problems and a Cochrane review was recently withdrawn .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta‐analysis

Hemilä

Petrus²,

Fitzgerald

et al. 2016

Brit J Clinical Pharma

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AIMSThe aim of this study was to determine whether the allergy status and other characteristics of common cold patients modify the effects of zinc acetate lozenges. METHODSWe had available individual patient data for three randomized placebo-controlled trials in which zinc acetate lozenges were administered to common cold patients. We used both one stage and two stage meta-analysis to estimate the effects of zinc lozenges. RESULTSThe total number of common cold patients was 199, the majority being females. Eighty percent of them fell into the age range 20-50 years. One third of the patients had allergies. The one stage meta-analysis gave an overall estimate of 2.73 days (95% CI 1.8, 3.3 days) shorter colds by zinc acetate lozenge usage. The two stage meta-analysis gave an estimate of 2.94 days (95% CI 2.1, 3.8 days) reduction in common cold duration. These estimates are to be compared with the 7 day average duration of colds in the three trials. The effect of zinc lozenges was not modified by allergy status, smoking, baseline severity of the common cold, age, gender or ethnic group. CONCLUSIONSince the effects of zinc acetate lozenges were consistent between the compared subgroups, the overall estimates for effect seemed applicable over a wide range of common cold patients. While the optimal composition of zinc lozenges and the best frequency of their administration should be further investigated, given the current evidence of efficacy, common cold patients may be encouraged to try zinc lozenges for treating their colds. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Randomized trials have shown that zinc acetate lozenges shorten the duration of common cold episodes.• One study found that the effect of zinc acetate lozenges was greater for patients with allergies. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• The effect of zinc acetate lozenges is not modified by allergy, smoking, baseline common cold severity, age, gender or ethnic group.• The mean effect of 3 day reduction in common cold duration with zinc acetate lozenges is clinically relevant and appears widely applicable.

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Zinc lozenges may shorten common cold duration

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

COVID-19: Reducing the risk via diet and lifestyle

COVID-19: Reducing the risk via diet and lifestyle

Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta‐analysis

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