Zinc for colds?

Joe_Mahma · February 22, 2003, 2:02pm

Has anyone reading this had a cold get better by taking zinc? If so, how many mg. taken how often? Any side effects? Thanks.

Desmostylus · February 22, 2003, 2:20pm

Zinc and the common cold.

A study published last year has sharply boosted sales of zinc gluconate lozenges for treating colds. The study compared 50 patients whom used them with 50 who took a placebo. The zinc dosage was 13.3 mg every two hours with an average of six per day. Blinding was not perfect, however, because the zinc lozenges tasted more astringent than the placebos. The zinc-treated patients had fewer cold symptoms but had higher frequencies of bad taste, mouth irritation, and nausea. Complete symptom resolution (as reported by the patients) took 4.4 days for the zinc group and 7.6 for the control group. [Mossad SB et al. Archives of Internal Medicine 125:81, 1996.] The Medical Letter reviewed seven other studies and concluded that three had positive results and four found no benefit. It concluded: “Treatment with large doses of zinc might decrease the symptoms and shorted the duration of the common cold, but properly blinded confirmatory studies are needed. The long-term safety of taking zinc in doses higher than the Recommended Dietary Allowances has not been established.” [Medical Letter 39:9-10, 1997.] The adult RDAs are 15 mg for men and 12 mg for women.

Desmostylus · February 22, 2003, 2:23pm

And by the Master: Can zinc lozenges cure the common cold?

Desmostylus · February 22, 2003, 2:25pm

Arrgghh! And this: Is there an “anti-placebo” effect?

Joe_Mahma · February 22, 2003, 4:35pm

The above references deal only with zinc lozenges, which taste terrible. I am interested with people’s experience with zinc pills, which are swallowed and so don’t taste bad (and I should have said that up front. Sorry.).

Qadgop_the_Mercotan · February 22, 2003, 8:01pm

Either way, pills or lozenges, they deliver the same dose of zinc to the body. As The Medical Letter (a highly reputable source, btw) said, “Properly blinded confirmatory studies are needed”.

Personally I doubt zinc in either form makes a significant difference.

QtM, MD

Fuel · February 22, 2003, 11:12pm

If you are sick, you need a balanced diet. Yes, that includes Zinc, but why stop there? Plenty of food, especially fruit, rest and water is what you need when you get sick, not pills and lozenges.

JRDelirious · February 23, 2003, 3:32am

All I know is that even though intellectually I understand that there is no reason it should work, by gum those zinc lozenges DO help me get over colds better. Chalk it up to the PE.
(As long as it is an actual cold. Does jacksquat for a flu)