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Lee Swanson Research Update
Zinc Lozenges May Shorten Duration of Common Cold
August 2011
Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of common cold episodes by up to 40%, according to a new systematic review of the evidence.
The review, published in The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, reports strong evidence that zinc has a beneficial effect on common cold duration, depending on the total dosage of zinc.
"Controlled trials that have examined the effect of zinc lozenges on common cold symptoms have reported divergent results," said Dr. Harri Hemila of the University of Helsinki, Finland, who authored the review.
"This meta-analysis shows that a large part of the divergence can be explained by the variation in the total daily dose of zinc that the person obtained from the lozenges," she added.
Interest in the use of zinc for colds grew following the results of a 1984 trial conducted by Eby (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 25(1)).
Eby’s results suggested that if treatment—consisting of one 23 mg zinc lozenge dissolved in the mouth every second waking hour—commenced within three days of the development of symptoms of a cold, the average duration of symptoms was reduced by about seven days.
Hemila carried out a meta-analysis of all the placebo-controlled trials that have examined the effect of zinc lozenges on natural common cold infections.
Of the 13 trials identified, she noted that those using a total daily zinc dose of less than 75 mg found no effect of zinc on the common cold.
Hemila reported that trials using zinc in daily doses of over 75 mg showed benefit reducing cold duration by 42% on average.
Dr. Hemila concluded that "since a large proportion of trial participants have remained without adverse effects, zinc lozenges might be useful for them as a treatment option for the common cold."
The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 5:51-58, 2011
