Zinc lozenges that dissolve properly in your mouth can help you get over a cold faster, cutting down how long you're sick by up to a week.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Zinc ion availability--the determinant of efficacy in zinc lozenge treatment of common colds.

Computational/Algorithm Study

1997 Oct

The study looked at zinc lozenges that release zinc ions and found that ones with a high ZIA score, like 100, really do shorten colds by about 7 days, just like the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Zinc ion availability--the determinant of efficacy in zinc lozenge treatment of common colds.

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DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jac.a020864

Similar Assertions

Zinc lozenges with a certain chemical property might make your cold last longer—specifically, about 4 extra days—instead of helping you get better faster.

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95%

This claim says that zinc lozenges might help shorten colds, and the more zinc your body can use from them, the faster your cold might go away.

0

84%

Taking zinc lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting down how long you're sick by about one-third.

47

74

81%

Taking zinc acetate lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting down how long you're sick by about 2 to 3 days.

39

74

81%

Zinc lozenges with more ionic zinc seem to help shorten colds faster, based on studies with lots of people, but the total amount of zinc doesn't matter as much.

1

0

81%