Most zinc lozenges sold in the US probably won't help shorten or reduce cold symptoms because they don't have enough of the right kind of zinc that your body can use.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – A review and hypothesis

Narrative Review

2010 Mar

The study looked at zinc lozenges and found that only those with enough free zinc work for colds, and it says most brands don't have enough, which matches the claim.

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 lozenges as cure for the common cold – A review and hypothesis

Score: 1

DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.017

Similar Assertions

Taking small amounts of zinc lozenges doesn't really help shorten a cold, but taking larger amounts might actually make you feel better faster.

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Taking zinc lozenges with less than 75 mg per day doesn't seem to shorten how long a cold lasts, based on studies comparing them to fake pills. It might only work if you take enough.

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84%

Zinc lozenges might help with colds, but it depends on how much zinc you take and what type of zinc it is. Taking more than 75 mg a day works, while less doesn't, and acetate zinc works better than other kinds.

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Taking certain zinc lozenges (not the acetate kind) in high daily doses might shorten how long you have a cold by about one-fifth, but different brands or types seem to work differently based on studies.

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Taking zinc acetate lozenges for colds, at doses up to about 90 mg per day, didn't cause any major side effects in studies with nearly 200 people.

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