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v1
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Back to Study: Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold...
quantitative
Analysis v1
Strong Opposition

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

0
Pro
39
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

39

Community contributions welcome

39

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

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Human
2016 Nov

The study shows zinc lozenges help shorten colds, but it doesn't say if the dose was low or high, so we can't tell if it agrees with the claim about different doses working differently.

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 acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Score: 39
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13057

Similar Assertions

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.

39
0
95%

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.

39
0
93%

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.

39
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91%

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.

67
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91%

Taking zinc lozenges (like a special candy) right when you start feeling a cold can help you feel better. Using about 80-100 mg per day works best, and taking more than that doesn't give extra benefit.

33
0
91%