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.

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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 the part called ionic zinc really helps shorten colds, just like the claim says, while the total zinc doesn't matter.

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 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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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.

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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.

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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 around 80-90 mg per day can shorten how long you have a cold by about one-third, and taking even more doesn't help much more than that.

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