Taking zinc lozenges every few hours might help people get over a cold faster, with more people feeling better in a week compared to those who don't take them.

46

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

46

Community contributions welcome

46

Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

1984 Jan

The study tested exactly what the claim said—zinc lozenges taken every few hours—and found that more people got better faster with zinc than with a fake pill, just like the claim states.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

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

Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study

Score: 46

DOI: 10.1128/aac.25.1.20

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