When zinc lozenges have extra flavor ingredients like citric acid or glycine, they don't work as well for shortening colds because these ingredients stick to the zinc. Lozenges with multiple flavor additives showed no reduction in cold length, while those with just one reduced colds by over 3 days.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Community contributions welcome

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

Narrative Review

2010 Mar

The study shows that when extra flavor-masking ingredients are added to zinc lozenges, they make the zinc less effective at fighting colds, 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 lozenges as cure for the common cold – A review and hypothesis

Score: 1

DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.017

Similar Assertions

Different ingredients in zinc lozenges can change how well they work, even if the amount of zinc is the same, because some ingredients stick to the zinc and make it harder for your body to use it.

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Certain zinc lozenges can help treat colds if they're made without ingredients like citric acid, but if those ingredients are added, the lozenges might not work because they don't release enough zinc.

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