Some people get a bad taste from zinc lozenges when using them for a short time to treat colds, but there's no proof they cause any lasting harm.

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 Lozenges May Shorten the Duration of Colds: A Systematic Review

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

2011

This study looks at whether zinc lozenges help shorten colds, but it doesn't talk about side effects or long-term safety, so it doesn't support or contradict the claim about bad taste or harm.

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 May Shorten the Duration of Colds: A Systematic Review

Score: 39

DOI: 10.2174/1874306401105010051

Similar Assertions

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

0

83%

People who took zinc lozenges were much more likely to have a bad taste in their mouth than those who took fake ones, but over a third of zinc users didn't have any taste problems at all.

0

74

82%

In studies where people tried zinc gluconate lozenges, most just noticed a bad taste or some mouth irritation, but nothing serious happened.

46

0

81%

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

0

80%

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

39

78%