The Study
Zinc Acetate Lozenges May Improve the Recovery Rate of Common Cold Patients: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis
This study combined results from three smaller experiments where people with colds got either zinc lozenges or fake pills. It shows that the zinc lozenges probably help people get better faster, but we can't say for sure if they work for everyone or all types of zinc products.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Taking zinc lozenges when you start feeling sick can make you get better much quicker.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 567 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This means you could recover days sooner from a cold by using zinc lozenges.
- 2People taking zinc got better 3 times faster; by day 5, 70% were better vs.
- 327% without zinc.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Year
2017
Authors
H. Hemilä, J. Fitzgerald, Edward J. Petrus, A. Prasad
Related Content
Claims (7)
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.
Taking zinc acetate lozenges soon after cold symptoms start can help otherwise healthy adults recover from a cold about three times faster than if they didn't take them.
Zinc acetate lozenges work just as well for treating colds in people of different ages, genders, races, allergies, smoking habits, or how bad their cold is when they start.
Taking zinc acetate lozenges when you have a cold can help you get better faster, cutting down how long you're sick by about 2 to 3 days.
Taking zinc lozenges helped more people get better from colds faster. For every 2 to 3 people who take them, one extra person recovers by day 5 compared to those not taking them.
Different zinc lozenges have different amounts of the active form of zinc, and only the active form fights viruses.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.