Zinc Lozenges Shorten Colds
Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta-analysis.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Zinc lozenges work equally well for people with allergies and non-allergies, contradicting prior research.
An earlier study suggested allergies enhanced the effect, but this meta-analysis with individual data shows no such modification.
Practical Takeaways
Use high-dose zinc acetate lozenges (>75 mg/day) at the first sign of a cold for up to 3 days faster recovery.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Zinc lozenges work equally well for people with allergies and non-allergies, contradicting prior research.
An earlier study suggested allergies enhanced the effect, but this meta-analysis with individual data shows no such modification.
Practical Takeaways
Use high-dose zinc acetate lozenges (>75 mg/day) at the first sign of a cold for up to 3 days faster recovery.
Publication
Journal
British journal of clinical pharmacology
Year
2016
Authors
H. Hemilä, Edward J. Petrus, J. Fitzgerald, A. Prasad
Related Content
Claims (9)
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 special high-strength zinc lozenges when you have a cold can help you get better about three days faster.
Taking high-dose zinc lozenges can shorten how long you have a cold by about 3 days, especially for adults between 20 and 50 years old.
Taking high-dose zinc lozenges every day might help adults get over colds faster—cutting how long you're sick by more than a third compared to not taking them.
Taking high-dose zinc lozenges helps adults with colds feel better, and it works the same way for everyone—no matter if they have allergies, smoke, how bad their cold is, their age, gender, or background.