Zinc helpers stop cold viruses
Antiviral Activity of the Zinc Ionophores Pyrithione and Hinokitiol against Picornavirus Infections
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 53 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 53 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Virology
Year
2008
Authors
B. Krenn, E. Gaudernak, B. Holzer, Kjerstin Lanke, F. V. Kuppeveld, J. Seipelt
Related Content
Claims (7)
Zinc can stop cold viruses from copying themselves and spreading in lab tests.
Zinc can stop viruses from copying themselves and spreading in lab tests, even for cold viruses.
These two chemicals help zinc quickly get inside cells and go to specific spots like mitochondria. This temporary zinc boost is what makes them fight certain viruses.
Two chemicals, pyrithione and hinokitiol, can fight certain viruses by needing zinc helpers to work, and they do this by raising zinc levels inside cells—a new way to stop these viruses.
Scientists found that two chemicals, pyrithione and hinokitiol, don't stop viruses from getting into cells at the start of an infection, but they do work later on to slow down how the virus copies itself.