The Study
Zinc acetate lozenges for the treatment of the common cold: a randomised controlled trial
This study is like a careful test where some people got real zinc lozenges and others got fake ones, and no one knew which they had. It shows that this particular type of zinc lozenge didn't help colds go away faster, but we can't say for sure if other zinc products might work.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested zinc lozenges to see if they help colds go away faster.
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 574 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Not helpful for colds and causes taste issues for many.
- 2Zinc did not help people recover faster.
- 352% of zinc users had bad taste side effects.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
BMJ Open
Year
2020
Authors
H. Hemilä, J. Haukka, Maria Alho, J. Vahtera, M. Kivimäki
Related Content
Claims (10)
Even if you take zinc lozenges very soon after cold symptoms start, if the lozenges aren't made well, they still might not help you feel better faster.
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 when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting down how long you're sick by about one-third.
Taking special high-strength zinc lozenges when you have a cold can help you get better about three days faster.
Taking zinc acetate lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting down how long you're sick by about 2 to 3 days.
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.