Zinc Lozenges Shorten Colds
Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No significant difference between zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges.
Previous hypotheses suggested zinc acetate might be superior due to weaker zinc binding, but this meta-analysis found only a 12% difference that wasn't statistically significant.
Practical Takeaways
Take zinc lozenges (80-100 mg/day) at the first sign of a cold for best results.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No significant difference between zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges.
Previous hypotheses suggested zinc acetate might be superior due to weaker zinc binding, but this meta-analysis found only a 12% difference that wasn't statistically significant.
Practical Takeaways
Take zinc lozenges (80-100 mg/day) at the first sign of a cold for best results.
Publication
Journal
JRSM Open
Year
2017
Authors
H. Hemilä
Related Content
Claims (7)
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 zinc lozenges around 80-90 mg per day can shorten how long you have a cold by about one-third, and taking even more doesn't help much more than that.
Taking zinc lozenges with a certain amount of zinc each day can help shorten how long a cold lasts in adults by about one-third, based on a big review of studies.
Certain zinc lozenges can help treat colds if they're made without ingredients like citric acid, but if those ingredients are added, the lozenges might not work because they don't release enough zinc.