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the Pharmacist By Ron and Marla Chapleau |
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Q) Does zinc really work to cure the common cold? A) Since the first study published in 1984, examining the effects of taking zinc for the common cold, there have been 19 additional trials. Twelve have shown it to be useful while the other seven found zinc not to be of any benefit. Both the positive and negative trials have had their share of critics, casting further doubt as to what the answer to our question actually is. Recently, a series of researchers selected the 15 best studies based on their methodology and low risk of bias. These studies looked at a combined 1,360 patients. When the data was pooled, the review found that when taken within the first 24 hours of a runny nose or sore throat, zinc lozenges, tablets or syrup can cut the duration of a cold by an average of a day or more (one study found that zinc reduced the duration by an average of three days). As well, zinc sharply reduced the severity of the symptoms that patients suffered from while they still had their cold. Other consistent findings were that zinc users were far less likely to have a cold that lasted more than seven days and that regular zinc use seemed to work to prevent colds leading to fewer sick days and antibiotic use.
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The researchers declined to make recommendations about
what type of zinc to use or how much and how long to take it. In order
to try and give some guidance, several studies used zinc acetate
lozenges containing 13 milligrams of zinc taken every three to four
hours (while awake) for four days. Other studies used zinc gluconate lozenges as well. Researchers preferred the zinc lozenges not to have other ingredients included with it such as Vitamin C or Echinacea as there is some concern that these combo products may not release zinc properly. While zinc is regarded as generally safe when taken at these doses for a short period of time, it does have the potential to cause stomach upset, taste distortion, and diarrhea, and large doses for longer time-frames can produce a variety of issues. For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination
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