Zinc reduces common cold symptoms

Zinc acetate lozenges taken within 24 hours of developing symptoms of the common cold reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. Previous studies of zinc treatment for common cold symptoms have yielded conflicting results. American researchers investigated the effects of zinc acetate lozenges in treating the common cold in 50 volunteers who had cold symptoms for 24 hours or less. The participants took one zinc acetate lozenge containing 13 milligrams of zinc or an inactive placebo every 2 to 3 hours while awake. The average duration of cold symptoms (including cough, runny nose, and muscle ache) was about 4 days in the zinc group compared with 7 in the placebo group. After 4 days, 56 percent of the zinc group had complete resolution of their colds, whereas none of the placebo group was free of cold symptoms. The results of a number of biochemical tests suggested that zinc was having a true effect on the colds. The researchers observed no zinc side effects. Zinc acetate preparation was significantly effective in decreasing the (average) duration of cold symptoms. The researchers proposed that the beneficial clinical effects seen in the zinc group were due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of zinc.