She said evidence suggests zinc can work as a lozenge tablet or syrup to reduce the severity of colds and their duration. Thats how it comes into physical contact with the rhinovirus.
Pdf Zinc Lozenges And The Common Cold A Meta Analysis Comparing Zinc Acetate And Zinc Gluconate And The Role Of Zinc Dosage
This independent group of health professionals analyzes the available data and attempts to.
Zinc pills vs lozenges. These affordable Life Extension Enhanced Zinc Lozenges are packed with 1875 milligrams of zinc acetate which releases as ionic zinc delivering positively charged zinc ions to your immune system via a naturally peppermint-flavored lozenge. Subsequent studies of zinc lozenges against the common cold have had mixed results. One review of seven studies showed that zinc lozenges containing 80-92 mg of zinc may reduce common cold duration by up to 33.
An important thing to note is that these arent meant as a daily supplement. As there are no studies in participants in whom common cold symptoms might be. They also found that taking zinc made colds a bit less severe.
The Cochrane Collaboration has reviewed most of the zinc studies to date JAMA April 9 2014. Zinc lozenges have indeed been shown in older studies to be helpful in the treatment of the common cold rhinovirus. Zinc supplements typically taken in pill form can reverse or prevent zinc deficiency which can otherwise impair the immune system cause diarrhea and hair loss reduce taste etc and help slow advanced macular degeneration of the retina.
This type of zinc supplement is made with citric acid. Zinc Absorption by Young Adults From Supplemental Zinc Citrate Is Comparable With That From Zinc Gluconate and Higher Than From Zinc Oxide. Zinc may be more effective when taken in lozenge or syrup form which allows the substance to stay in the throat and come in contact with the rhinovirus.
Zinc is also taken as a lozenge or other orally dissolving formulation to act locally on the throat to reduce the duration of a cold. There are natural dietary compounds that may play a similar function but even if viral replication were able to be slowed in your throat where the lozenge. Zinc acetate is often added to remedies for the common cold like nasal sprays and lozenges.
A meta-analysis found that zinc acetate lozenges may actually be more effective than zinc gluconate lozenges in reducing cold duration. Zinc has been proposed as an antiviral medication in the past according to MedicineNet medical author Melissa Conrad Stöppler MD. Journal of Nutrition.
Always look for the ingredients of a zinc supplement to verify the dose formulation and presence of inactive ingredients. Zinc possesses antiviral activity and will attack viruses that may cause the common cold. Zinc Acetate Lozenges May Improve the Recovery Rate of Common Cold Patients.
Sounds good so far. The American Journal reported that after one year of either zinc supplementation or no supplementation those taking zinc experienced far fewer colds than those who took a placebo. The science behind their use is strong but it also suggests that most of the dozens of zinc lozenges on the market are absolutely useless.
In this article we review quality studies released in the last few years on the effectiveness of zinc for cold recovery. Zinc also appears to slow rhinovirus replication at least in a petri dish. So far as we know there has been no good study comparing zinc pills to zinc lozenges.
But instead of saying Hey take zinc if you have a cold the researchers concluded like this. Zinc pills vs lozenges. Also the studies used different zinc dosages and preparations lozenges or syrup.
People taking zinc lozenges not syrup or tablet form are more likely to experience adverse events including bad taste and nausea. In fact one review found that consuming a dose of 8092 mg of zinc from zinc lozenges per day helped reduce the duration of the common cold by up to 33. However she offers several precautions as well.
None of the studies analyzed had enough participants to meet a high standard of proof. Zinc can cause side effects and the FDA warned against some zinc cold. An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.
As for that nasal spray it may make you lose your sense of smell potentially permanently which is reason alone not to use it. Which one is better. A review of 14 studies on zinc treatment for the common cold including lozenges tablets and syrups concluded that people who took these supplements for.
The pills make me feel weird and nauseous so I am chewing the lozenges for nowI recently learned they are supposed to dissolve in your mouth not be chewed Im taking them for hormone balance. Zinc inhibits the coronavirus that causes SARS by interfering with the viruss ability to replicate its genetic code but that was in conjunction with a chemical that ferried zinc inside the cells. Instead they should be utilized when you feel like you need an immunity boostlike.
Lozenges unlike capsules or tablets may release zinc directly in the mouth where it theoretically may be more helpful. Is there a difference in effectiveness. A study showed that zinc lozenges can decrease the duration of colds and flu by an impressive 50.
The coating that a zinc lozenge or syrup leaves on your tongue and throat may actually be part of what makes it effective. Zinc is most commonly found in lozenges or supplement pills from grocery and specialty stores. However the antiviral effects of zinc go beyond this with its internal immune system benefits as well as intracellular effects.
Some showed benefit while others did not. But the recent analysis stopped short of recommending zinc. Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
While nutritional zinc does support the immune system and your immunity may benefit from zinc supplements or zinc-rich foods this has nothing to do with the use of zinc lozenges to kill colds. Limit zinc lozenge use to less than 1 week because of the risk of excess zinc intake. If taste is an issue cant I just take a pill or use a nasal spray.
Zinc is an example of a cold remedy that some people regularly use but does not have conclusive research behind it.
