According to a review published in 'The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal', there may not be a cure for the common cold, and by taking zinc lozenges you could be able to shorten its' length by up to 42%.
Some people are sure these lozenges help keep their colds from going on, but sceptics argue that evidence for their use is lacking.
Scientists at the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland, took an in depth look at all the studies on zinc, to see whether there was in fact, any evidence to support the view they helped a cold clear up more quickly.
They looked at 13 trials
Five trials used zinc lozenges providing less than 75 mg of elemental zinc per day, and
Eight trials used a more powerful lozenge, which gave more than 75mg of zinc each day. Out of these eight, three of them used zinc acetate, while the other used it in different forms.
Interestingly, there was no effect seen on the duration of a cold, from all the studies that used less than 75mg of per day. However, in contrast, seven of the eight trials that used more than 75mg per day showed significant reductions in the duration.
When considering what effect the different forms of zinc had, it was found that acetate had the greatest effect, reducing the duration of a common cold by 42%, other forms of reduced it by 20%.
The taste of these lozenges is not to everyone's liking and some may develop nausea from them, but there have not been reports of long-term side effects. Zinc is found naturally in super foods such as bee pollen and wheatgrass, and while it may not be as much as 75mg, it will certainly help with your daily requirement.
The next time a cold comes your way, here are some tips you can try:
The inside of your body likes moisture, while the cold viruses love dry places. Avoid becoming too dry, for example spending too long in a room full of dry air. It can make your throat sore, and nasal congestion worse. Consider using a vaporizer or humidifier to put some moisture back in the air. Also make sure you're drinking enough liquids which will help you breathe easier and prevent dehydration.
Some people are sure these lozenges help keep their colds from going on, but sceptics argue that evidence for their use is lacking.
Scientists at the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland, took an in depth look at all the studies on zinc, to see whether there was in fact, any evidence to support the view they helped a cold clear up more quickly.
They looked at 13 trials
Five trials used zinc lozenges providing less than 75 mg of elemental zinc per day, and
Eight trials used a more powerful lozenge, which gave more than 75mg of zinc each day. Out of these eight, three of them used zinc acetate, while the other used it in different forms.
Interestingly, there was no effect seen on the duration of a cold, from all the studies that used less than 75mg of per day. However, in contrast, seven of the eight trials that used more than 75mg per day showed significant reductions in the duration.
When considering what effect the different forms of zinc had, it was found that acetate had the greatest effect, reducing the duration of a common cold by 42%, other forms of reduced it by 20%.
The taste of these lozenges is not to everyone's liking and some may develop nausea from them, but there have not been reports of long-term side effects. Zinc is found naturally in super foods such as bee pollen and wheatgrass, and while it may not be as much as 75mg, it will certainly help with your daily requirement.
The next time a cold comes your way, here are some tips you can try:
The inside of your body likes moisture, while the cold viruses love dry places. Avoid becoming too dry, for example spending too long in a room full of dry air. It can make your throat sore, and nasal congestion worse. Consider using a vaporizer or humidifier to put some moisture back in the air. Also make sure you're drinking enough liquids which will help you breathe easier and prevent dehydration.
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