ZINC: WITHIN 24 HOURS OF SYMPTOM ONSET CAN BE USEFUL FOR THE COMMON COLD
Zinc supplements
When administered within 24 hours of onset of symptoms, zinc reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people, according to the results of a systematic review.
"This review strengthens the evidence for zinc as a treatment for the common cold," said lead author Dr. Meenu Singh of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, in a press release.
The inclusion criteria were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, zinc has been used for 5 or more consecutive days to cure the common cold, or for 5 months or more or for prevention. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers examined. The search identified 13 studies therapeutic for a total of 966 participants, and 2 preventive tests for a total of 394 participants who met the selection criteria.
The intake of zinc was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of symptoms of the common cold.
The proportion of participants symptomatic after 7 days of treatment was lower in the zinc group vs. the control group (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% CI, 0.2 - 1.00, P = .05).
He added Dr. Singh: "It would be also interesting to find out whether zinc supplementation could help asthmatics, whose asthma symptoms tend to get worse when they take a cold".
Source: From Medscape Medical News
Zinc supplements