Article Abstract:
Symptoms associated with the common cold may not last as long in patients who take lozenges containing zinc gluconate. Researchers randomly assigned 100 patients with common cold symptoms to receive either zinc gluconate lozenges or placebo lozenges. The group taking zinc lozenges experienced significantly fewer days with nasal drainage and congestion, headache, sore throat and cough as compared to the placebo group. Muscle ache, fever and sneezing symptoms, however, lasted for a similar number of days in the two groups. Nausea and bad after-taste were significantly more common in the group taking zinc lozenges.
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Article Abstract:
Studies have shown that zinc therapy may prove promising for treating diseases including the common cold, sickle cell anemia, and Wilson's disease. Zinc has been recognized as an essential dietary metal that plays an important role in the biological activity of more than 300 enzymes. Zinc deficiency, whether dietary or disease-related, may be relatively common and can delay growth, cause long-term diarrhea, and affect immune system function. Zinc therapy may be effective by reversing low-level zinc deficiencies in some patients. Future studies should address the potential toxicity of excess dietary zinc.
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Article Abstract:
Zinc gluconate lozenges appear to be ineffective in treating the common cold in children. Zinc lozenges have been promoted as a cold remedy, but research has produced conflicting results. Researchers randomly assigned 249 students with colds to take either zinc lozenges or placebo lozenges throughout the duration of their colds. In both groups, symptoms resolved in an average of nine days. Students taking zinc reported more nausea, oral discomfort, a bad mouth taste, or diarrhea than those taking the placebo. Zinc may be more effective in a different formulation or dosage.
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