Q: I know you’ve answered a lot of questions recently about colds, but I have another one to add to the list: How effective are zinc products for shortening colds or improving symptoms?
JVW: For years, there’s been a debate going on about whether or not zinc lozenges actually shorten the duration of colds. In 2000, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a study concluding that they are indeed helpful. In my opinion, they’d work even better if used properly…but more on that in a moment.
In the 2000 “double-blind” study, the researchers had 25 individuals use zinc-acetate lozenges within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms, while 23 other individuals received identically flavored placebos. Both groups used their treatments every two to three hours (while awake) for four to five days.
At the end of the trial, it was found that those taking 80 milligrams of zinc daily reported that their symptoms left in five days, compared with an average of eight days for those using the placebo.
Now let’s go over making those zinc lozenges even more effective. The instructions on the packages usually advise you to allow the lozenge to dissolve slowly under your tongue. But since concentrations of zinc kill microorganisms by direct contact, it’s even more effective to “swish and gargle” some of the dissolved zinc, contacting as many oral and throat surfaces as possible with the solution. Individuals who have used this simple adjustment tell me their zinc lozenges work even better than before.
What is…a cytokine?
A cytokine is a small protein released by cells that has a specific effect on the interactions between cells or on the behavior of cells.
