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Zinc acetate cuts common cold duration

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Zinc acetate cuts common cold duration

Zinc acetate lozenges could reduce the duration of the common cold by more than a third, according to research in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Researchers analysed data for 199 patients aged 17 to 61 years of age from three randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Of these, 102 received daily zinc acetate lozenges containing 80mg-92mg elemental zinc. Depending on the method of meta-analysis, zinc lozenges reduced the duration of a cold by 2.73 or 2.94 days, with the average cold lasting 7.3 and 7.4 days respectively in the placebo arm.

Zinc reduced the duration by 36 and 40 per cent respectively. The lozenges also reduced cold duration irrespective of whether the person suffered from allergies or smoked, the cold’s severity or the person’s age, sex or ethnicity.

“While the optimal composition of zinc lozenges and the best frequency of their administration should be further investigated, given the current evidence of efficacy, common cold patients may be encouraged to try zinc lozenges,” the authors conclude.

(Doi:10.1111/bcp.13057)

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