There has been a great deal of controversy concerning the effectiveness of zinc in treating symptoms of the common cold.
A recent study again looked into the use of zinc in treating colds in adults.
Cold symptoms present in individuals who were given zinc in the form of zinc lozenges were compared with they symptoms of those who did not take zinc.
Results showed that cold symptoms lasted for 4 days in the zinc group compared to 7 days in the non-zinc group.
The duration of the cough was also shorter in the zinc group, 2 days, compared to 5 days in the non-zinc group.
There was no difference in adverse effects between the two groups. Some studies have shown that zinc lozenges can cause oral irritation and nausea in some patients. Various flavored lozenges are now available to help decrease the bad taste.
The researchers proposed that the benefits of zinc are due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
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