PMID 38719213 Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold Meta-analysis (Cochrane) · Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2024 34 RCTRandomized controlled trial - a high-reliability trial that randomly assigns participants to compare effects.s, 8,526 people - zinc does not prevent colds (RR 0.93) but may shorten an ongoing cold (-2.37 days, low certainty).
Key summary
The 2024 CochraneAn international network that rigorously reviews and synthesizes evidence. review pooling 34 studies (15 prevention, 19 treatment) and 8,526 participants. Zinc did not clearly lower the risk of catching a cold (relative risk 0.93, low certainty). When used to treat an existing cold, mean duration may fall (mean difference -2.37 days, low certainty), but variation between trials was very large. Non-serious adverse events rose with treatment (relative risk 1.34, moderate certainty). The conclusion is little or no prevention effect and weak evidence for shortening duration.
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BACKGROUND: The common cold is an acute, self-limiting viral respiratory illness. There are no established interventions to prevent colds or shorten their duration. However, zinc supplements are commonly recommended and taken for this purpose. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of zinc for the prevention and treatment of the common cold. MAIN RESULTS: We included 34 studies (15 prevention, 19 treatment) involving 8526 participants. There may be little or no reduction in the risk of developing a cold with zinc compared to placebo (risk ratio (RR) 0.93, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.01; I2 = 20%; 9 studies, 1449 participants; low-certainty evidence). When zinc is used for cold treatment, there may be a reduction in the mean duration of the cold in days (MD -2.37, 95% CI -4.21 to -0.53; I2 = 97%; 8 studies, 972 participants; low-certainty evidence), although it is uncertain whether there is a reduction in the risk of having an ongoing cold at the end of follow-up. There is probably an increase in the risk of non-serious adverse events when zinc is used for cold treatment (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.55; I2 = 44%; 2084 participants, 16 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that zinc supplementation may have little or no effect on the prevention of colds but may reduce the duration of ongoing colds, with an increase in non-serious adverse events. Overall, there was wide variation in interventions and outcomes across the studies, which should be considered when making conclusions about the efficacy of zinc for the common cold. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ PMID 23775705 Zinc for the common cold Meta-analysis (Cochrane) · Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013 16 treatment and 2 prevention trials - zinc shortened cold duration by 1.03 days (lozengeA tablet meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, keeping zinc in contact with the throat and mouth.s ≥75 mg/day), but with bad-taste and nausea side effects.
Key summary
A CochraneAn international network that rigorously reviews and synthesizes evidence. review pooling 16 treatment trials (1,387 participants) and 2 prevention trials (394 participants). Zinc significantly shortened cold duration (mean difference -1.03 days) but not symptom severity, with very high heterogeneity (89%). Adverse events (overall OR 1.58), bad taste (OR 2.31), and nausea (OR 2.15) increased. The authors suggested lozengeA tablet meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, keeping zinc in contact with the throat and mouth.s at 75 mg a day or more started within 24 hours of onset, while weighing benefit against side effects.
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BACKGROUND: The common cold is one of the most widespread illnesses and is a leading cause of visits to the doctor and absenteeism from school and work. Trials conducted in high-income countries since 1984 investigating the role of zinc for the common cold symptoms have had mixed results. MAIN RESULTS: We included 16 therapeutic trials (1387 participants) and two preventive trials (394 participants). Intake of zinc was associated with a significant reduction in the duration (days) (mean difference (MD) -1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.72 to -0.34) (P = 0.003) (I(2) statistic = 89%) but not the severity of common cold symptoms (MD -1.06, 95% CI -2.36 to 0.23). Overall adverse events (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.09), bad taste (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.11) and nausea (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.23) were higher in the zinc group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Zinc administered within 24 hours of onset of symptoms reduces the duration of common cold symptoms in healthy people but some caution is needed due to the heterogeneity of the data. As the zinc lozenges formulation has been widely studied and there is a significant reduction in the duration of cold at a dose of ≥ 75 mg/day, for those considering using zinc it would be best to use it at this dose throughout the cold. When using zinc lozenges (not as syrup or tablets) the likely benefit has to be balanced against side effects, notably a bad taste and nausea. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ PMID 27378206 Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta-analysis Individual-patient meta-analysis · Br J Clin Pharmacol, 2016 Individual-patient data from 3 RCTRandomized controlled trial - a high-reliability trial that randomly assigns participants to compare effects.s, 199 people - zinc acetate lozengeA tablet meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, keeping zinc in contact with the throat and mouth.s shortened colds by about 2.7–2.9 days (vs a 7-day average).
Key summary
A meta-analysisA statistical synthesis combining results of multiple studies into one conclusion. of individual patient data (199 people) from three randomized placeboAn inert dummy treatment used as the comparison baseline.-controlled trials of zinc acetate lozengeA tablet meant to dissolve slowly in the mouth, keeping zinc in contact with the throat and mouth.s. Lozenge use shortened colds by about 2.7–2.9 days (against a 7-day average), and the effect was consistent regardless of allergy status, smoking, baseline severity, age, or sex. The authors judged that, on current evidence, cold patients may be encouraged to try zinc lozenges.
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AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether the allergy status and other characteristics of common cold patients modify the effects of zinc acetate lozenges. METHODS: We had available individual patient data for three randomized placebo-controlled trials in which zinc acetate lozenges were administered to common cold patients. We used both one stage and two stage meta-analysis to estimate the effects of zinc lozenges. RESULTS: The total number of common cold patients was 199, the majority being females. The one stage meta-analysis gave an overall estimate of 2.73 days (95% CI 1.8, 3.3 days) shorter colds by zinc acetate lozenge usage. The two stage meta-analysis gave an estimate of 2.94 days (95% CI 2.1, 3.8 days) reduction in common cold duration. These estimates are to be compared with the 7 day average duration of colds in the three trials. The effect of zinc lozenges was not modified by allergy status, smoking, baseline severity of the common cold, age, gender or ethnic group. CONCLUSION: Since the effects of zinc acetate lozenges were consistent between the compared subgroups, the overall estimates for effect seemed applicable over a wide range of common cold patients. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ PMID 32342851 Zinc Supplementation Reduces Common Cold Duration among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with Micronutrients Supplementation Systematic review · Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 Review of 20 RCTRandomized controlled trial - a high-reliability trial that randomly assigns participants to compare effects.s - micronutrients other than vitamin C did not prevent colds, but zinc alone shortened duration by 2.25 days.
Key summary
A systematic review of how single-micronutrient supplementation affects cold incidence and management in healthy adults (20 studies, 10 on zinc). Micronutrients other than vitamin C did not reduce cold incidence or symptom severity. Zinc alone, however, may reduce cold duration by about 2.25 days (95% CI -3.39 to -1.12). The direction is that prevention is hard while shortening duration may be possible.
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The common cold had resulted in significant economic and social burden worldwide. The effect of vitamin C on preventing common cold in healthy adults has been investigated extensively, but not that of other micronutrients. Thus, we aim to assess the effects of providing micronutrients singly through oral means, on cold incidence, and/or management (in terms of cold duration and symptom severity) in healthy adults from systematically searched randomized controlled trials. From four electronic databases, 660 identified studies were screened and data were extracted from 20 studies (zinc, 10; vitamin D, 8; and vitamins A and E, 2). The review found that micronutrients supplementation, except vitamin C, may not prevent cold incidence or reduce symptom severity among healthy adults. However, zinc supplementation was observed to potentially reduce cold duration by 2.25 days (when zinc is provided singly, 95% CI: -3.39, -1.12). This suggests that zinc supplementation may reduce the overall burden due to common cold among healthy adults. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ PMID 27996088 Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children Meta-analysis (Cochrane) · Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016 33 RCTRandomized controlled trial - a high-reliability trial that randomly assigns participants to compare effects.s, 10,841 children - shortens diarrhea in children over 6 months in deficient settings (WHO-recommended); no effect under 6 months or in well-nourished children.
Key summary
A CochraneAn international network that rigorously reviews and synthesizes evidence. review pooling 33 RCTRandomized controlled trial - a high-reliability trial that randomly assigns participants to compare effects.s and 10,841 children, most in Asian countries at high risk of zinc deficiency. In children older than six months, acute diarrhea duration was shortened by about half a day (mean difference -11.46 hours) and fewer cases persisted to day seven (relative risk 0.73). In malnourished children the effect was larger, about a full day (high certainty). Under six months there was no effect, and vomiting rose in both age groups. In settings where deficiency and malnutrition are uncommon, no benefit was confirmed.
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BACKGROUND: In developing countries, diarrhoea causes around 500,000 child deaths annually. Zinc supplementation during acute diarrhoea is currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-three trials that included 10,841 children met our inclusion criteria. Most included trials were conducted in Asian countries that were at high risk of zinc deficiency. In children older than six months of age, zinc supplementation may shorten the average duration of diarrhoea by around half a day (MD -11.46 hours, 95% CI -19.72 to -3.19; 2581 children, 9 trials, low certainty evidence), and probably reduces the number of children whose diarrhoea persists until day seven (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.88; 3865 children, 6 trials, moderate certainty evidence). In children with signs of malnutrition the effect appears greater, reducing the duration of diarrhoea by around a day (MD -26.39 hours, 95% CI -36.54 to -16.23; 419 children, 5 trials, high certainty evidence). Conversely, in children younger than six months of age, the available evidence suggests zinc supplementation may have no effect on the mean duration of diarrhoea (MD 5.23 hours, 95% CI -4.00 to 14.45; 1334 children, 2 trials, moderate certainty evidence). Zinc supplementation increased the risk of vomiting in both age groups. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In areas where the prevalence of zinc deficiency or the prevalence of malnutrition is high, zinc may be of benefit in children aged six months or more. The current evidence does not support the use of zinc supplementation in children less six months of age, in well-nourished children, and in settings where children are at low risk of zinc deficiency. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ PMID 11594942 A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8 RCT · Arch Ophthalmol, 2001 3,640 older adults at high AMD risk - a combination with high-dose zinc (80 mg) lowered progression risk (antioxidants+zinc OR 0.72).
Key summary
An 11-center double-masked trial (AREDS) in 3,640 people aged 55–80 at risk of AMD. A combination of antioxidants plus zinc (80 mg a day, with 2 mg copper) significantly lowered progression to advanced AMD versus placeboAn inert dummy treatment used as the comparison baseline. (odds ratio 0.72, 99% CI 0.52–0.98). Zinc alone was 0.75 (99% CI 0.55–1.03), not statistically clear. The result is confined to a high-risk group that already had substantial AMD, and copper was added to the high-dose zinc to prevent deficiency.
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BACKGROUND: Observational and experimental data suggest that antioxidant and/or zinc supplements may delay progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision loss. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc supplements on AMD progression and visual acuity. DESIGN: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study, an 11-center double-masked clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive daily oral tablets containing: (1) antioxidants (vitamin C, 500 mg; vitamin E, 400 IU; and beta carotene, 15 mg); (2) zinc, 80 mg, as zinc oxide and copper, 2 mg, as cupric oxide; (3) antioxidants plus zinc; or (4) placebo. RESULTS: Average follow-up of the 3640 enrolled study participants, aged 55-80 years, was 6.3 years. Comparison with placebo demonstrated a statistically significant odds reduction for the development of advanced AMD with antioxidants plus zinc (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 99% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.98). The ORs for zinc alone and antioxidants alone are 0.75 (99% CI, 0.55-1.03) and 0.80 (99% CI, 0.59-1.09), respectively. Both zinc and antioxidants plus zinc significantly reduced the odds of developing advanced AMD in the higher-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Persons older than 55 years should have dilated eye examinations to determine their risk of developing advanced AMD. Those with extensive intermediate size drusen, at least 1 large druse, noncentral geographic atrophy in 1 or both eyes, or advanced AMD or vision loss due to AMD in 1 eye, and without contraindications such as smoking, should consider taking a supplement of antioxidants plus zinc such as that used in this study. ※ The abstract text as collected and stored via the API by the pipeline. The key summary is written based solely on this text.
View original ↗ FDA (openFDA) Zinc sulfate injection - drug label (copper deficiency warning)
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View original ↗ FDA (openFDA) Cold-EEZE (zinc gluconate lozenge) - OTC label (cold duration and drug interactions)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Mollusks, oyster, Pacific, cooked, moist heat (FDC 174250)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Beef, chuck for stew, cooked, braised (FDC 171205)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Seeds, pumpkin and squash seed kernels, roasted, with salt added (FDC 169415)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Nuts, cashew nuts, raw (FDC 2515374)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Crustaceans, crab, blue, cooked, moist heat (FDC 174205)
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View original ↗ USDA FoodData Central Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt (FDC 173799)
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