A Meta-analysis of Zinc Salts Lozenges and the Common Cold

Overview

Journal Arch Intern Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1997 Nov 15

PMID 9361579

Citations 20

Authors

J L Jackson

C Peterson

E Lesho

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: In the United States, the common cold has been estimated to cost more than $3.5 billion a year. Despite several randomized clinical trials, the effect of treating colds with zinc salts lozenges remains uncertain because of conflicting results.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials on the use of zinc salts lozenges in colds using a random effects model.

Results: Eight clinical trials of treating adults with zinc salts lozenges were identified. After excluding 2 studies that used nasal inoculation of rhinovirus, 6 trials were combined and analyzed. The summary odds ratio for the presence of any cold symptoms at 7 days was 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.19-1.29).

Conclusion: Despite numerous randomized trials, the evidence for effectiveness of zinc salts lozenges in reducing the duration of common colds is still lacking.

Citing Articles

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Image Diagnosis: Zinc-Induced Copper Deficiency Causing Pancytopenia Recognized on Bone Marrow Examination.

Johnsrud J, Abdallah A, Schichman S, Xiang Z Perm J. 2017; 21:16-077.

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Picon P, Boff Costa M, da Veiga Picon R, Fendt L, Suksteris M, Saccilotto I BMC Infect Dis. 2013; 13:556.

PMID: 24261438 PMC: 4222817. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-556.