Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the efficacy of zinc acetate lozenges with zinc gluconate lozenges in common cold treatment and to examine the dose-dependency of the effect.

Design

Meta-analysis.

Setting

Placebo-controlled zinc lozenge trials, in which the zinc dose was > 75 mg/day. The pooled effect of zinc lozenges on common cold duration was calculated by using inverse-variance random-effects method.

Participants

Seven randomised trials with 575 participants with naturally acquired common colds.

Main outcome measure

Duration of the common cold.

Results

The mean common cold duration was 33% (95% CI 21% to 45%) shorter for the zinc groups of the seven included trials. Three trials that used lozenges composed of zinc acetate found that colds were shortened b

SUBMITTER: Hemila H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5418896 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature