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What is Zinc?
Zinc, an essential element, is necessary for sustaining life and is recommended by professionals for daily intake in low amounts. It has been widely established that too low an intake of zinc can lead to deficiency and subsequent symptoms that range from weight loss to decreased function of the immune system. For years, many have believed that zinc may play a role in shortening or alleviating symptoms experienced with the common cold. This has prompted many tests of its potential as a "cold remedy".
How is Zinc Packaged?
Zinc comes in many different dosage forms, all of which are available over the counter as it is categorized as a supplement rather than a drug. There are two different salt forms that have been tested: Zinc Acetate and Zinc Gluconate. These come in various dosage forms including lozenges, nasal sprays, nasal gels, and rapid melting tablets. Zinc lozenges are the most common products available, but as zinc becomes a never increasingly popular treatment method, more and more variations become available.
Does it Actually Work?
Like many natural supplements and home remedies, the results on the efficacy of high dose zinc have been conflicting. There have been a number of studies that have shown zinc can decrease the duration of cold symptoms, but there have also been an equal number of studies that have shown that zinc has no ef
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fect. The studies that show efficacy used both salt forms, but more studies supported the use of zinc gluconate. This is the form typically used in lozenges, which is the most common form recommended by health care professionals; although, it must be noted that the potential efficacy of zinc in these lozenges could possibly be affected by other food acids present in the lozenges (including citric and ascorbic acid). How it works (if it does indeed work) is still unknown. Because of these facts, the jury is still out on whether zinc actually works to speed one's recovery through the symptoms of a cold.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The most commonly complained of side effects of zinc are bad taste, taste distortion, and mouth irritation. These effects are experienced mostly with zinc lozenges. Abdominal pain and dry mouth are two other symptoms that have been associated with the use of high dose zinc preparations used to treat cold symptoms. Most importantly, the long-term use of high dose zinc (greater than two weeks) can result in unwanted effects. Long-term zinc use can cause copper deficiency, which, in turn, can lead to anemia. This can be reversed once the copper deficiency itself is reversed. Many zinc products do not indicate how long they should be taken, which can prove to be potentially problematic.
How Should I Use Zinc?
If you decide to use zinc in order to
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treat a cold, use a product that you are the most comfortable with. The nasal sprays and gels tend to turn some people off, but others prefer them because they help to avoid the bad taste of the lozenges. Zinc should typically be taken within the first 48 hours of cold symptoms and preferably within the first 24 hours. Once started, zinc should only be continued for two or three days into the cold. This is because, past these first few days, very few studies show a benefit in continuing zinc therapy, and it also helps prevent copper deficiency from long-term use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should consider zinc as an option. You can visit this website: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-zinc.html, for more information.
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