Roohealthcare.com – The benefits of zinc for colds have been studied for many years. One study published in 1984 by Dr. George Eby showed that a zinc supplement dissolved in a girl’s mouth. The girl would not swallow the supplement, but it cured her cold symptoms. Today, zinc is available as a syrup, lozenge, or tablet. It has antimicrobial and antiviral properties. However, it should be noted that there are no reliable studies that show that zinc will prevent colds.
Can Only be Used When the Flu Virus is Most Active
Although zinc is effective for colds, it should only be used for a short time, and you should not use the treatment for longer than seven days. If you’re using a zinc cold treatment for a long time, you can even make your cold last longer than seven days. Remember, zinc is absorbed in the gut, and it should not be taken for more than 24 hours. Lastly, the treatment should only be used when the cold virus is most active.
Research suggests that zinc can help shorten the duration and severity of cold symptoms, based on a meta-analysis of 13 placebo-controlled trials. In this meta-analysis, participants took 80-92 milligrams of zinc per day, much higher than the recommended daily dose. A few studies, however, have failed to confirm the effectiveness of zinc. Nevertheless, the results of this study show that zinc can help reduce the duration of colds, and may even prevent them altogether.
Though there’s no solid evidence that zinc can cure colds, it’s worth a try. The supplement is a natural remedy that can reduce the length of colds and even relieve some symptoms. Moreover, zinc can help you smell better and stay healthy while treating your cold. So, if you’re prone to catching a cold, zinc may be just what you need. If you’re still not sure about whether or not zinc is right for you, consult a physician.
The Best Way to Consume Zinc
While you can buy zinc tablets, you may want to take them at least 2 to 4 hours apart from your cold medications. However, zinc may not be as effective when it is swallowed. For best results, you should take zinc lozenges that contain no more than 75 milligrams a day. The best way to take zinc is to let it dissolve in your mouth. You should also avoid chewing them. The absorbed zinc will remain in your mouth for several hours.
A study of three previous studies found that sucking a zinc lozenge every two to three hours during the cold period shortens the duration by one to two days. However, taking it in larger doses may help reduce the duration of colds. Zinc lozenges may also help in treating coughs. They should be taken daily, but there is still no research to show that taking it for a longer period of time will help you recover faster.
One study found that zinc gluconate lozenges reduced the duration of the common cold by up to forty percent (95% CI: 31 to 47%). Researchers then calculated the relative effect of zinc gluconate on the duration of the cold in both groups. This method is known as the “relative” effect, and is used in clinical trials to measure the effectiveness of a treatment. It is not yet clear what the exact benefits of zinc for colds are.
Zinc Proven Significantly Shorten the Duration of Colds
The effectiveness of zinc lozenges for colds has been studied for many years. Lozenges with a high dose of elemental zinc reduced the duration of the cold by up to 60%. Another study, by George Eby, found that zinc gluconate lozenges decreased the duration of the cold by 30% to 60%. There are no studies on how much zinc these lozenges should be taken, but lozenges containing eighty to 92 mg of zinc daily have been shown to significantly shorten the duration of a cold.
The findings from the meta-analysis of zinc studies were encouraging. The positive results showed that zinc increased immunity to viral infections in both humans and mice. However, there were some limitations. Many studies did not use the same dosages, and some were conducted in affluent areas. While zinc is beneficial for treating infections, prolonged serum levels can interfere with copper metabolism. Furthermore, most of the trials included in the meta-analysis were conducted in affluent countries.
One study, conducted by Dr. Eby, looked for patterns in the effectiveness of zinc lozenges. It found that higher doses of zinc reduced the duration of cold symptoms. However, studies involving lower doses of zinc had no effect. The Cochrane Collaboration also concluded that more studies should be conducted before making a recommendation for zinc for colds. This research has been supported by other experts in the field. If you’re looking for information about zinc for colds, please visit our website.
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