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WITHDRAWN: Zinc for the common cold.

I Marshall

    The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
    |July 20, 2007
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Zinc lozenges show inconclusive results for treating the common cold. While some studies suggest benefits in symptom duration and severity, overall evidence indicates no significant reduction in cold duration, warranting further investigation.

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    Area of Science:

    • Respiratory Medicine
    • Pharmacology
    • Evidence-Based Medicine

    Background:

    • The efficacy of zinc in treating the common cold has been debated, with mixed results from previous trials.
    • Factors like treatment masking and zinc bioavailability may influence study outcomes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To systematically review randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of zinc lozenges on common cold symptoms.
    • To evaluate the overall usefulness of zinc lozenges as a cold treatment.

    Main Methods:

    • Searched Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE up to 1997.
    • Included randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials of zinc for acute upper respiratory tract infections.
    • Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed trial quality.

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    Main Results:

    • Seven trials with 754 participants were included, mostly of medium to high methodological quality.
    • Heterogeneous outcome measures limited data pooling.
    • Two trials suggested reduced cold severity and duration, but with potential bias; overall, zinc lozenges did not significantly reduce cold duration.

    Conclusions:

    • Evidence on zinc lozenges for common cold treatment remains inconclusive.
    • Potential side effects necessitate further research before widespread recommendation.
    • The use of zinc lozenges for cold symptom relief requires additional rigorous study.