Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Studying the Effects of Inhaled Environmental Pollutants on Olfactory Function in Mice
Published on: September 13, 2024
Effect of zinc sulfate on common cold in children: randomized, double blind study
Zafer Kurugöl1, Nuri Bayram, Tahir Atik
1Department of Pediatrics, Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. zafer.kurugol@ege.edu.tr
Insights
Zinc sulfate did not shorten the duration of common cold symptoms in children. However, it effectively reduced the overall severity of cold symptoms, particularly nasal symptoms, in healthy children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- The common cold is a frequent childhood illness.
- Effective treatments for the common cold in children are limited.
- Zinc sulfate is a potential therapeutic agent for managing cold symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of zinc sulfate in reducing the duration and severity of common cold symptoms in children.
- To compare zinc sulfate treatment with a placebo in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- Eligible children had at least two common cold symptoms within 24-48 hours of onset.
- Participants received oral zinc sulfate or placebo, with symptom severity and adverse effects recorded daily.
Main Results:
- A total of 120 children were included in the final analysis.
- Zinc sulfate did not significantly alter the median duration of overall cold symptoms (6 days) or nasal symptoms (5 days).
- Total symptom severity scores were significantly lower in the zinc sulfate group from day two onwards, primarily due to improved nasal symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Zinc sulfate demonstrated no significant effect on the duration of common cold symptoms in healthy children.
- Zinc sulfate appears effective in mitigating the severity of common cold symptoms in this pediatric cohort.
- Adverse effects were comparable between the zinc sulfate and placebo groups.
Background:
The aim of the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the efficacy of zinc sulfate on the duration and severity of common cold in children.
Methods:
Children presenting at least two of 10 symptoms of common cold within the 24-48 h of the onset of illness were eligible for the study. Children were randomized to receive either oral zinc containing zinc sulfate or placebo. A diary was completed to record symptoms and adverse effects. Symptoms were scored as absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3).
Results:
One hundred and fifty children participated in the study, and 120 children were included in the final analysis. The median duration of all cold symptoms was 6 days (P = 0.20), and the median duration of nasal symptoms was 5 days in both groups (P = 0.09). However, total symptom severity scores were significantly lower in the zinc group, starting from the second day of the study. The lower scores in the zinc group were largely due to improvement of nasal symptom scores. Adverse effects were similar in both groups.
Conclusion:
Zinc sulfate had no effect on the duration of cold symptoms. However, it appears to be effective in reducing the severity of the cold symptoms in healthy children.
