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Related Concept Videos

Minerals01:26

Minerals

Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
Standard Electrode Potentials03:02

Standard Electrode Potentials

On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Decongestants01:27

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Decongestants

Decongestants are a class of medications used primarily to alleviate nasal congestion, a common symptom resulting from allergies, colds, sinusitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections. These drugs work by activating α-adrenergic receptors, constricting small blood vessels in the nasal membranes. This action results in the opening of clogged nasal passages, thereby facilitating sinus drainage and relieving congestion.
Most decongestants are readily available over-the-counter in various...
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:16

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Upper respiratory tract disorders, including viral infections and allergic rhinitis, cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life. Managing these conditions involves a variety of drugs, such as antihistamines, intranasal steroids, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics. Specific examples of drugs in each category are provided.
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Essential Minerals for Bone Health01:31

Essential Minerals for Bone Health

The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...

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Updated: May 10, 2026

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
13:04

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

Published on: May 16, 2019

Zinc for the common cold.

Meenu Singh1, Rashmi R Das

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute ofMedical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. meenusingh4@gmail.com

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 19, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Zinc supplementation can reduce the duration of common cold symptoms when taken within 24 hours of symptom onset. However, caution is advised due to data heterogeneity and potential side effects like bad taste and nausea.

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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
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Area of Science:

  • Evidence-based medicine
  • Nutritional science
  • Public health

Background:

  • The common cold is a leading cause of illness and absenteeism.
  • Previous studies on zinc for colds yielded mixed results.
  • Bioavailability issues and masking effects may explain inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate zinc's efficacy in reducing common cold incidence, severity, and duration.
  • To identify factors contributing to result heterogeneity.
  • To assess the clinical significance of these factors.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
  • Searched multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) up to January 2013.
  • Included trials using zinc for at least 5 days (treatment) or 5 months (prevention).

Main Results:

  • Zinc significantly reduced common cold duration (MD -1.03 days) and the proportion of symptomatic individuals after 7 days.
  • Reduced incidence of colds, school absence, and antibiotic prescriptions observed with zinc.
  • Increased risk of adverse events, particularly bad taste and nausea, noted with zinc supplementation.

Conclusions:

  • Zinc, taken within 24 hours of symptom onset, shortens common cold duration in healthy individuals.
  • A daily dose of ≥75 mg/day zinc lozenges is suggested for treatment, balancing benefits against side effects.
  • Insufficient data currently supports prophylactic zinc supplementation recommendations.