You're stuffed up and sneezy and want some relief.
If you could even make your cold just
a little shorter, you'd be happy.
Can zinc make a difference?
Recent studies support zinc's role as a cold buster.
It has proven to be helpful for reducing
the number of upper respiratory infections in children
and can reduce the duration of
colds in adults:
What Is Zinc?
Zinc is an essential mineral that's found
in almost every cell,
and it helps your body resist infection.
It also plays an important part in tissue repair.
And it may lower the
ability of cold viruses to grow on or bind
to the lining of your nose.
You can buy zinc as supplement, but it's also
found naturally in a number of foods, like:
Shellfish
Beef and other red meats
Nuts and seeds
Beans
Milk and cheese
Tea, coffee, and some medicines interfere
with the way zinc is absorbed in your intestines.
Does It Work as a Cold Remedy?
Researchers report mixed results. One analysis
reviewed 15 earlier studies and found that
taking zinc through the first few days of
a cold, either as a syrup or lozenge,
may shorten how long you're sick.
It also appeared to prevent colds in people
who used it over the course of about 5 months.
But in other studies, researchers found no
differences in symptoms between those who
took zinc and those who took a "dummy" pill.
What does this research mean to you and your
family? For now, the studies are inconclusive.
For every one that shows a benefit with zinc,
there's another that finds it doesn't help
at all. Many experts say that if there is
any advantage in taking zinc, it's minor.
Is It Safe?
Short-term use -- less than 5 days -- doesn't
cause serious side effects, but it can make
your mouth irritated, leave a metallic taste,
or give you an upset stomach.
Experts recommend that you not take zinc for
more than 5 days.
Long-term use -- more than 6 weeks
can lead to copper deficiency but
this can be overcome by taking almost any
multivitamin.
Researchers say zinc nasal sprays cause animals
to lose their sense of smell. There have been
several reports of people having decreased
sense of smell or completely losing it. Because
of this risk, the FDA issued a warning to
stop using several nasal sprays that contain
zinc.
Keep in mind that zinc is necessary for your
health and safe to take through food such
as seafood and eggs. But supplementing with
higher doses, particularly for a long time,
can be toxic.
What�s the Bottom Line on Zinc and Colds?
While some studies show some help for colds
from zinc lozenges and nasal sprays, the results
are inconsistent. More research is needed.
 
