Zinc Fights A Cold, But You Might Get Nauseated

Sam Rolley | Nov 07, 2012 | Comments 0

Taking zinc can shorten the duration of a cold, according to research, but queasiness and other side effects often accompany your cold relief.

Researchers from Canada examined 17 randomized controlled trials with more than 2,000 participants and concluded that zinc significantly reduced the duration of cold symptoms, although the quality of evidence was moderate. High doses of zinc were more effective than lower doses at shortening the duration of cold symptoms. The symptoms were more often reduced in adults than kids.

“We found that orally administered zinc shortened the duration of cold symptoms,” writes Dr. Michelle Science of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, with coauthors at McMaster University. “There findings, however, are tempered by significant heterogeneity and quality of evidence.”

Participants taking zinc treatment were more likely to experience adverse effects including a bad taste in the mouth and nausea.

“Until further evidence becomes available, there is only a weak rationale for physicians to recommend zinc for the treatment of the common cold,” conclude the authors. “The questionable benefits must be balanced against the potential adverse effects.”