Zinc lozenges: cold cure or candy? Solution chemistry determinations.
Common colds were shortened by 7 days in a 1984 clinical trial using zinc gluconate throat lozenges each 2 h. Between then and 2004, 10 other double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials showed widely varying results. This re-analysis of these trials presents solution chemistry methods to elucidate differences in efficacy. Statistically significant correlation was shown between total daily dosages of positively charged zinc species and reductions in median (p = 0.005) and mean duration (p < 0.02) of common colds in these trials.
Eby
George A
GA
George Eby Research, Austin, Texas 78736, USA. george.eby@starband.net
D002412:Cations; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008024:Ligands; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D012996:Solutions; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
D002412:Cations; D004304:Dosage Forms; D008024:Ligands; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D012996:Solutions; D015032:Zinc