Duration and severity of symptoms and levels of plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, and adhesion molecules in patients with common cold treated with zinc acetate.
BACKGROUND
Zinc lozenges have been used for treatment of the common cold; however, the results remain controversial.


METHODS
Fifty ambulatory volunteers were recruited within 24 h of developing symptoms of the common cold for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc. Participants took 1 lozenge containing 13.3 mg of zinc (as zinc acetate) or placebo every 2-3 h while awake. The subjective scores for common cold symptoms were recorded daily. Plasma zinc, soluble interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1ra), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, soluble vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 were assayed on days 1 and 5.


RESULTS
Compared with the placebo group, the zinc group had a shorter mean overall duration of cold (4.0 vs. 7.1 days; P < .0001) and shorter durations of cough (2.1 vs. 5.0 days; P < .0001) and nasal discharge (3.0 vs. 4.5 days, P = .02) Blinding of subjects was adequate, and adverse effects were comparable in the 2 groups. Symptom severity scores were decreased significantly in the zinc group. Mean changes in plasma levels of zinc, sIL-1ra, and ICAM-1 differed significantly between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of zinc lozenges was associated with reduced duration and severity of cold symptoms. We related the improvement in cold symptoms to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of zinc.
Prasad
Ananda S
AS
Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. prasada@karmanos.org
Beck
Frances W J
FW
Bao
Bin
B
Snell
Diane
D
Fitzgerald
James T
JT
D000328:Adult; D003139:Common Cold / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019345:Zinc Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood
D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019345:Zinc Acetate