Zinc May Take The Edge Off Common Cold
DENVER (CBS4)- There's no cure for the common cold, but a new study indicates help may be on the way.
The newly-released research, published in the Cochrane Library, finds that over-the-counter supplements containing zinc can reduce the severity and duration of a cold.
The study looked at 15 other studies, more than 1,300 people. It found those who took zinc in supplement form every one and a half to two hours reduced the severity of their cold symptoms and shortened the duration of the cold.
In the study, the zinc could be taken in any form, liquid, tablet or lozenge.
Children get between six and ten colds a year, and adults between two and four, accounting for 40 percent of missed work days, according to the Cochrane Library.
