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Zinc — Cure for the common cold?
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Zinc administered intranasally
at the first symptoms may be the long-awaited cure for
the common cold.
Professor Paul Glasziou, professor of evidence based health
care, and Professor Christopher Del Mar, professor of general
practice, both at the University of Queensland, are about to
begin a randomized trial of people who think they are developing
a cold.
A trial conducted in 1984 by Eby in the United States suggested
that zinc lozenges were curative.
On balance, there seems to be a suggestion of a modest effect,
Professor Glasziou said. "It is possible that zinc is
effective because it may have a viral inhibitory action.
"However, we may be putting it in the wrong place with a
lozenge - at the back of the throat." Early cold virus
appears in the nose, so a nasal spray may be preferable, he
said.
Professors Del Mar and Glasziou have had a protocol approved and
have randomised their first patient to test an intranasal zinc as
a possible cure for the common cold. Many trials have been
conducted since then, but the evidence is uncertain. They plan to
recruit 200 patients.
"We want people with early colds, that is, in the first
24-48 hours, to start using a zinc nasal spray." They will
take the zinc until the cold symptoms stop and for a couple of
hours afterwards. Existing evidence suggests that cold symptoms
disappear within 48 hours of taking the zinc.
Professor Glasziou said there are many complications, including
whether a gel form of the nasal spray is preferable because it
lingers longer, and whether a high concentration might be best.
In Australia, two forms are available over the counter, a gel
form and a liquid spray form. "We don't yet know which
is best but opted for the gel form for this
trial."
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