Taking zinc lozenges not exceeding 100 mg of elemental zinc per day may make recovery from common cold faster, suggests new research.
Analysing three randomised controlled trials, the researchers found that zinc acetate lozenges may increase the rate of recovery from common cold three fold.
On the fifth day, 70 per cent of the zinc lozenge patients had recovered compared with 27 per cent of the placebo patients, showed the study published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Disease.
“Given the evidence of efficacy, common cold patients may be instructed to try zinc acetate lozenges within 24 hours of onset of symptoms,” the study said.