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Is intranasal zinc effective and safe for the common cold? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal of Primary Health Care, 06/16/09

D’Cruze H et al. - Inclusion criteria were randomised placebo controlled trials in patients with a common cold. Five studies were found. Three were relevant to the issue of treatment of common colds with intranasal zinc and the results were combined in meta-analysis. High doses of intranasal zinc preparation (2.1mg zinc/day) were reported in two studies to shorten the duration and reduce the symptom severity of common cold in healthy adults, when started within 24 to 48 hours of onset of illness. A lower dose study (0.044mg zinc/day) found no benefit in resolution, but did report a significant improvement in symptoms at day 1 and day 3. Combining the three studies, the relative risk for benefit at day 3 was 0.62. There were no studies with children. There were no significant harms reported. Results from individual trials suggest some benefit from zinc for symptoms of a common cold, at least in adults. Pooling the results for symptom relief at day 3, in a conservative meta-analysis, suggests a non-significant benefit. Unquantified concerns about permanent anosmia following the use of intranasal zinc may mean that the issues raised will never be scientifically resolved.

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