June 2011. Volume 7. Number 2

Zinc for the prevention and treatment of common cold

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16;2:CD001364.
Reviewers: Carvajal Encina F1, Puebla Molina SF2.
1UCIN Hospital de La Serena y Escuela de Medicina Universidad Católica del Norte. La Serena. Elqui. Chile.
2Departamento de Pediatría Clínica Alemana de Temuco. Magíster en Epidemiología Clínica. CIGES y Departamentos de Pediatría y Salud Pública. Universidad de la Frontera y Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena. Chile.
Correspondence: Fernando Carvajal Encina. Email: fcarvajal@ucn.cl
Reception date: 15/04/2011
Acceptance date: 29/04/2011
Publication date: 04/05/2011

Abstract

Authors’ conclusions: zinc reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people. When supplemented for at least five months, it reduces cold incidence, school absenteeism and prescription of antibiotics in children. There are potential side effects. In view of this and the differences in study populations, dosages, formulations and duration of treatment, it is difficult to make firm recommendations about the dose, formulation and duration that should be used.

Reviewers’ commentary: though the initial results are promising, given the collateral disagreeable effects and the lack of efficacy of some formulations, a general recommendation  for zinc in treatment of the common cold should not be done.

How to cite this article

Carvajal Encina F, Puebla Molina S. Zinc para la prevención y tratamiento del resfriado común. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:43.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16;2:CD001364.
Reviewers: Carvajal Encina F1, Puebla Molina SF2.
1UCIN Hospital de La Serena y Escuela de Medicina Universidad Católica del Norte. La Serena. Elqui. Chile.
2Departamento de Pediatría Clínica Alemana de Temuco. Magíster en Epidemiología Clínica. CIGES y Departamentos de Pediatría y Salud Pública. Universidad de la Frontera y Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena. Chile.
Correspondence: Fernando Carvajal Encina. Email: fcarvajal@ucn.cl
Reception date: 15/04/2011
Acceptance date: 29/04/2011
Publication date: 04/05/2011

How to cite this article

Carvajal Encina F, Puebla Molina S. Zinc para la prevención y tratamiento del resfriado común. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:43.

References

  1. Arroll B. Common cold. Clin Evid (Online). 2008;2008:1510.
  2. Jackson JL, Peterson C, Lesho E. A meta-analysis of zinc salts lozenges and the common cold. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:2373-6.
  3. Jackson JL, Lesho E, Peterson C. Zinc and the common cold: a meta-analysis revisited. J Nutr. 2000;130:1512S-5S.
04/05/2011

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