Introduction

Zinc containing supplements as one of the rare treatments for colds, but is it? 1771, german doctor Hieronymus David gables presented what he called a promising treatment, zinc, to the Western scientific community. In 200 years of its history, pharmacy shelves were filled with zinc.

It is difficult to find an accurate answer to this question, studies on zinc use are rare, and their results are contradictory, in addition to the dose, composition. And treatment period remained not adequately verified during these studies, which prompted researchers to conduct a new holistic analysis involving 28 disciplined trials. Its results reinforced the idea of the effectiveness of zinc supplements in preventing symptoms of viral respiratory infections such as flu and cold and reducing the duration of the disease.

Jennifer Hunter, the integrative medicine specialist at the university of western Sydney in Australia, said: “it has remained commonly believed that zinc benefits in infection prevention and treatment are limited to people with deficiency only, but the results of this study have undermined this belief, as two trials in the united states excluded all zinc deficiency patients from studying the effectiveness of oral zinc in infection prevention, and two larger studies in china discovered the benefit of a nasal spray containing low doses of zinc in reducing the likelihood of developing zinc. clinical.”

Studies on Zinc theory

“All these studies have remained conducted that have assessed the effectiveness of it in the treatment of colds in societies anywhere its deficiency is rare.”

According to this study, the preventive use of zinc has reduced the risk of moderate symptoms by 28%, by 87% for moderate-severity signs. And its use of post-infection treatment has contributed to a slight reduction in the duration of infection. Reducing the time of severe symptoms by two days.

It is undoubtedly a slight effect. Especially with symptoms generally remaining severe, and zinc has not succeeded in preventing the disease if someone remains infected with cold viruses.

Although this study is an exciting step. Researchers have warned that some of these studies were small. And did not compare similar doses.

Some may also have a bias during symptom reporting. It is necessary to consider these matters during a holistic analysis. The reliability of the results is based on the reliability of information collection. In addition, these results are still unable to explain the mechanism by which zinc curbs viral infections such as a cold.

History of Zinc

In the late 18th century, before the gables discovered this secret treatment. Chemists used it to treat severe seizures.

When gables examined this treatment. It remained found to be nothing more than zinc oxide, followed by its use in the treatment of epilepsy for some time in the 19th century. Then reduced its popularity.

Finally, and faded from people’s minds by the 20th century, until the 1960s saw the return of it, this time as a treatment for its deficiency. And a rare genetic disease that causes copper accumulation. In vital body organs called Wilson’s disease. It has shown great effectiveness in its treatment as an anti-copper agent.

Conclusion

However, its effectiveness in resisting viral diseases is still not fully aware. Still, the covid-19 pandemic has reused this light. With some recommendations indicating that it could remain used in covid-19 patients and lower respiratory infection patients. In addition, some health workers have described zinc for covid-19 treatment. Although the results of studies on its effectiveness have not yet emerged.

However, this is not a concern, as the use of correct supplements at prescribed doses carries no significant risk unless you have a disease that causes it to reach the brain. Side effects are limited to mild symptoms such as nausea or loss of cold, sense of smell. Which is a common symptom when using a lot of zinc-containing nasal sprays.

In general, we still don’t know much about the best way to use it. Hunter says: “doctors and consumers should be very puzzled about the clinical effectiveness of different compounds. Their doses and the way they remain used.”

She said, adding: “there is currently no concrete evidence to know the best among different forms of zinc supplements such as nasal sprays. Nasal gels or zinc-containing sucking pills. Or oral compresses. And it is worth noting that most of these studies have used zinc acetate compounds or glucose. Zinc, but this does not mean that other compounds are less effective.”

In conclusion, it is pretty clear that we need more research on this. And it is certainly a desire of the answers as well!

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