"CONCLUSION: A low concentration of zinc sulfate nasal spray had no effect
on the duration of the common cold."
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1: Am J Med. 2001 Aug;111(2):103-8. Related Articles, Links
A randomized trial of zinc nasal spray for the treatment of upper
respiratory illness in adults.
Belongia EA, Berg R, Liu K.
Marshfield Medical Research Foundation and Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield,
Wisconsin 54449, USA.
PURPOSE: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
to evaluate the efficacy of 0.12% zinc sulfate nasal spray for reducing the
duration and severity of acute upper respiratory infections. SUBJECTS AND
METHODS: Patients with acute onset of upper respiratory illness of less than
24 hours' duration were eligible for the study. A nasopharyngeal swab was
obtained at the time of enrollment for viral culture. Participants were
randomly assigned to receive either 0.12% zinc sulfate or isotonic placebo
spray. The medication was administered as two inhalations in each nostril
four times a day. Each patient completed a diary card twice a day to record
oral temperature, symptoms, and adverse effects. Symptoms were scored as
absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3). RESULTS: One hundred
eighty-five subjects volunteered to participate, and 160 met the criteria
for enrollment. The median duration of all symptoms was 7 days in both
groups (P = 0.45), and the median duration of nasal symptoms was 6 days in
both groups (P= 0.12). After adjustment for baseline differences in
severity, patients receiving zinc had a significant reduction in the total
symptom score (P= 0.02) and the nasal symptom score (P= 0.02) on day 1, but
not on any of the other days. Adverse effects were mild and had no
significant association with the use of zinc. A respiratory virus was
identified in 9 of the 160 participants; 6 of these were rhinovirus.
CONCLUSION: A low concentration of zinc sulfate nasal spray had no effect on
the duration of the common cold.
Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 11498062 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] |
