*6 reasons not to take zinc for your cold*
Does your co-worker’s first explosive sneeze or your child’s burgeoning cough send you racing to the store for zinc supplements to protect yourself from catching their colds? If so, listen up: It’s true that recent studies have found that zinc may shorten the duration of a cold, but there’s no proof that it will prevent one, and it won’t ease symptoms such as your runny nose or aching head. And beware: Zinc has side effects, too. Here are six reasons to skip the zinc this cold season.
-*1. It won’t relieve your cold symptoms*-
Zinc is no magic bullet. An April 9, 2014, review published in JAMA analyzed studies of 1,781 cold-riddled participants in the U.S., the U.K., and elsewhere. Some received zinc-laden lozenges and syrups while the rest were given placebos. Those who began taking the zinc regularly 24 to 48 hours from the onset of their colds reportedly got better about a day before those who took the placebos. However, the analysis found that taking zinc had no effect whatsoever on the severity of the symptoms.
-*2. It has side effects*-
While slicing a day off your suffering may sound great—and there is evidence that zinc ions have an antiviral effect, at least in a petri dish—the reality is that taking zinc can have some pretty unpleasant side effects. These include leaving a foul taste in your mouth and making you feel nauseated—adding to your pain and misery instead of relieving it. "Although zinc products may reduce a cold's duration by a day or so, if started early enough,” says Consumer Report’s chief medical adviser Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., “the bad taste and nausea can make the treatment worse than the disease."
-*3. Zinc can be toxic*-
A healthy adult woman should get a minimum of 8 milligrams (mg) of zinc per day, and adult men 11 mg, but that amount is easily obtained in a healthy diet that includes zinc-rich foods such as poultry, red meat, and fortified breakfast cereal. In fact, the National Institutes of Health advises that unless you’re taking zinc for medical reasons under the care of a doctor, the maximum daily limit you should get is 40 mg. Too much can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and other problems.
-*4. It can interact with medications*-
Zinc has been shown to interact with various prescription medicines. For example, take it with tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro and generic) and you’ll reduce the amount of both the zinc and the antibiotic that your body absorbs. It can also interfere with the absorption of penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen), a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Wilson’s disease (a rare genetic disorder).
*Read more about dietary supplements, including some found to contain banned drugs.*
-*5. It can cause health problems*-
Getting too much zinc may increase the risk for prostate cancer, lead to copper deficiency and neurological problems, and reduce levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. What’s more, zinc products may also contain cadmium (another metal that is chemically similar and occurs alongside zinc in nature), and long-term exposure to high levels of cadmium can lead to kidney failure.
-*6. Some preparations can be dangerous*-
Avoid using zinc in the form of nasal preparations, which can make you lose your sense of smell. Several years ago, the Food and Drug Administration took several zinc nasal products off the market after receiving more than 130 reports from people who had used certain nasal Zicam Cold Remedies and lost their sense of smell—some permanently.
On balance, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest will do more to help you recover than any supplement—and a bowl of chicken soup won’t hurt either.
—Lauren Cooper*Use our free app to explore your health insurance options*
Not sure where to begin with getting health insurance? Our free interactive tool, Health Law Helper, will point you in the right direction.
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
--------------------
Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 9 hours ago.
Does your co-worker’s first explosive sneeze or your child’s burgeoning cough send you racing to the store for zinc supplements to protect yourself from catching their colds? If so, listen up: It’s true that recent studies have found that zinc may shorten the duration of a cold, but there’s no proof that it will prevent one, and it won’t ease symptoms such as your runny nose or aching head. And beware: Zinc has side effects, too. Here are six reasons to skip the zinc this cold season.
-*1. It won’t relieve your cold symptoms*-
Zinc is no magic bullet. An April 9, 2014, review published in JAMA analyzed studies of 1,781 cold-riddled participants in the U.S., the U.K., and elsewhere. Some received zinc-laden lozenges and syrups while the rest were given placebos. Those who began taking the zinc regularly 24 to 48 hours from the onset of their colds reportedly got better about a day before those who took the placebos. However, the analysis found that taking zinc had no effect whatsoever on the severity of the symptoms.
-*2. It has side effects*-
While slicing a day off your suffering may sound great—and there is evidence that zinc ions have an antiviral effect, at least in a petri dish—the reality is that taking zinc can have some pretty unpleasant side effects. These include leaving a foul taste in your mouth and making you feel nauseated—adding to your pain and misery instead of relieving it. "Although zinc products may reduce a cold's duration by a day or so, if started early enough,” says Consumer Report’s chief medical adviser Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., “the bad taste and nausea can make the treatment worse than the disease."
-*3. Zinc can be toxic*-
A healthy adult woman should get a minimum of 8 milligrams (mg) of zinc per day, and adult men 11 mg, but that amount is easily obtained in a healthy diet that includes zinc-rich foods such as poultry, red meat, and fortified breakfast cereal. In fact, the National Institutes of Health advises that unless you’re taking zinc for medical reasons under the care of a doctor, the maximum daily limit you should get is 40 mg. Too much can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and other problems.
-*4. It can interact with medications*-
Zinc has been shown to interact with various prescription medicines. For example, take it with tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro and generic) and you’ll reduce the amount of both the zinc and the antibiotic that your body absorbs. It can also interfere with the absorption of penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen), a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Wilson’s disease (a rare genetic disorder).
*Read more about dietary supplements, including some found to contain banned drugs.*
-*5. It can cause health problems*-
Getting too much zinc may increase the risk for prostate cancer, lead to copper deficiency and neurological problems, and reduce levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. What’s more, zinc products may also contain cadmium (another metal that is chemically similar and occurs alongside zinc in nature), and long-term exposure to high levels of cadmium can lead to kidney failure.
-*6. Some preparations can be dangerous*-
Avoid using zinc in the form of nasal preparations, which can make you lose your sense of smell. Several years ago, the Food and Drug Administration took several zinc nasal products off the market after receiving more than 130 reports from people who had used certain nasal Zicam Cold Remedies and lost their sense of smell—some permanently.
On balance, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest will do more to help you recover than any supplement—and a bowl of chicken soup won’t hurt either.
—Lauren Cooper*Use our free app to explore your health insurance options*
Not sure where to begin with getting health insurance? Our free interactive tool, Health Law Helper, will point you in the right direction.
*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*
*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
--------------------
Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 9 hours ago.
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New TurboTax Health Survey conducted by Harris Poll illustrates almost half of Americans don’t realize they must report health insurance status on 2014 tax returns.
Reported by Business Wire 10 hours ago.
