Zinc Supplementation Reduces Common Cold Duration among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with Micronutrients Supplementation

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#adolescent #adult #aged #ascorbic-acid #common-cold

Zinc Supplementation Reduces Common Cold Duration among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with Micronutrients Supplementation

Wang et al., 2020 | Am J Trop Med Hyg | Systematic Review

Citation

Wang Min Xian, Win Shwe Sin, Pang Junxiong. Zinc Supplementation Reduces Common Cold Duration among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with Micronutrients Supplementation. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020-Jul;103(1):86-99. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718

Abstract

The common cold had resulted in significant economic and social burden worldwide. The effect of vitamin C on preventing common cold in healthy adults has been investigated extensively, but not that of other micronutrients. Thus, we aim to assess the effects of providing micronutrients singly through oral means, on cold incidence, and/or management (in terms of cold duration and symptom severity) in healthy adults from systematically searched randomized controlled trials. From four electronic databases, 660 identified studies were screened and data were extracted from 20 studies (zinc, 10; vitamin D, 8; and vitamins A and E, 2). The quality of selected studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and certainty in the outcomes was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. The review found that micronutrients supplementation, except vitamin C, may not prevent cold incidence or reduce symptom severity among healthy adults. However, zinc supplementation was observed to potentially reduce cold duration by 2.25 days (when zinc is provided singly, 95% CI: -3.39, -1.12). This suggests that zinc supplementation may reduce the overall burden due to common cold among healthy adults.

Key Findings

This suggests that zinc supplementation may reduce the overall burden due to common cold among healthy adults.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population healthy adults
Sample Size 20
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Common Cold
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Micronutrients
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Zinc

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: zinc-immune

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09