Zinc supplements taken within one day after the onset of a cold have been shown to be effective at treating it by shortening the duration of symptoms and their severity in a meta-analysis of fifteen trials involving 1,360 people in all. So often, it seems, herbal or non-traditional remedies placed under the microscope of scientific examination of their effectiveness turn out to be mere placebos. But, this is an exception that applies to an exceptionally common condition. How common?
The common cold places a heavy burden on society, accounting for approximately 40% of time taken off work and millions of days of school missed by children each year.
Too much zinc and you can lose your sense of smell.
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