Dr. Jack,

Glad you enjoyed Quebec City so much.

A recent review article covered the topic of using zinc for colds:
Garland ML, Hagmeyer KO.  The role of zinc lozenges in treatment of the
common cold. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 1998;32:63-9.  The exact
mechanism of action is unkown but one theory is that zinc inhibits the in
vitro replication of several viruses that cause the common cold.
"Studies suggest that zinc exerts this effect by preventing the formation
of viral capsid proteins and by stabilizing and protecting cell
membranes.  It does appear that the zinc gluconate lozenges are more
effective than an oral zinc supplement.

It is important to start the zinc therapy within the first 24 hours of
the onset of the cold symptoms because that is when the greatest viral
replication occurs.  The use of the zinc lozenge does not stop the cold
from occurring but the symptomatology is much more mild.  Personally, I
think it is a great tool to use against the common cold and I use it and
frequently recommend it to others.

My thoughts about zinc,
Julie Cold Kissack

> Subject: zinc
> Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 09:52:34 +0000
> From: newman <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I have just returned from two days in Quebec City (sigh, it's so
> beautiful) and there are about 10 Lactnet digests on the email.  If this
> has already been answered, please ignore.
>
> Zinc is already in breastmilk and is important for the baby's nutrition.
> But it is unlikely that 50 mg of zinc a day will do much to the levels
> in the breastmilk.  Most of the extra will not be absorbed by the baby
> in any case.
>
> I doubt that zinc does much to prevent colds as well, unless the mother
> is already deficient, and even then.
>
> Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC