Re: Zinc Works, but Exerts Price in Fight Against Colds

[Guest guest]

15 mg now,(RDA 11 mg) but when he was drinking a lot (not drinking now - yeah!)

I put a 15 in his am and pm - It's been a while since I looked into it, years

ago I read the Life Extension Foundation research quite a bit , they have useful

research leads to follow but I got tired of the constant sales pitch. - and if

they are such great vitamin people why haven't they heard about iodine?

www.lef.org Their vitamins are very well absorbed/ ie been pleased with

everything I have ordered over the years from them - just not very frugal -

although the magnesium is only $6.

Somewhere in my drift of research there is a great paper on heart disease and

abnormal labs - Zinc, selenium and magnesium are low in the men studied and

calcium is high and you can guess the 'D' is deficient - 25D. They didn't

check the 1-25 D.

www.lef.org/protocols/health_concerns/surgical_preparation_02.htm@ 100k

Zinc. This mineral functions as an important coenzyme in the production of

collagen, the chief protein in healing wound tissue; it has also recently been

determined to have an important antioxidant function in skin (Rostan EF et al

2002). The earliest sign of zinc deficiency in humans is often the development

of skin breakdown, and topical zinc treatments have been used for centuries with

good effect (Schwartz JR et al 2005). Animals made zinc deficient have slower

rates of collagen accumulation in wounds and diminished wound strength, while

zinc supplementation prior to creation of the wound (preoperatively) increased

the strength of the healing wound (Kaplan B et al 2004; Iriyama K et al 1982).

Quantitative studies of the effects of zinc supplementation in mice demonstrate

that adequate zinc has an antioxidant function and hastens wound healing, while

deficiency or very high doses delay healing (Lim Y et al 2004; Cario E et al

2000). Zinc may help in the healing, not only of skin wounds, but also of bone:

one study demonstrated that zinc supplementation hastened the healing of leg

fractures in rats (Igarashi A et al 1999).

In studies of patients who already had pressure ulcers, supplementation with a

combination of zinc, arginine, and vitamin C produced significant improvement

in treated patients compared with controls given placebo (Desneves KJ et al

2005; Frias SL et al 2004). A similar supplement was shown to delay the onset

of pressure ulcers in a group of patients recovering from hip surgery (Houwing

RH et al 2003). This combination is now widely recognized for patients

undergoing surgery of any kind (Singer P 2002).

www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_aas_02.htm@ 54k

Zinc’s value extends far beyond its ability to boost antioxidant defenses,

strengthen immunity, and relieve cold symptoms. Particularly in developing

nations, ensuring adequate zinc intake may be a matter of life or death,

particularly for children.

Infectious pathogens associated with contaminated water, such as typhoid fever

and cholera, are endemic in developing nations, where they cause dangerously

dehydrating diarrhea. Children are at special risk. In countries where zinc is

often deficient in the diet, zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce

infant mortality and decrease susceptibility to pneumonia, diarrhea, skin

infections, and fever.31-33 In fact, the World Health Organization and the

United Nations Children’s Fund have endorsed zinc supplementation as a

cost-effective treatment for diarrhea, which may be life threatening to

vulnerable children.

Scientists in India recently noted that “a large section of the world

population

is at risk of developing zinc deficiency.â€34 Traceable to inadequate zinc

content in the soil and a diet heavily reliant on cereals and grains, zinc

deficiency is believed to be responsible for a variety of ailments. According to

the Indian scientists, “Zinc deficiency in children results in stunting,

underweight, and increased risk of infections like diarrhea and pneumonia.â€34

One researcher noted that infant mortality is significantly reduced when zinc

supplements are given to low-birth-weight babies for one year, adding that

“zinc

deficiency may have adverse effects on physical growth and

neurodevelopment.â€35

Infants and children are prone to developing dermatitis, an itchy, inflammatory

skin condition. When zinc was orally administered to zinc-deficient infants

suffering from dermatitis, all experienced a resolution of their symptoms.48

31. Osendarp SJ, West CE, Black RE. The need for maternal zinc supplementation

in developing countries: an unresolved issue. J Nutr. 2003 Mar;133(3):817S-27S.

32. Surjawidjaja JE, Hidayat A, Lesmana M. Growth inhibition of enteric

pathogens by zinc sulfate: an in vitro study. Med Princ Pract. 2004

Sep;13(5):286-9.

33. Makonnen B, Venter A, Joubert G. A randomized controlled study of the impact

of dietary zinc supplementation in the management of children with

protein-energy malnutrition in Lesotho. I: Mortality and morbidity. J Trop

Pediatr. 2003 Dec;49(6):340-52.

34. Sinha R. National seminar on importance of zinc in human health. Indian

Pediatr. 2004 Dec;41(12):1213-7.

35. Bhatnagar S and Natchu UC. Zinc in child health and disease. Indian J

Pediatr. 2004 Nov;71(11):991-995.

48. Kienast A, Roth B, Bossier C, Hojabri C, Hoeger PH. Zinc-deficiency

dermatitis in breast-fed infants. Eur J Pediatr. 2006 Sep 8; [Epub ahead of

print].

R Vajda, R.D.

________________________________

To: rd-usa

Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 10:24:53 PM

Subject: Re: Zinc Works, but Exerts Price in Fight Against Colds

How much?? Long term high doses can actually decrease the immune system,

cause copper deficiency and decrease the HDL (along with the bad taste).

Hope you are not trying to kill him off :-) UL is 40 mg

On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 10:18 PM, Vajda

wrote:

>

>

> Has the higher incidence of side effects stopped us from using many

> pharmaceuticals? Although I'm being snide - I actually don't like the zinc

> lozenges either - pumpkin seeds - lots of zinc. I have had my husband on a

> zinc

> supp for years though - men need extra esp as they age, esp. if they use

> alcohol.

>

> R Vajda, R.D.

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: RD-USA <rd-usa >

> Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 7:55:28 PM

> Subject: Zinc Works, but Exerts Price in Fight Against Colds

>

>

> Although zinc may be helpful in treating and preventing the common cold in

> otherwise healthy individuals, the benefits come at the expense of some

> side

> effects, a Cochrane review showed.

>

> In an analysis of trials conducted since 1984, zinc reduced the average

> duration of cold symptoms by nearly a day when taken within 24 hours of

> symptom onset, and also eased symptom severity (*P*<0.05), according to

> Meenu Singh, MD, and Rashmi Das, MD, of the Post Graduate Institute of

> Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India.

>

> In prevention trials, zinc reduced the incidence of the common cold, school

> absences, and antibiotic use.

>

> But adverse events were more frequent in the zinc groups than in the

> placebo

> groups (56.2% versus 48.1%, *P*=0.06), a difference driven by significantly

> higher rates of reports of bad taste and nausea (*P*≤0.002 for both).

>

> " Given that some formulations (especially lozenges) produced side effects

> and not all formulations may be effective, the use of zinc to treat common

> cold symptoms is presently advised with caution, " Singh and Das wrote.

>

> Schaffner, MD, chair of the department of preventive medicine at

> Vanderbilt University, said in an e-mail to ABC News and *MedPage

> Today*that the review consolidates what is known about zinc for the

> common cold

>

> " The good news is that zinc has some benefit, " he wrote. " If taken very

> promptly, zinc seems to reduce the duration of a cold somewhat. Also,

> taking

> zinc as a preventive measure also seems to work somewhat. Neither effect is

> large, however.

>

> " The bad news is there are side effects to zinc, " Schaffner wrote. " Also,

> there are no standard zinc formulations. We still don't know what the best

> dosage is. "

>

> He said that he does not recommend zinc, but will describe the possible

> benefits and side effects to interested patients.

>

> Schaffner added that " the best treatment for a cold remains fluid,

> decongestants, and time. Avoid antibiotics! "

>

> In the U.S., the common cold results in 75 to 100 million physician visits

> a

> year, accounting for an estimated $7.7 billion annually. Americans spend

> another $2.9 billion on over-the-counter remedies and $400 million on

> prescription medications for symptom relief.

>

> In addition, colds are responsible for millions of days lost from school

> and

> work, with cold-related work losses exceeding $20 billion a year.

>

> Thus, Singh and Das wrote, " any medication that is only partially effective

> in the treatment and prevention of the common cold could markedly reduce

> morbidity and economic losses due to this illness. "

>

> Findings from trials evaluating zinc for the treatment and prevention of

> the

> common cold have yielded mixed results.

>

> So the researchers examined randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

> trials published since 1984 evaluating zinc -- in lozenge, tablet, or syrup

> form -- for treatment (lasting at least five days) or prevention (with

> participants taking the supplement for at least five months).

>

> They identified 13 treatment trials including 966 participants and two

> prevention trials including 394 participants. All of the trials were

> conducted in high-income countries.

>

> Overall, zinc had beneficial effects on the duration and severity of cold

> symptoms.

>

> A significantly smaller proportion of patients in the zinc group compared

> with the placebo group were still symptomatic after seven days of treatment

> (37.3% versus 56.3%; OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.00, *P*=0.05).

>

> In the prevention trials, the rate of the common cold was reduced with zinc

> from 61.8% to 38.2% (*P*=0.006). The average length of school absence was

> reduced by an average of 0.37 days, and fewer patients taking zinc received

> a prescription for antibiotics (12.7% versus 33%).

>

> The researchers described the quality of the evidence as moderate

> (indicating that further research may change the estimate) for the analyses

> of duration, severity, and incidence, and as low or very low for the other

> outcomes.

>

> Although zinc appears to be useful in treating or preventing the common

> cold, the mechanisms underlying the benefits remain unclear, according to

> Singh and Das.

>

> Possibilities include an interaction of zinc with the host's immune

> function, direct inhibition of viral replication, and a blocking of

> receptors on the nasal epithelium occupied by rhinoviruses during a cold.

>

> But even with the potential benefits, the researchers wrote, " the higher

> incidence of side effects in zinc-treated participants will most likely

> limit the usefulness of zinc in the treatment of cold symptoms.

>

> *Primary source: *The Cochrane Library

> Source reference:

> Singh M, Das R " Zinc for the common cold " *Cochrane Database Syst Rev*

> 2011;

> DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub3.

> link <http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/URIstheFlu/24892>

>

> --

> Ortiz, MS, RD

> *The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

>

> Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

> Check your own local deals <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=14288>

>

> *Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

>

> *

>

> *at the years people have behind them but also the

> *

>

> *quality of the years ahead of them.*

>

>

[Guest guest]

15 mg now,(RDA 11 mg) but when he was drinking a lot (not drinking now - yeah!)

I put a 15 in his am and pm - It's been a while since I looked into it, years

ago I read the Life Extension Foundation research quite a bit , they have useful

research leads to follow but I got tired of the constant sales pitch. - and if

they are such great vitamin people why haven't they heard about iodine?

www.lef.org Their vitamins are very well absorbed/ ie been pleased with

everything I have ordered over the years from them - just not very frugal -

although the magnesium is only $6.

Somewhere in my drift of research there is a great paper on heart disease and

abnormal labs - Zinc, selenium and magnesium are low in the men studied and

calcium is high and you can guess the 'D' is deficient - 25D. They didn't

check the 1-25 D.

www.lef.org/protocols/health_concerns/surgical_preparation_02.htm@ 100k

Zinc. This mineral functions as an important coenzyme in the production of

collagen, the chief protein in healing wound tissue; it has also recently been

determined to have an important antioxidant function in skin (Rostan EF et al

2002). The earliest sign of zinc deficiency in humans is often the development

of skin breakdown, and topical zinc treatments have been used for centuries with

good effect (Schwartz JR et al 2005). Animals made zinc deficient have slower

rates of collagen accumulation in wounds and diminished wound strength, while

zinc supplementation prior to creation of the wound (preoperatively) increased

the strength of the healing wound (Kaplan B et al 2004; Iriyama K et al 1982).

Quantitative studies of the effects of zinc supplementation in mice demonstrate

that adequate zinc has an antioxidant function and hastens wound healing, while

deficiency or very high doses delay healing (Lim Y et al 2004; Cario E et al

2000). Zinc may help in the healing, not only of skin wounds, but also of bone:

one study demonstrated that zinc supplementation hastened the healing of leg

fractures in rats (Igarashi A et al 1999).

In studies of patients who already had pressure ulcers, supplementation with a

combination of zinc, arginine, and vitamin C produced significant improvement

in treated patients compared with controls given placebo (Desneves KJ et al

2005; Frias SL et al 2004). A similar supplement was shown to delay the onset

of pressure ulcers in a group of patients recovering from hip surgery (Houwing

RH et al 2003). This combination is now widely recognized for patients

undergoing surgery of any kind (Singer P 2002).

www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_aas_02.htm@ 54k

Zinc’s value extends far beyond its ability to boost antioxidant defenses,

strengthen immunity, and relieve cold symptoms. Particularly in developing

nations, ensuring adequate zinc intake may be a matter of life or death,

particularly for children.

Infectious pathogens associated with contaminated water, such as typhoid fever

and cholera, are endemic in developing nations, where they cause dangerously

dehydrating diarrhea. Children are at special risk. In countries where zinc is

often deficient in the diet, zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce

infant mortality and decrease susceptibility to pneumonia, diarrhea, skin

infections, and fever.31-33 In fact, the World Health Organization and the

United Nations Children’s Fund have endorsed zinc supplementation as a

cost-effective treatment for diarrhea, which may be life threatening to

vulnerable children.

Scientists in India recently noted that “a large section of the world

population

is at risk of developing zinc deficiency.â€34 Traceable to inadequate zinc

content in the soil and a diet heavily reliant on cereals and grains, zinc

deficiency is believed to be responsible for a variety of ailments. According to

the Indian scientists, “Zinc deficiency in children results in stunting,

underweight, and increased risk of infections like diarrhea and pneumonia.â€34

One researcher noted that infant mortality is significantly reduced when zinc

supplements are given to low-birth-weight babies for one year, adding that

“zinc

deficiency may have adverse effects on physical growth and

neurodevelopment.â€35

Infants and children are prone to developing dermatitis, an itchy, inflammatory

skin condition. When zinc was orally administered to zinc-deficient infants

suffering from dermatitis, all experienced a resolution of their symptoms.48

31. Osendarp SJ, West CE, Black RE. The need for maternal zinc supplementation

in developing countries: an unresolved issue. J Nutr. 2003 Mar;133(3):817S-27S.

32. Surjawidjaja JE, Hidayat A, Lesmana M. Growth inhibition of enteric

pathogens by zinc sulfate: an in vitro study. Med Princ Pract. 2004

Sep;13(5):286-9.

33. Makonnen B, Venter A, Joubert G. A randomized controlled study of the impact

of dietary zinc supplementation in the management of children with

protein-energy malnutrition in Lesotho. I: Mortality and morbidity. J Trop

Pediatr. 2003 Dec;49(6):340-52.

34. Sinha R. National seminar on importance of zinc in human health. Indian

Pediatr. 2004 Dec;41(12):1213-7.

35. Bhatnagar S and Natchu UC. Zinc in child health and disease. Indian J

Pediatr. 2004 Nov;71(11):991-995.

48. Kienast A, Roth B, Bossier C, Hojabri C, Hoeger PH. Zinc-deficiency

dermatitis in breast-fed infants. Eur J Pediatr. 2006 Sep 8; [Epub ahead of

print].

R Vajda, R.D.

________________________________

To: rd-usa

Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 10:24:53 PM

Subject: Re: Zinc Works, but Exerts Price in Fight Against Colds

How much?? Long term high doses can actually decrease the immune system,

cause copper deficiency and decrease the HDL (along with the bad taste).

Hope you are not trying to kill him off :-) UL is 40 mg

On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 10:18 PM, Vajda

wrote:

>

>

> Has the higher incidence of side effects stopped us from using many

> pharmaceuticals? Although I'm being snide - I actually don't like the zinc

> lozenges either - pumpkin seeds - lots of zinc. I have had my husband on a

> zinc

> supp for years though - men need extra esp as they age, esp. if they use

> alcohol.

>

> R Vajda, R.D.

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: RD-USA <rd-usa >

> Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 7:55:28 PM

> Subject: Zinc Works, but Exerts Price in Fight Against Colds

>

>

> Although zinc may be helpful in treating and preventing the common cold in

> otherwise healthy individuals, the benefits come at the expense of some

> side

> effects, a Cochrane review showed.

>

> In an analysis of trials conducted since 1984, zinc reduced the average

> duration of cold symptoms by nearly a day when taken within 24 hours of

> symptom onset, and also eased symptom severity (*P*<0.05), according to

> Meenu Singh, MD, and Rashmi Das, MD, of the Post Graduate Institute of

> Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India.

>

> In prevention trials, zinc reduced the incidence of the common cold, school

> absences, and antibiotic use.

>

> But adverse events were more frequent in the zinc groups than in the

> placebo

> groups (56.2% versus 48.1%, *P*=0.06), a difference driven by significantly

> higher rates of reports of bad taste and nausea (*P*≤0.002 for both).

>

> " Given that some formulations (especially lozenges) produced side effects

> and not all formulations may be effective, the use of zinc to treat common

> cold symptoms is presently advised with caution, " Singh and Das wrote.

>

> Schaffner, MD, chair of the department of preventive medicine at

> Vanderbilt University, said in an e-mail to ABC News and *MedPage

> Today*that the review consolidates what is known about zinc for the

> common cold

>

> " The good news is that zinc has some benefit, " he wrote. " If taken very

> promptly, zinc seems to reduce the duration of a cold somewhat. Also,

> taking

> zinc as a preventive measure also seems to work somewhat. Neither effect is

> large, however.

>

> " The bad news is there are side effects to zinc, " Schaffner wrote. " Also,

> there are no standard zinc formulations. We still don't know what the best

> dosage is. "

>

> He said that he does not recommend zinc, but will describe the possible

> benefits and side effects to interested patients.

>

> Schaffner added that " the best treatment for a cold remains fluid,

> decongestants, and time. Avoid antibiotics! "

>

> In the U.S., the common cold results in 75 to 100 million physician visits

> a

> year, accounting for an estimated $7.7 billion annually. Americans spend

> another $2.9 billion on over-the-counter remedies and $400 million on

> prescription medications for symptom relief.

>

> In addition, colds are responsible for millions of days lost from school

> and

> work, with cold-related work losses exceeding $20 billion a year.

>

> Thus, Singh and Das wrote, " any medication that is only partially effective

> in the treatment and prevention of the common cold could markedly reduce

> morbidity and economic losses due to this illness. "

>

> Findings from trials evaluating zinc for the treatment and prevention of

> the

> common cold have yielded mixed results.

>

> So the researchers examined randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

> trials published since 1984 evaluating zinc -- in lozenge, tablet, or syrup

> form -- for treatment (lasting at least five days) or prevention (with

> participants taking the supplement for at least five months).

>

> They identified 13 treatment trials including 966 participants and two

> prevention trials including 394 participants. All of the trials were

> conducted in high-income countries.

>

> Overall, zinc had beneficial effects on the duration and severity of cold

> symptoms.

>

> A significantly smaller proportion of patients in the zinc group compared

> with the placebo group were still symptomatic after seven days of treatment

> (37.3% versus 56.3%; OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.00, *P*=0.05).

>

> In the prevention trials, the rate of the common cold was reduced with zinc

> from 61.8% to 38.2% (*P*=0.006). The average length of school absence was

> reduced by an average of 0.37 days, and fewer patients taking zinc received

> a prescription for antibiotics (12.7% versus 33%).

>

> The researchers described the quality of the evidence as moderate

> (indicating that further research may change the estimate) for the analyses

> of duration, severity, and incidence, and as low or very low for the other

> outcomes.

>

> Although zinc appears to be useful in treating or preventing the common

> cold, the mechanisms underlying the benefits remain unclear, according to

> Singh and Das.

>

> Possibilities include an interaction of zinc with the host's immune

> function, direct inhibition of viral replication, and a blocking of

> receptors on the nasal epithelium occupied by rhinoviruses during a cold.

>

> But even with the potential benefits, the researchers wrote, " the higher

> incidence of side effects in zinc-treated participants will most likely

> limit the usefulness of zinc in the treatment of cold symptoms.

>

> *Primary source: *The Cochrane Library

> Source reference:

> Singh M, Das R " Zinc for the common cold " *Cochrane Database Syst Rev*

> 2011;

> DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub3.

> link <http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/URIstheFlu/24892>

>

> --

> Ortiz, MS, RD

> *The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

>

> Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

> Check your own local deals <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=14288>

>

> *Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

>

> *

>

> *at the years people have behind them but also the

> *

>

> *quality of the years ahead of them.*

>

>