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by cheald 4193 days ago
I only have anecdotal data to add, but I've been using zinc lozenges for years for when I start to get sick (or my kids are exhibiting symptoms), and it really does dramatically shorten the cold and reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Are you aware of any information on the mechanism by which zinc works? I'm content knowing that it does, but it would be cool to understand what's going on with it.
1 comments
TheSpiceIsLife 4193 days ago
Zinc is essential for all sorts of human biological processes, including DNA transcription, DNA repair, and antioxidant defence. [1] Since most immune cells are don't live very long[2] one theory goes optimum zinc intake improves all cell reproduction but especially fast turnover cells.

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15542347 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_blood_cell#Overview

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cheald 4192 days ago
Interesting. Thank you!
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