Zinc 15mg With Vitamin C Tablets - 90 capsules

How does Zinc & Vitamin C work? The science behind the secret…

Zinc & the Common Cold

Studies have shown that taking Zinc at the onset of a cold can help reduce the severity and length of cold symptoms.

A recent study, based on a review of 15 scientific trials, which included more than 1,300 participants, found that taking Zinc could reduce the duration of a cold if taken within 24 hours of the symptoms occurring. The study also found that participants who took Zinc for 5 months or more appeared to have a high immunity against catching colds.

The researchers included 15 trials involving 1,360 people in their analysis. Of these, 13 trials with 966 participants assessed treatment of colds with zinc. Two trials, with 394 participants, assessed prevention. All 15 trials were conducted in high-income countries among healthy people, and the participants ages ranged from one year to 65 years old. Zinc was provided in the form of syrup, lozenges or tablets.

Not all studies were useful for all of the analyses, but the researchers grouped the relevant ones together to assess their main outcomes. Overall:

• A pooling of results from six studies showed that the intake of zinc was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of colds
• Pooling five studies found that the severity of symptoms was also significantly reduced with zinc intake
• People taking zinc were less likely to have cold symptoms beyond seven days of treatment when the five relevant studies were pooled.
• Taking zinc for at least five months reduced the incidence of colds in the two studies that measured this outcome.
• Two studies combined showed that school absence and antibiotic prescriptions were lower in people taking zinc for at least five months.

*Source: www.NHS.uk

Wintergerst ES et al, Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 2006;50(2):85-94:

Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions

Vitamin C concentrations in the plasma and leukocytes rapidly decline during infections and stress. Supplementation of vitamin C was found to improve components of the human immune system such as antimicrobial and natural killer cell activities, lymphocyte proliferation, chemotaxis, and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Vitamin C contributes to maintaining the redox integrity of cells and thereby protects them against reactive oxygen species generated during the respiratory burst and in the inflammatory response. Likewise, zinc under nutrition or deficiency was shown to impair cellular mediators of innate immunity such as phagocytosis, natural killer cell activity, and the generation of oxidative burst. Therefore, both nutrients play important roles in immune function and the modulation of host resistance to infectious agents, reducing the risk, severity, and duration of infectious diseases. This is of special importance in populations in which insufficient intake of these nutrients is prevalent. In the developing world, this is the case in low- and middle-income countries, but also in subpopulations in industrialized countries, e.g. in the elderly. A large number of randomized controlled intervention trials with intakes of up to 1 g of vitamin C and up to 30 mg of zinc are available. These trials document that adequate intakes of vitamin C and zinc ameliorate symptoms and shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections including the common cold. Furthermore, vitamin C and zinc reduce the incidence and improve the outcome of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea infections, especially in children in developing countries.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) States:

Nutrition experts at the Harvard School of Public Health have created an online version of a food pyramid with a notation recommending a "daily multivitamin plus extra vitamin D (for most people)."

Recognizing the special nutritional needs of senior citizens, researchers at Tufts University designed a food guide pyramid for the elderly, which features a flag at the top as a reminder that supplements of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12 may be needed for optimal health. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) has a policy statement emphasizing the importance of good food choices but also recognizing that supplements can help some people meet their nutritional needs.

Supplement use should be seen as one component of the search for a healthier lifestyle, including improvements in overall food habits and engaging in physical exercise.

A generous intake of calcium plus vitamin D demonstrably helps build optimum bone mass during childhood and adolescence and also slows the rate of bone loss that naturally occurs with ageing.

Nutritional supplements are helpful in addressing a woman's increased nutrient needs during pregnancy. Prenatal multivitamins with minerals are commonly prescribed to ensure that both the baby's and the mother's needs are met. In addition to meeting normal nutritional needs during pregnancy, a multivitamin can also play a critical role in protecting against some birth defects. An abundance of data shows that women who get 400 mcg of supplemental folic acid per day for one to three months prior to conception and one to three months after conception can substantially lower the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida.

While adequate nutrient intake is critical for all age groups, it may have particular significance for the elderly. Calcium and vitamin D supplements, as previously noted, can have a powerful impact on bone health, and the Surgeon General says it is never too late to benefit from improved intakes of these nutrients. Vitamin D may also reduce the incidence of falls in older people. Vitamin and mineral supplements have been shown in some studies to improve immune functionin the elderly.

Low zinc intakes are associated with an increased risk of infections, including pneumonia. Supplemental intakes of vitamin E have had a positive effect in decreasing upper respiratory infections in some studies. For these reasons, it makes sense to encourage the elderly to use multivitamin and mineral supplements.

The bottom line is that a healthy lifestyle must include a focus on dietary improvement. Generous intakes of the essential nutrients will support the normal functioning of the body and enhance health in a myriad of ways. The rational use of nutritional supplements, combined with a healthy diet, will contribute substantially to health promotion and disease prevention.