Zinc Preparations Studied Against the Common Cold

        -oral lozenges
                -23mg zinc gluconate
                        -associated with increased side effects (zinc toxicity)
                -10mg zinc acetate with tartaric acid, bicarbonate, mannitol
                        -zinc acetate has never proven effective
                        -possible chelation, thus inactivating the zinc
                -23mg zinc gluconate with mannitol and sorbitol
                        -associated with increased side effects (zinc toxicity)
                        -possible chelation, thus inactivating the zinc
                -4.5mg zinc gluconate with malitol
                        -low dose that may not achieve beneficial zinc levels
                -23.7 zinc gluconate with glycine and tannic acid
                        -associated with increased side effects (zinc toxicity)
                -13.7mg zinc gluconate
                        -**has been shown to be effective with fewer side effects

        -nasal preparations
                -0.12% zinc sulfate heptahydrate nasal spray
                        -low dose that may not achieve beneficial zinc level
                -2.1mg per day zinc sulfate nasal gel

Oral Lozenges Versus Nasal Preparations

Oral forms of zinc may not reach the nasal mucosa, one possible site of action. Nasal preparations on the other hand do reach the nasal mucosa where the zinc may cause inhibition of rhinovirus binding to the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 located in the nasal mucosa.