Weekend Report: Do Cold Prevention Treatments Really Work?

Colds are an annoying, yet unavoidable, part of life. Adults catch two to four each winter, which is why it's easy to see the appeal of products that promise to lessen the symptoms of a cold -- or prevent one entirely. But do such products really work? Roxanne Sukol, a staff physician in the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute, is not convinced.

"I don't think the key to preventing a cold comes in a bottle," she says.

Instead, Sukol recommends a simple cold-preventing strategy of eating well, moving around during the day, and making sure to relax and get enough sleep. "Some combination of all of those things are what protects our immune system and gives us the best chance of protecting us when the bugs come," she says.

But what about the over-the-counter products on the market?

Take zinc lozenges such as Cold-EEZE. Researchers have proposed that zinc works by preventing rhinoviruses, which cause colds, from binding to cells, hindering infection.

But the dozens of studies of lozenges, nasal gels and sprays done over the past two decades show mixed results on lessening the length and severity of illness. A 2007 review of the research published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases concluded that the effectiveness of zinc lozenges had yet to be established and that nasal gels seemed to have an impact. But some intranasal zinc products have been pulled from the market because of concerns over loss of smell.

The bottom line, according to the The National Institutes of Health, is that zinc remains unproven.

Airborne and its generic copycats, dissolvable vitamin-packed supplements that contain an extra-large shot of vitamin C, are also popular. But there is no credible evidence that Airborne's blend of vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts reduces the severity or duration of colds, at least not according to the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The agency years ago brought false advertising charges against Airborne for calling itself a cold prevention and treatment remedy, and the case was settled in 2008. Airborne now bills itself as helping to support the immune system.

Sukol says extra vitamins are not particularly helpful in preventing a cold unless you've been diagnosed with a deficiency.

Vitamin C by itself gained credence as a cold-prevention tool after research by the Nobel prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling in the 1970s claimed high doses of it would reduce the incidence of colds for most people. Later studies have shown mixed or no results. Vitamin C by itself gained credence as a cold-prevention tool after research by the Nobel prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling in the 1970s claimed high doses of it would reduce the incidence of colds for most people. Later studies have shown mixed results.

For most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting a cold, according to the NIH. But for people exposed to physical stress, such as marathon runners, taking vitamin C regularly halved the risk of getting a cold, according to a 2007 Cochrane Review. (That same study showed that high doses of vitamin C taken after the onset of symptoms, and vitamin C taken regularly by ordinary people, had no effect.)

Scientific results are also mixed on the effectiveness of echinacea, an herb used to prevent and treat colds that is thought to help the immune system fight infections. A recent NIH-funded study of echinacea showed no statistically significant benefits in terms of decreasing the severity of symptoms or shortening the length of a cold.

What does work? A humidifier is a good tool for cold prevention and treatment, especially when temperatures drop and there isn't as much moisture in the air.

"I think it does help our mucus membranes work better" if a humidifier is present keeping them moist, Sukol says.

Nasal rinses such as the neti pot have been shown to be effective in preventing colds, too. The saltwater rinse helps keep nasal passages moist and flushes excess mucus and allergens from the nasal cavity.

Of course, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and washing your hands regularly are important, as well. Sneeze into your elbow and not your hand to avoid passing your cold to others, Sukol says.

And you can always try Mom's old favorite when you feel a cold coming on: chicken soup.

"It's a way of getting moisture into your body, so from that point of view, it's good," says Sukol. "All those people who say chicken soup is good for you, in time we may find out there's more to it than just the steam. We'll have to wait and see."

Source: AOL

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