A recent double-blind placebo controlled study may help clarify the role of zinc lozenges for reducing cold duration and provide and explanation for its benefits. Echinacea, an herbal dietary supplement, derived from either or both the root and aerial portions of the plant may also have beneficial effects on immune function. This may explain discrepancies in the research regarding the effectiveness of Echinacea for treating the common cold. But some people don t have optimal levels of nutrients in their systems to fight off an infection quickly, Fuchs lamented. And sometimes impatience gets the better of people who want a scratchy throat or stuffy head to clear as soon as possible.
Many people turn to dietary supplements to combat the cold and flu.
This can be expensive. Over 4.5 billion dollars were spent on vitamin and nutritional supplements in 1995, the most recent statistics listed by Current Industrial Reports. Still, the National Center for Health Statistics reports 95 million cases of flu and another 61 million cases of the common cold annually. These illnesses don t deter many people from daily activities. Even when Americans are sick, work seems to be a priority.