[zylstra]

I recently questioned Consumer Reports about one of their articles. Since I didn't get an answer to my questions I'm posting the questions here. Perhaps some of you can help me find the information. Here's the email that I sent to support:

On page ConsumerReports.org - Zicam 1/07: Zicam Cold Remedy, Nasal Zinc, Loss of smell you state:

1) Test-tube studies have shown that high levels of zinc might curb the growth of cold viruses and boost production of infection-fighting substances.

Do you have a list of all the studies you researched and where I can find them?

2) But only about half the clinical trials we looked at for nasal zinc have found that it shortens or eases a cold.

Do you have a list of all the trials you researched and where I can find them?

3) More important, studies with animals and case reports suggest that nasal zinc may cause loss of smell, possibly permanent.

Do you have a list of all the studies you researched and where I can find them?

4) Last year we unearthed more than 200 complaints to the Food and Drug Administration about an impaired sense of smell, taste, or both after using zinc nasal products.

Where can I find these complaints?

5) Oral zinc is probably safe if you take less than 40 milligrams a day. But the evidence on its efficacy is also mixed.

Where is the evidence for this?

Thank you,

Signed

P.S. Searching your website for Zicam returns nothing, Consumer Reports Search Results .

To be fair the response from them that I received was very nice:

Thanks for taking the time to contact Consumer Reports. It is always a pleasure to hear from our readers!

We appreciate your taking the time to write us concerning our report on zinc and Zicam. After reading your correspondence, I'm sorry to inform you that I'm unable to provide you with the information you are seeking. As you can imagine, our technical and editorial staff are busily involved with the exhaustive research and preparation required for upcoming reports. Due to the significant demands our projects entail, those involved are unavailable to answer the tens of thousands of letters we receive.

However, I would like you to know that I have forwarded your letter to the appropriate staff members for their review and consideration for our future reports.

Thanks again for taking the time to write. Your interest in our work is greatly appreciated.

I've attached the report of the clinical trial that Zicam promotional materials refer to.

[J_9]

R,

Have you tried the National Institute of Health? MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Zinc

Another one of my favorites (albiet they are mostly just abstracts) is Entrez Pub Med

PubMed Home

I tried to search the FDA, but the site has changed drastically since my medical research days, and I am kind of studying right now. LOL

But I'll keep looking. This is rather interesting.

[N0help4u]

I don't know about Zicam but I will try to answer your question about zinc in general.
I hope I remember my reply that just got lost in cyberspace.
Zinc is good for colds/flus but most supplements are best when used with others that will optimize each other. Example, echineachea, vitamin C, E and goldenseal are all good for colds and flus and these optimize each other. You should not take echineachea or goldenseal long term. Also echineachea and goldenseal should be taken two weeks on two weeks off until you are better. My mother swears by it but often what works for one person might not work for another. I guess it has something to do with resistance.
You can over do zinc and should not take more than the rda.
I am not sure why they say zinc may decrease your ability to smell.
It may be the fact that it is sprayed directly in your nose.
A lost sense of smell and taste usually means a zinc deficiency.
From what I looked up to answer your question is that the Jury is still out on nasal zinc.
Often those studies are not worth anything because often they want a biased outcome against the supplement so they use poor quality not containing active ingredient, do not optimize and so forth. They did that with
Saw Palmento they didn't use one that had the active ingredient Beta Sito Sterol.
I lost all the links I had when the question disappeared for the minute or I would include them
This is an over all zinc that explains dosages and so forth.

Zinc information page. All about zinc and the role it plays in your diet.

The reply they sent you looks like a standard form letter companies have stacks of and send out when they don't want to be bothered.

[HistorianChick]

I don't know about medical testings, but I used Zicam a year ago when in desperate straights!

It was opening night of 70 Girls, 70, I was Fritzi, had solos and tapdances and bucus of lines... and felt the dreaded cold coming on. Took Zicam and it went away and I had a successful Opening Night! :)

[zylstra]

I just checked the search results for Zicam at the Consumer Reports website and it now does show results.

[marshadresten]

What I've already tried is the Zinc supplement of Dr. Mercola, and all I can say is I never been sick for almost a year now.