Zinc Gluconate

The role of zinc(II) in clinical responses is complex and inconsistent. Nevertheless the idea that Zn(II) supplementation might improve the immunodeficiency in AIDS patients has prompted clinical trials of Zn(II) in humans. The results have been controversial in one study no significant effect of zinc gluconate in patients with AIDS-related complex was observed (383), while in another study (384), the administration of Zn(II) showed promising effects. At neutral pH, Zn(II) is an effective inhibitor of HIV protease (385). 

Zinc acetate, zinc gluconate Nasal Ease with Zinc, Nasal Ease with Zinc Gluconate (Health Care Products)... 

Zinc (Gluconate) oral solution For acute diarrhoea... 

Sodium chloride Zinc acetate Zinc gluconate Ephedrine sulfate... 

Eby, G.A., et al. 1984. Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 25 20. 

Zinc Gluconate occurs as a white or nearly white, granular or crystalline powder and as a mixture of various states of... 

Zinc gluconate in the form of a lozenge has been marketed for the treatment of the common cold there has been no definitive conclusion as to whether it is effective in treating cold symptoms, although differences in study methodology may partially explain the conflicting results that have been reported... 

Mossad, S.B. Macknin, M.L. Medendorp, S.V. Mason, P. Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold—a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann. Intern. Med. 1996, 125, 81-89. 

Macknin, ML. Piedmonte, M. Calendine, C. Janosky, J. Wald, E. Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold in children—a randomized controlled trial. JAMA... 

Marshall, S. Zinc gluconate and the common cold. Review 14. of randomized controlled trials. Can. Fam. Physician 1998,... 

Bacitracin zinc has been used for giardiasis (12), in which it appears effective. In the doses used, adverse effects have been limited to nausea, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea in a small number of patients. Similar effects have been noted when zinc gluconate lozenges were administered for the common cold (13). 

Mossad SB +, Ann Intern Med 125(2), 81 (zinc gluconate) Oral lichen planus... 

As only limited data are available for zinc distearate the assessment was based on toxicological data of other zinc compounds like zinc gluconate, zinc sulphate or zinc oxide assuming that the availability of zinc ions is controlling the toxicological behaviour. It is further assumed that calcium does not contribute to adverse effects at the expected concentration levels. 

The formulation of zinc used should have good patient acceptance to improve compliance. An easily soluble salt such as a zinc citrate/sulphate mix (Solvazinc ) or a zinc gluconate preparation are preferred to capsules of solid zinc sulphate. The zinc should be taken with food to minimise any gastrointestinal irritation. Dosage, in divided amounts, should be 100-150 mg/day and continued for at least three months or longer. 

Zinc Zinc gluconate lozenges Flu/cold symptoms Nausea mouth/throat irritation. 

A 15% decrease in erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity was reported in male volunteers receiving 50 mg zinc/day as zinc gluconate for 6 weeks (Fisher et al. 1984). 

An MRL of 0.3 mg zinc/kg/day has been derived for intermediate oral exposure to zinc. The MRL was based on hematological effects, specifically deaeased hematocrit, serum ferritin, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, in women given daily supplements of 50 mg zinc as zinc gluconate for 10 weeks (Yadrick et al. 1989). The LOAEL of 1 mg/kg/day was derived from 9.72 mg zinc/day, the estimation of dietary zinc for females (20-30 years old) from the FDA Total Diet study for 1982-1986 (Pennington et al. 1989), plus 50 mg zinc/day, the reported supplemental zinc dose. 

A chronic-duration inhalation MRL could not be derived for zinc because neither of the inhalation studies reported the levels of airborne zinc. Due to a lack of adequate chronic-duration oral studies, the intermediate-duration oral MRL was adopted as the chronic-duration oral MRL, based on hematological effects (decreased hematocrit, serum ferritin, and erythrocyte dismutase) in women given zinc gluconate supplements for 10 weeks (Yadrick et al. 1989). Additional studies involving chronic exposure to zinc compounds by all routes of exposure would be helpful to identify dose-response relationships. 

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