TABLE 2.
Human clinical studies using zinc as an antiviral therapy 1
| Viral infection/condition | Antiviral/therapeutic effect | Effective dose | Treatment | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torque teno virus | Reduced viral load following stem cell transplant | 600 mg ZnSO4/d | Oral | (83) |
| Herpes simplex | Reduced duration and severity of outbreak | ZnO/glycine cream (0.3% ionic Zn) | Topical | (57) |
| Reduction in outbreak recurrence | 0.025% ZnSO4 solution | Topical | (84) | |
| Reduction in outbreak recurrence | 1–4% ZnSO4 solution | Topical | (58) | |
| Experimental rhinovirus | Reduced duration of illness with Zn(Glu)2 only | Zn(Glu)2 (13.3 mg) or Zn(OAc)2 (5/11.5 mg) lozenges, every 2–3 h/d | Lozenge | (85) |
| Common cold | Reduced symptom severity, frequency, and duration | ZGG lozenges containing 23 mg Zn, every 2 h/d | Lozenge | (86) |
| Reduced symptom severity, frequency, and duration | ZGG lozenges containing 24 mg Zn, every 2–3 h/d (Max 8) | Lozenge | (87) | |
| Reduced duration of symptoms | ZGG lozenges containing 13 mg Zn, every 2 h/d | Lozenge | (88) | |
| Reduced symptom severity and duration | Zn(OAc)2 lozenges each containing 9 mg Zn, every 2 h/d | Lozenge | (89) | |
| Reduced symptom severity and duration | Zn(OAc)2 lozenges each containing 13 mg Zn, every 2–3 h/d | Lozenge | (90) | |
| No effect on duration or severity | Zn(Glu)2 (13.3 mg) or Zn(OAc)2 (5/11.5 mg) lozenges, every 2–3 h/d | Lozenge | (85) | |
| Reduced symptom severity and duration | Zn(OAc)2 lozenges each containing 13 mg Zn, every 2–3 h/d | Lozenge | (91) | |
| Viral warts | Improved clearance of warts after 1–2 mo | 10 mg/ kg ZnSO4 to a maximum dose of 600 mg/d | Oral | (92) |
| Clearance of warts based on concentration of zinc used | 3 × 5 or 10% ZnSO4/d | Topical | (93) | |
| Improved clearance of warts after 1–2 mo | 10 mg/ kg ZnSO4 to a maximum dose of 600 mg/d | Oral | (94) | |
| No benefit | 10 mg/ kg ZnSO4/d | Oral | (95) | |
| Resolution of 88% of lesions after 6 wk/3 sessions | Up to 3 intralesional injections with 2% ZnSO4 | Injection | (96) | |
| Laryngeal papillomatosis | Resolution of papillomatosis (2 case studies) | 10 mg/ kg ZnSO4/d | Oral | (97) |
| HIV | Reduced infection, increased CD4 T cell count | 200 mg/d ZnSO4/d | Oral | (98) |
| Increased CD4 T cell count | 45 mg Zn(Glu)2 every 8 h for 15 d, then 15 mg for 15 d | Oral | (99) | |
| Reduced incidence of diarrhea | 10 mg elemental zinc as ZnSO4/d | Oral | (100) | |
| No benefit | 25 mg/d ZnSO4/d | Oral | (101) | |
| Chronic hepatitis C virus | Enhanced response to IFN treatment | 2 × 75 mg polaprezinc/d | Oral | (102) |
| No benefit to IFN treatment response | 5 × 78 mg Zn(Glu)2/d | Oral | (103) | |
| Reduced serum AST, ALT, and ferritin | 3 × 75 mg polaprezinc/d | Oral | (104) | |
| Reduced serum ALT and Th2 cells (%) | 2 × 75 mg polaprezinc/d | Oral | (105) | |
| Reduced incidence of HCC (albumin-dependent) | 2 × 150 mg polaprezinc/d | Oral | (106) |
1ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; ZGG, zinc gluconate/glycine; Zn(Glu)2, zinc gluconate; ZnO, zinc oxide; Zn(OAc)2, zinc acetate; ZnSO4, zinc sulfate.