AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 10, 1997 /PRNewswire/ -- With the winter cold season at hand, consumers should be aware that not all over-the-counter cold treatment lozenges containing zinc are created equal.

Says who? Says the man credited with formulating the closest thing thus far to a cure for the common cold, that's who. George Eby of Austin, who holds U.S. patents for his invention of zinc lozenges for the common cold, warns that anything less than a precise formulation releasing positive zinc ions can actually exacerbate a cold, not help cure it. "The determining factor whether a zinc lozenge is effective or not is zinc ion availability (ZIA)," Eby said. "If you have positive zinc ions released, studies conclusively show that the duration of your cold will be reduced significantly."

Eby points out for the lay person that zinc acetate and zinc gluconate-glycine are the only zinc compounds that release positive zinc ions. Other zinc compounds either release no zinc ions, which have no effects on colds, or negatively charged zinc species in solution, which actually make colds worse.The effects of zinc lozenges vary from one individual to another, and are influenced by how frequently the lozenges are used and the amount of positive zinc ions released by the lozenges, he said.

"It is obvious that some recent analyses of test data, particularly the recent Madigan Army Medical Center report, were methodologically flawed," Eby said. "Those conducting the analyses did not understand the significance of zinc ion availability." He noted that the correct analytical methodology was published in the peer reviewed Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (1997) 40, 483-493, while a more comprehensive 180-page explanation can be found on the Internet at http://coldcure.com.

Eby pointed out that extensive clinical research confirms that properly formulated zinc lozenges can have dramatic effects on dealing with the common cold.

"For nearly 15 years, there have been scientific studies conducted on different zinc lozenge formulations. We know for certain which have proven effective and which have not. It's all in the formulation," Eby said. "Now we have a very good understanding of proper dosage and delivery methods. Very simply, if you want to dramatically shorten the duration of your cold, allow zinc acetate or zinc gluconate-glycine lozenges to slowly dissolve in your mouth starting at the first sign of a cold and keep taking them until all symptoms are gone."

Eby said that if use of proper zinc lozenges is started early enough and repeated often enough, colds need not last more than a day.

"The simplest test for available zinc ions is the oral sensation of drying and astringency. The stronger these effects, the greater zinc ion availability," he said.

"For others to question the efficacy of all zinc lozenges based upon poor performance of incorrectly formulated zinc lozenges -- those releasing neutral or negative zinc species -- is wrong," he said. "We're all aware that there is 'good cholesterol' and 'bad cholesterol,' and the same is true with zinc lozenges. Positive zinc ions (good zinc) are present naturally in the nasal tissue as part of nature's defense against colds. Negatively charged zinc (bad zinc) from improperly made zinc lozenges destroy the nose's good zinc, thus worsening colds -- possibly severely worsening them in immunocompromised people," Eby said.

"Adding more positively charged zinc ions from zinc acetate or zinc gluconate-glycine lozenges simply helps out mother nature in getting rid of colds -- naturally."

Eby referred to a number of prominent researchers who have corroborated his findings. They include Dr. Charles Pasternak, professor of biochemistry at the University of London's St. George's Hospital Medical School; Dr. A.S. Prasad of Wayne State University School of Medicine; Dr. Guy Berthon, director of solution chemistry research at INSERM Unit 305 in Toulouse, France; and Dr. David A.J. Tyrrell, former director of the Common Cold Unit of the Medical Research Council and currently affiliated with the Public Health Laboratory Science Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, both in Salisbury, England.

Eby noted that several studies on zinc acetate lozenges which release positively charged zinc ions are due to be completed shortly at Wayne State University and elsewhere.

A number of prominent U.S. pharmaceutical firms market over-the-counter zinc-based lozenges under license agreements with Eby.

(Note: The only zinc lozenges on the U.S. commercial market known to release positively charged ions are Fast Dry(TM), Cold-Eeze(TM), Cepacol(R) ColdCare(TM), Cold-Free(TM), Cold Season Plus(TM).

SOURCE: Read-Poland Associates