Cures for the common cold - the evidence

Cures for the common cold: vitC, Zn, NSAID (anti-inflammatories like Motrin/Alleve/Advil,) maybe garlic

[Maintenance *preventative* vitamin C helps but therapeutic *rescue* vitamin C doesn't]. Wouldn't bother with zinc because of the bad taste reported.

In the general community trials involving 10,708 participants, the pooled relative risk [of getting a cold] was 0.97 [meaning absolutely no beneficial effect.] Five trials involving a total of 598 marathon runners, skiers and soldiers on subarctic exercises yielded a pooled relative risk of 0.48  
"the effect of regular vitamin C on common cold duration...in adults the duration of colds was reduced by 8% (3% to 12%).. The severity of colds was also reduced by regular vitamin C...No consistent effect of vitamin C was seen on the duration or severity of colds in the therapeutic [i.e. given after the cold started, as opposed to preventive maintenance vitamin C] trials....given the consistent effect of vitamin C on the duration and severity of colds in the regular supplementation studies, and the low cost and safety, it may be worthwhile"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4/abstract


Zinc for the common cold.
"zinc was associated with a significant reduction in the duration (days) (mean difference (MD) -1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.72 to -0.34) (P = 0.003) (I2 statistic = 89%) but not the severity of common cold symptoms...The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing a cold (IRR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.88) (P = 0.006) (I2statistic = 88%), school absence (P = 0.0003) and prescription of antibiotics (bad taste (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.11) (P < 0.00001) and nausea (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.23) (P = 0.002)"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4/abstract


"Acetaminophen may help relieve nasal obstruction and rhinorrhoea but does not appear to improve some other cold symptoms...The data in this review do not provide sufficient evidence to inform practice regarding the use of acetaminophen for the common cold"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008800.pub2/abstract


"...NSAIDs did not significantly reduce the total symptom score... For respiratory symptoms, cough did not improve...but the sneezing score significantly improved (SMD -0.44, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.12...) For outcomes related to the analgesic effects of NSAIDs (headache, ear pain, and muscle and joint pain) the treatment produced significant benefits...
NSAIDs are somewhat effective in relieving discomfort caused by a cold but there is no clear evidence of their effect in easing respiratory symptoms."
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006362.pub3/abstract


"146 participants to either a garlic supplement... reported 24 occurrences of the common cold in the garlic intervention group compared with 65 in the placebo group (P value < 0.001), resulting in fewer days of illness in the garlic group compared with the placebo group (111 versus 366). The number of days to recovery from an occurrence of the common cold was similar in both groups (4.63 versus 5.63)"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006206.pub4/abstract

Cochrane database: Garlic for the common cold.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419312/

Cold remedies:

Honey
 A Cochrane systematic review was published in April 2018 looking at the effects and harms of honey in helping relieve cough in children.

The review shows that honey is probably effective in relieving cough symptoms and may be as effective as OTC preparations. A simple remedy our grandmothers would endorse. You can read more in my blog here.

Vitamin D
 Vitamin D is best known for its effect on calcium metabolism and for keeping our bones healthy. It would appear to have benefits in preventing the common cold as well. Prof. Adrian Martineau led a team of authors of a systematic review published in the BMJ in 2017, which investigated the effect of Vitamin D on upper respiratory infections (URTIs). The review concluded that there is high certainty evidence that vitamin D supplements help prevent URTIs, especially in those who have a deficiency.

In summary:

As things stand, we are destined to continue to suffer from colds. There is as yet no effective vaccine available and no conclusively proven preventative measure that can help keep us immune.

OTC antihistamine and decongestant preparations taken alone or in combination may help a little in relieving symptoms.

Otherwise, its down to common sense …… and pass the tissues.

https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/just-pass-tissues/