Zinc gluconate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Zinc gluconate | |
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| Chemical name | Zinc Gluconate |
| Chemical formula | C12H22O14Zn |
| Molecular mass | 455.685 g/mol |
| CAS number | [4468-02-4] |
| Density | |
| Melting point | unknown °C |
| Boiling point | unknown °C |
| SMILES | C(C(C(C(C(C(=O)[O-])O)O)O)O)O. C(C(C(C(C(C(=O)[O-])O)O)O)O)O.[Zn+2] |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Zinc gluconate is the salt of gluconate and zinc II. It is an ionic compound consisting of two moles of gluconate for each mole of zinc.
Zinc gluconate is a popular form for the delivery of zinc as a dietary supplement.
It is found naturally, and can easily be manufactured using a fermentation process. In its pure form, it is a white to off-white powder.
Zinc gluconate may interfere with the absorption of antibiotics, so combinations may be unsafe.
Contents |
[edit] Zinc gluconate glycine
Zinc gluconate glycine is a formulation containing zinc gluconate and the amino acid glycine. It is available as an over-the-counter remedy for the common cold.
Zinc gluconate, when made into a lozenge by itself, has a mildly acidic taste, which will turn into a bitter taste over a period of time. The addition of large amounts of glycine to the lozenge produces a much milder and more stable taste. The resulting commercial products have a nearly unlimited shelf life.
This compound was patented in 1985 by The Quigley Corporation, which has trademarked the name ZIGG™ for the compound. The company is also the only major supplier of zinc gluconate glycine, distributed under the brand name Cold-Eeze. All clinical trials of the compound to date have involved the lozenges in this product family.
Like zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate glycine has been shown in clinical trials to shorten the mean and median duration of symptoms of the common cold. The amount of glycine added can range anywhere from two to twenty moles of glycine for each mole of zinc gluconate (US Patent 4,684,528, Claim 1). The addition of glycine significantly reduces the effectiveness of the base compound, roughly proportionally to the ratio of glycine to zinc gluconate.
The manufacturer claims that their product reduces the duration of common cold symptoms by 42%, compared to the natural duration. However, as stated above, the actual benefits gained from the product depend heavily on the amount of glycine added. Repeated clinical trials of the compound have generally shown a measurable, but varied, benefit relative to a placebo, typically on the order of a one to four day reduction in symptom duration.[1][2]
[edit] Safety Concerns
In September 2003, Zicam, the best selling brand for zinc cold remedy had lawsuits that came against it for people who accused the medicine of ruining their sense of smell and sometimes, taste. In January 2006, they settled 340 lawsuits for $12 million dollars. In early 2004, at the height of the controversy, Zicam countered that it was a small number of people who had experienced the problems and that the common cold is already something among many things, that can cause the anosomia (loss of smell). They also said that when zinc gluconate dissolves it forms zinc ions and gluconate, a naturally occuring compound found in all human tissues and that Zicam is a bufferred gel that is formulated to have a neutral pH. Others countered Matrixx Industries, the maker of Zicam, that many of the patients had experienced a strong and very painful burning sensation when they used the product, indicating damage to the nasal tissue. The nasal gel continues to be sold, however, there are also non-nasal products shown, which have no risks.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Patent 4,758,439 - Flavor of zinc supplements for oral use
- U.S. Patent 4,684,528 - Flavor of zinc supplements for oral use
- Review of multiple zinc-based cold treatments
- Clinical information from manufacturer
- Jost Chemical
- [1]
- [2]
- Link page to external chemical sources.
[edit] References
- 1 D. Hulisz (2004). "Efficacy of zinc against common cold viruses: an overview.". PMID 15496046
- 2 BH McElroy (2003). "An open-label, single-center, phase IV clinical study of the effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine lozenges (Cold-Eeze) in reducing the duration and symptoms of the common cold in school-aged subjects.". PMID 12975716
