Thomas et al., JAMA Network Open,
doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0369 (Peer Reviewed)
Effect of High-Dose Zinc and Ascorbic Acid Supplementation vs Usual Care on Symptom Length and Reduction Among Ambulatory Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection: The COVID A to Z Randomized Clinical Trial
Small 214 low-risk outpatient RCT showing non-statistically significant faster recovery with zinc and with vitamin C. The zinc dosage appears low, 50mg zinc glcuonate (7mg elemental zinc). Study performed in the USA where zinc deficiency is relatively uncommon.
NCT04342728.
The dose of zinc is a tenth of that shown to reduce duration of colds in other studies [1].
Thomas et al., 2/12/2021, Randomized Controlled Trial, USA, North America, peer-reviewed, 11 authors.
recovery time, 11.9% lower, relative time 0.88, p = 0.38, treatment 58, control 50, mean time to a 50% reduction in symptoms, p value approximated with combined p value in study.
Effect extraction follows
pre-specified rules
prioritizing more serious outcomes. For an individual study the most serious
outcome may have a smaller number of events and lower statistical signficance,
however this provides the strongest evidence for the most serious outcomes
when combining the results of many trials.