Zinc lozenges

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Zinc lozenges

by agni_h1 » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:33 pm
There is a similar post for this CR,but the question is to evaluate.In this case we have to weaken.

Though sucking zinc lozenges has been promoted as treatment for the common cold, research has revealed no consistant effect. Recently,however, a zinc gel applied nasally has been shown
to greatly reduce the duration of colds. Since the gel contains zinc in the same form and concentration as the lozenges, the greater the effectiveness of the gel must be due to the fact that cold virus tend to concentrate in the nose, not the mouth.

Which of the following, if true , most sesiously weakens the argument?

A. Expiremental subjects who used the zinc gel not only had colds of shorter duration but also had less sever symptoms than did those who used a gel that did not contain zinc.
B. The mechanism by which zinc effects the viruses that caused the common cold has not been conclusively established.
C. to make them palatable, zinc lozenges generally contains other ingredients, such as citric acid,, that can interfer with the chemical activity of zinc.
D. no Zinc based remedy can have any effect unless it is taken or applied within 48 hrs of the onset of cold symptoms.
E. Drug company researchers experimenting with nasal spray beased on zinc have found that it has much the same effect on colds as the gel does.

Ans: C

But, I feel C strengthens the conclusion rather than weaken.Please help
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:48 pm
conclusion: cold virus tend to concentrate in the nose, not the mouth.
c) states that zinc lozenges have certain chemicals that interfere with zinc, and thus reason they are ineffective is that zinc can't work properly. (and not that cold virus concentrates in nose)
Thus weakening the argument.
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by sandeep800 » Sun Jun 05, 2011 1:47 am
Thanx Cans.C is correct..
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