Zinc for the common cold
Cochrane · 2024
Reviewed guidance
Zinc (oral lozenges) for common cold
A 2024 systematic review found that zinc used to treat a cold may shorten symptoms by about 2 days compared with placebo. However, confidence in the evidence was low because studies used different zinc preparations, doses and methods. It is unclear whether zinc meaningfully reduces symptom severity.
What this means
May shorten the duration of a common cold when started soon after symptoms begin.
How to use it: Use an oral zinc product according to its label and start it soon after cold symptoms begin. Do not use zinc products inside the nose.
Safety & cautions
Oral zinc can cause an unpleasant or altered taste, nausea and stomach upset. Do not use zinc sprays, gels or swabs inside the nose because intranasal zinc has been linked to loss of smell, which may be permanent. High-dose or prolonged zinc use can cause copper deficiency and may interact with some medicines, including certain antibiotics and penicillamine.
Get medical care for symptoms that are severe, last longer than expected, get worse, or otherwise concern you.
Household preparations
Practical ways to use the ingredient may not provide the same form or amount discussed in the evidence.
Evidence transparency