Taking zinc lozenges helped more people get better from colds faster. For every 2 to 3 people who take them, one extra person recovers by day 5 compared to those not taking them.

Taking zinc acetate lozenges soon after cold symptoms start can help otherwise healthy adults recover from a cold about three times faster than if they didn't take them.

Taking zinc lozenges when you first feel a cold coming on doesn't really help you get better faster, according to a study on adults who get colds regularly.

Taking zinc lozenges with less than 75 mg per day doesn't seem to shorten how long a cold lasts, based on studies comparing them to fake pills. It might only work if you take enough.

Taking high-dose zinc lozenges every day might help adults get over colds faster—cutting how long you're sick by more than a third compared to not taking them.

Taking high-dose zinc lozenges for a cold for up to two weeks is generally safe and well-tolerated, with few side effects, according to studies with nearly 200 people.