Zinc lozenges might help with cold symptoms, but lab tests show zinc doesn't really fight cold viruses directly, so there's probably another reason they work.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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3

In vitro activity of zinc salts against human rhinoviruses

Cross-Sectional Study

In Vitro

1987 Apr

The study looked at how well zinc salts fight cold viruses in a lab and found they don't work very well, which backs up the idea that zinc lozenges might help cold symptoms in other ways, not by directly killing the virus.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

In vitro activity of zinc salts against human rhinoviruses

Score: 3

DOI: 10.1128/AAC.31.4.622

Similar Assertions

Zinc lozenges don't help reduce how long colds last or how bad they feel, whether you catch a cold naturally or in a study where they give you a cold virus.

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Taking zinc lozenges doesn't make cold symptoms less severe, according to a study with 273 people who were given cold viruses.

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Taking zinc lozenges for 5 days raises zinc levels in your blood, showing your body absorbs it, but it doesn't help with cold symptoms.

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When adults with cold symptoms take zinc gluconate lozenges, their colds might get better faster, but this only worked in a special test setting and not with real-world colds or different zinc types.

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Zinc salts tested in lab cells for cold viruses show they might not work well as a medicine because they could be more harmful than helpful.

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