Taking zinc lozenges soon after cold symptoms start can help adults get over their colds faster, cutting down how long you feel sick by about 1 to 4 days.

1

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

1

Community contributions welcome

1

Efficacy of Zinc Against Common Cold Viruses: An Overview

Narrative Review

2004 Sep-Oct

The study looked at zinc lozenges for colds and found they help shorten how long you feel sick if taken soon after symptoms start, which matches what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

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

Efficacy of Zinc Against Common Cold Viruses: An Overview

Score: 1

DOI: 10.1331/1544-3191.44.5.594.Hulisz

Similar Assertions

Taking zinc lozenges every couple of hours when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting the time you feel sick from about a week to just over four days.

42

0

96%

Taking zinc gluconate lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better about 7 days faster than if you didn't take them, according to a study.

46

0

91%

Taking high-dose zinc lozenges right when you start feeling a cold can shorten how long you're sick by almost half, according to studies in adults.

33

0

89%

Taking special high-strength zinc lozenges when you have a cold can help you get better about three days faster.

39

74

88%

Taking zinc lozenges every few hours might help people get over a cold faster, with more people feeling better in a week compared to those who don't take them.

46

0

88%