Does zinc help colds?
Various studies have looked at using zinc lozenges to shorten the length of colds. Some say it helps, while others say it doesn’t. Why is there so much variation in results? The answer may be in the form of zinc, what it’s taken with, and how soon you begin using it. Four dozen people were given 12.8 mg of zinc acetate every two to three hours within 24 hours of experiencing cold symptoms. The symptoms lasted half as long in those taking the zinc lozenges as for those taking a placebo (4.5 days compared with 8.1 days). Coughs were reduced significantly (three days for zinc; six days for placebo).
