Is zinc a safe cold remedy?
Zinc nasal sprays are known to cause a loss of the sense of smell in animals, and there have been several reports of people having decreased sense of smell or completely losing their sense of smell from zinc nasal sprays. Due to this risk of a loss of smell, many experts recommend that you avoid zinc nasal sprays completely. Zinc supplements are not recommended for children as they are even more sensitive to zinc and develop side effects at much lower zinc levels. Yes, zinc is necessary for optimal health and is safe to take when ingested through food sources such as seafood and eggs. But supplementing with higher doses of zinc, particularly long term, can be toxic.
