The popular supplement that can help shorten your cold

Taking zinc supplements this winter may help you get over a cold faster, according to experts.

The essential mineral cannot stop you from falling ill but multiple studies have shown that taking the nutrient daily could reduce the length of symptoms by as much as a few days.

A 2016 study in Michigan found that people who were given zinc lozenges slashed symptoms by up to three days, and a 2021 review of past research found that taking zinc lozenges could shorten the length of a cold by two days.

A cold typically lasts between seven and 10 days.

“It indeed did shorten common cold symptoms by about two or three days," James Fitzgerald, a professor emeritus at University of Michigan Medical School, told NPR. "I was stunned by that result."

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Part of the reason zinc works is because of its impact on the immune system. Zinc helps to make immune system cells that fight germs behind the common cold, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“This important nutrient plays key roles in fighting germs, healing wounds and more,” the Clinic’s registered dietitian Julia Zumpano said.

More than 20 percent of American adults take zinc supplements. Still, about 15 percent of Americans don’t get enough zinc, which is also an antioxidant that helps to protect eyesight and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol.

Doctors recommend adult women get eight milligrams and men get 11 milligrams. People can get those from supplements. The participants of most studies took more than 75 milligrams a day.

There are also natural sources of zinc such as turkey breast, cheddar cheese, oysters, shrimp, lentils and pumpkin seeds. Raw oysters have the most, with 32 milligrams of zinc in three ounces, according to Harvard Medical School.

“It’s usually easy to get the recommended amount of zinc without supplements,” Zumpano said.

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Taking zinc supplements may come with unintended side effects. Some people may lose their sense of smell, according to the Mayo Clinic, and others could also feel nauseous or dizzy, get a headache, have diarrhea, vomit or have a negative reaction with a medication they’re taking.

Adults should take no more than 40 milligrams a day unless their doctor says otherwise.

When taken for a short period of time and in low doses, however, doctors say zinc lozenges are a safe option to try.

Start at the first signs of a cold, Lisa Statner, a clinical dietitian with Keck Medicine, explained.

“To improve absorption, take zinc supplements with protein-rich foods or vitamin C, but avoid taking them with dairy products or high-fiber meals,” she said.