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Zinc Flu Treatment

Some people swear by zinc as a remedy for flu and cold symptoms, with some even saying it cures the common cold. Others have tried it and found no relief. Experts are also divided when it comes to zinc's effectiveness.

  1. What Zinc Does

    • Zinc is an essential mineral involved in cellular metabolism, immune function, healing wounds, normal growth and development, and the proper workings of the sense of smell and taste. The body cannot store zinc, so it must be ingested every day. The recommended daily requirement for zinc is 11 milligrams a day for men and 8 milligrams a day for women, according to the National Institutes of Health. People who use zinc as a treatment for the flu or cold take much larger doses.

    Effect on Viruses

    • Zinc has been shown to affect cold and flu viruses in the test tube, but experiments testing the effectiveness of zinc in treating viruses in humans have had mixed results, according to WebMD.com. "Zinc appears to have certain important effects on the immune system and it may have a direct effect on viruses," according to Health Central.com.

    Zinc Lozenges

    • The effect of zinc lozenges on the flu and colds is widely reported anecdotally, but has not been proven, according to WebMD.com, which wrote, "Others recommend zinc lozenges to help shorten cold symptoms--though [Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University] is not convinced of their effectiveness. 'If there is an effect [against colds and flu], it's a small one,' he says."

    When to Take

    • Some studies have shown that lozenges containing 9 mg to 24 mg of zinc can ease symptoms. In order for zinc lozenges to have any effect on the flu or a cold, they must be taken as soon as symptoms occur and continued every two to three hours, according to WebMD.com.

    No Effect on Preventing Flu

    • There is no evidence that taking zinc will help prevent the flu or the common cold.

    Cautions

    • Taken over a long period of time, high doses of zinc may cause a copper deficiency in the body. Nasal sprays containing zinc have been associated with loss of smell. The FDA recommends not using them.

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