"Does zinc affect the symptoms of the common cold?" Only high quality studies were included wherein people were given zinc or a placebo, but neither they nor the scientists knew which until afterwards. The results of all the studies were combined, so, without doing any new experiments, we can aim for the best possible knowledge about whether something works or not. In this case, the results for just under a thousand otherwise healthy patients were used.

http://www.interesti...mmon-cold-zinc/

 

Would you take zinc to improve recovery from the Common Cold?

No, I wouldn't bother. I'm confident that my diet contains plenty already and I know that an excess of it (like everything else) can be toxic.

I've taken a zinc supplement every day now for two decades, and yet I frequently develop serious colds. What type of amounts are we talking about here to get an adequate response?

See- http://jn.nutrition.org/content/130/5/1512S.short (free download of full article available)

No evidence for effectiveness. SM

I'm taking zinc supplements for a different reason and still get a cold from time to time.

And why wouldn't I? Sounds like something homeopaths would come up with...