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Zinc lozenges for colds — the evidence
A Cochrane review found zinc taken within 24 hours of the first symptoms shortens a cold by roughly a day in healthy adults, at the cost of a bad taste and some nausea. The effect is dose- and timing-dependent, and the lozenge form matters — tablets swallowed whole do not touch the throat where the virus is replicating.
Was die Evidenz sagt
Verdict: Some evidence. A Cochrane review found zinc taken within 24 hours of the first symptoms shortens a cold by roughly a day in healthy adults, at the cost of a bad taste and some nausea. The effect is dose- and timing-dependent, and the lozenge form matters — tablets swallowed whole do not touch the throat where the virus is replicating.
Was man wirklich tun soll
If you use it: start at the very first symptom, use lozenges (typically 75-90 mg of zinc per day, split through the day), and stop after a few days — long-term high-dose zinc causes copper deficiency and can blunt smell. Skip it if it makes you nauseous; the benefit is modest.
Source: Cochrane — zinc for the common cold (CD001364) · checked 2026-09-07
Selbsthilfe-Nachschlagewerk, keine medizinische Beratung. Kinder, ältere Erwachsene, Schwangerschaft und jeder mit einer Langzeiterkrankung sollten eine niedrigere Schwelle haben, eine Ärztin oder einen Arzt anzurufen. Schwere oder sich verschlechternde Symptome, Atemnot oder Verwirrtheit: holen Sie medizinische Hilfe.