With cold season upon us, here's some good information to keep in mind: a meta-analysis of three randomized, placebo-controlled trials found that zinc acetate lozenges lessened the duration of the common cold by nearly three days. While previous research has come to a similar conclusion, the meta-analysis was unique in that the studies it included examined zinc's effectiveness across different groups of people—including those with varying allergy statuses, smoking habits, cold severity, ages, genders, and ethnicity—and found that the zinc lozenges were equally effective across the board. Therefore, based on these findings, it appears that zinc could be an effective cold-alleviator for most people. If you’d like to stock up on zinc so you’re prepared when a cold strikes, lozenges that contain zinc gluconate or acetate, and that are free of artificial colors and flavors, might be your best choice.

Source: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology