Health
Does Zinc Help Fight Against Colds? Here's What Research Has to Say
Written by
December 13, 2021
Dubbed a “secret drug” amongst alchemists and physicians dating back to 1771, zinc has proven to be one of the most essential minerals found in the body (1).
And if you don’t have enough, your immunity, senses, and overall health will plummet.
But, can zinc really fight off colds? And if so, how long does it take to do so?
Read on to find out…
Table Of Contents
What Is Zinc?
Zinc is a mineral found in the body, second only to iron in its concentration—with adults containing approximately 2 to 3 grams (2). Although it’s one of the most abundant elements in the body, zinc can’t be stored in significant amounts. Thus, it must be obtained through food and/or supplementation.
In developing countries, zinc deficiency is especially common—contributing to 260,000 and 182,000 deaths in Africa and Asia in 2014, respectively. Deficiency can arise from decreased intake, inadequate absorption, increased metabolic demand, or excessive loss (3).
Zinc is involved in the following:
- Immune function
- Protein synthesis
- DNA synthesis
- Cell division
- Cell growth
- Wound healing
- Breakdown of carbohydrates
- Enhancing insulin action
- Sense of smell and taste
- Proper growth and development during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood
The History of Zinc
Zinc’s health properties were first discovered in plants. In 1869, a man by the name of Raulin—a student of Louis Pasteur—found that zinc was required for the growth and development of Aspergillus niger (a type of fungus that causes black mold).
That hypothesis was further confirmed in 1914 when Mazé found that zinc was required for the growth of corn. The health benefits of zinc remained up in the air until 1926 when Sommer and Lipman found that zinc was an essential mineral for the growth and development of sunflowers and barley (see image) (4).
Sunflowers grown with (left) and without (right) zinc.
Since 1919, researchers have speculated on the importance of zinc. Especially since it makes an appearance in egg yolks, cow’s milk, and human milk—some of the most nutrient-dense food sources in the world.
Fast forward to 1934: A groundbreaking discovery was found regarding the correlation between zinc deficiency and the stunted growth of mice…
Then it happened again in 1955 with chickens and pigs. The zinc-deficient chickens, in particular, experienced decreased growth, frizzled feathers, shortening and thickening of their long bones, and enlarged joints of the hindleg (see images) (4).
By 1972, zinc deficiency was reported to be the most common plant micronutrient deficiency in the United States. And now, it’s estimated that nearly 50% of the world’s soil is low in zinc (5). Which means that humans and animals aren’t getting enough zinc from the fruits, vegetables, and grains that they’re eating.
What Does Zinc Do for the Body?
Knowing the negative effects of low zinc in animals automatically raises the question: How much more essential is zinc for the growth and development of humans?
In 2006, it was found that the human genome encodes nearly 3,000 zinc-binding proteins (5). These zinc-binding proteins are responsible for a multitude of cellular functions including: DNA recognition, RNA packaging, transcription of genes, regulation of cell death, protein folding and assembly, and lipid binding (6). However, in order for zinc-binding proteins to maintain structure and function, they need zinc (7).
Your body has no way to store this vital nutrient. Thus, it's all the more important to find ways to get adequate amounts of zinc into your daily regimen.
Signs of a severe zinc deficiency include:
- Acrodermatitis (a skin condition resulting in itchy red or purple blisters on the body)
- Stunted growth plates in arms or legs of children and adolescents
- Frequent infection
- Death
Signs of a low-to-moderate zinc deficiency include:
- Low immunity
- Increased likelihood of inflammation
- Increased oxidative stress
- Slow wound healing
- Trouble seeing in the dark
- Problems with the sense of taste and smell
- Loss of hair
- Poor appetite
- Suppressed functioning of neuropsychology (think: emotions, cognition, and consciousness)
- Reduced production of sex hormones in males
Zinc for Colds
Zinc has proven to be extremely effective in treating colds.
In the Middle East, researchers found that zinc-deficient individuals had severe immune dysfunction and would often die of recurrent infections by the time they were 25 years old.
Luckily, research in the last 50 years has uncovered how vital this mineral is to immune function and its significant impact on the health of your immune cells. In fact, zinc is essential for the normal development and function of the cells that mediate both your innate and adaptive immunity.
Innate Immunity vs. Adaptive Immunity
Your innate immune system is the first line of defense that kicks into gear when a pathogen or foreign substance enters your body. It goes to work fighting off infection, which in turn prevents the spread of foreign substances throughout your body (8).
Zinc-dependent innate immune cells include (9, 10, 11):
- Neutrophils: The first line of defense against acute infections. These white blood cells release antimicrobial molecules and help to contain infections and inflammation to prevent the spread.
- Macrophages: These cells play a vital role in eliminating diseased or damaged cells through programmed cell death. They perform something called phagocytosis, which is the process of engulfing damaged cells (kind of like they are eating them) to remove them from circulation.
- Natural killer (NK) Cells: NK cells are a type of white blood cell that serves to contain virally infected cells and release chemicals that target infected cells for death.
While your innate immunity is non-specific (meaning it reacts to any non-self pathogens), your adaptive immune system is specific to the pathogen presented.
The downside of the adaptive immune response is that it takes a little longer to kick in. However, its effect is long-lasting and much more specific.
The two primary immune cells responsible for your adaptive immune response are B cells and T cells—both of which require zinc to function properly.
B cells and T cells work together to clear pathogens from your body. B cells are responsible for secreting antibodies that neutralize the invading cell, and then T cells come in to kill the invading cell before it has a chance to replicate (12).
How Does This Relate to Fighting Colds?
Research shows that zinc, through its role in innate and adaptive immunity, can assist in alleviating viral infections as well as the common cold—especially if taken within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms (13, 14).
In one study, researchers studied the effect of zinc on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common respiratory virus that causes infection in the lungs and respiratory tract.
They found that zinc was able to perform anti-viral activity by inhibiting the replication and spread of the virus (15).
Furthermore, populations that are deficient in zinc tend to have a higher susceptibility to viral attacks like HIV and hepatitis C.
It appears that zinc acts as both a direct antiviral and as a stimulant of antiviral immunity (in other words, it enhances your antiviral immune defenses) (16).
How Much Zinc Do I Need Per Day?
When supplementing with zinc, the following doses are recommended:
Infants
- 0 to 6 months: 2 milligrams (mg) per day
- 7 to 12 months: 3 milligrams (mg) per day
Children
- 7 to 12 months: 3 milligrams (mg) per day
- 1 to 3 years: 3 milligrams (mg) per day
- 4 to 8 years: 5 milligrams (mg) per day
- 9 to 13 years: 8 milligrams (mg) per day
- Supplementation Dose: 5 to 20 milligrams (mg) per day
Adolescents and Adults
- Males, ages 14 and over: 11 milligrams (mg) per day
- Females, ages 14 to 18: 9 milligrams (mg) per day
- Females, ages 19 and over: 8 milligrams (mg) per day
- Pregnant females, 19 years of age and over: 11 milligrams (mg) per day
- Lactating females, 19 years of age and over: 12 milligrams (mg) per day
*Note: Experts do not recommend supplementation beyond the recommended daily allowance (RDA).
Amount of Zinc Needed to Treat a Cold
What Foods Have Zinc?
There’s a wide variety of foods that contain zinc. Foods high in zinc include (18):
- Organic, Free-Range Chicken
- 100% Grass-Fed Beef
- 100% Grass-Fed Lamb
- 100% Grass-Fed Pork
- Oysters
- Crab
- Lobster
- Nuts
- Beans
- Pumpkin seeds
- Yeast
What’s the Best Zinc Supplement to Take?
When it comes to which zinc supplement you should take, look for “chelate zinc”.
Chelate zinc enhances bioavailability as it increases the absorption of nutrients in your digestive tract (19).
In addition to chelate zinc, one should supplement with high doses of vitamin C to efficiently combat the common cold (20).
The supplement we most recommend is Native Defense. It features 6 bio-activated ingredients designed to help strengthen the body’s defenses—naturally.
The 6 cold-combatting ingredients include:
- Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol)
- Zinc (from zinc bis-glycinate chelate)
- Quercetin Anhydrous
- Elderberry Fruit Powder
- Siberian Ginseng Extract (min 0.8% Eleutherosides) (root)
As always, consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or dietary regimen.
The Bottom Line
Strengthening one’s immunity is becoming more important by the day. And the once underrated micronutrient, zinc, is now the go-to comrade in fighting off the common cold.
Since your body can’t store large amounts of zinc, it’s crucial to maintain healthy levels by consuming zinc-rich foods and a high-quality supplement.
Recommended daily allowances for zinc range from 2 milligrams to 20 milligrams, depending on age and gender. However, when treating the common cold, it’s recommended to get at least 75 milligrams of zinc per day.
Article by
Dr. Chad Walding
Article by
Dr. Chad Walding
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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Chad Walding nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.
