Zinc supplements are not scientifically proven to prevent or treat colds, as some social media posts appear to imply. Some studies suggest zinc supplements may help you feel better more quickly, but the evidence remains inconclusive. Taking zinc in high doses and for an extended period of time can also lead to health complications, medical professionals say. “The evidence on zinc is far from settled: we need more research before we can be confident in its effects,” Susan Wieland, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who authored a 2024 review of existing studies on zinc supplements and the common cold, said. Payal Kohli, M.D., an internist and cardiologist who teaches at Duke and Johns Hopkins Universities, shared a similar sentiment. “Most scientists and physicians at this point aren’t really thinking that zinc supplementation either will help to prevent colds or help to substantially shorten their duration,” Kohli told VERIFY. She added that people should be “careful about supplementing something that doesn’t have proven benefit” and could potentially have harmful effects. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/verify/health-verify/zinc-supplements-not-proven-prevent-treat-colds-fact-check/536-66b18e63-b048-4f71-b669-30035b925152