JAMA's opinion on zinc for the common cold in kids

In this week's issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers asked the question: Is oral zinc associated with a shorter duration, decreased severity, and reduced incidence of the common cold compared with placebo in children?

Their "Bottom Line" was when initiated within 24 hours of symptom onset, oral zinc is associated with a shorter duration of the common cold in healthy people.

Used prophylactically, oral zinc is associated with a reduced cold incidence in children.