Think Twice Before Taking Zinc Supplements, Warns Hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips

Do you take zinc supplements to boost immunity or prevent illness? Many turn to vitamins and minerals hoping to improve their health — but according to hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, zinc supplements may not be as beneficial as widely believed.

In a detailed post shared on June 26, Dr Philips urged people to reconsider routine zinc supplementation. “Are you on a zinc supplement? Then please read this,” he wrote, cautioning that blindly popping pills without medical advice could do more harm than good.

No Clear Benefit for Healthy Individuals

Citing findings from the US Preventive Services Task Force, Dr Philips explained that major health bodies have found no significant benefit of zinc supplementation in preventing cancer, heart disease, or other chronic conditions in healthy individuals.

“The task force reviewed numerous high-quality trials and concluded that there’s insufficient evidence to support zinc — whether alone or in a multivitamin — as a preventive tool for those already healthy,” he noted.

More Zinc Isn’t Always Better

The hepatologist warned that higher doses don’t guarantee better outcomes, and in some cases, can cause harm. Many take zinc for common ailments like colds, childhood diarrhoea, COVID-19, or to improve eye health — but research doesn’t fully support these uses.

For instance, a 2024 Cochrane review that analysed 26 randomized studies found that daily zinc supplementation does not prevent colds or significantly improve immune function.

Dubious Impact on Heart Disease and Diabetes

Dr Philips also addressed the belief that zinc helps with heart disease and diabetes. While some studies show minor improvements in blood sugar or cholesterol levels, he stressed that these changes don’t translate into reduced heart attacks, strokes, or deaths.

“Changing lab numbers is meaningless if it doesn’t change real-world health outcomes — and current evidence hasn’t shown that it does,” he said.

Final Advice: Skip the Supplement Unless Truly Needed

Dr Philips concluded that for healthy adults, taking extra zinc — no matter how advanced the formulation — doesn’t prevent colds, COVID-19, cancer, or chronic diseases.

“The only medically proven use of zinc supplements is for treating rare copper-overload disorders or in people with confirmed zinc deficiency,” he said. His advice? “Eat a balanced diet and save your money on unnecessary supplements.”