Speaking from experience, and as someone who was taking zinc in my multivitamins at the time of my outbreak, I would not rely on zinc or other supplements to prevent a shingles outbreak. That is what the new, extremely effective, 2 shot shingles vaccine is for, and this vaccine is very effective at preventing outbreaks. In my case I've not had shingles symptoms since I had the vaccine, which was over 10 years ago. 

When you say you didn't think twice when it was offered to you, are you meaning that you dismissed it or that without hesitation you got the vaccination?

I would note that the article linked here is putting forth a hypothesis, not presenting a scientific conclusion. And the one about zinc as a treatment for shingles is careful to say that the evidence is weak. It gets a "Source of validity" science rating of 2 out of 5.

When I had my Shingles attack in 2019 my vitamin D was at 49 ng/ml.  Doctor gave me an antiviral shot and 2 tubes of lidocaine. Sufficient intake of vitamin D and the antiviral essential mineral Zinc can help reduce risk of viral infections.   I've been taking Zinc Glyconate lozenges since 2004 for airborne viruses. I have not had a cold since, even while friends and family were dropping like flies. Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc For the health condition: Shingles  

Thank you for your thoughtful contribution, @Tazfromoz. I live in the UK and the National Health Service funds free vaccines for people deemed to be at heightened risk.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that as a coeliac in my 50s I was eligible for this vaccine, and didn't think twice when it was offered to me.  Soon after diagnosis I suffered mystery symptoms of burning nerve pain, following two separate dermatomes, and one GP said he felt that I had contracted shingles without the rash aka zoster sine herpete.  Of course, without the rash, it's a difficult diagnosis to prove, but looking back I think he was completely spot on.  It was miserable and lasted about a year, which I gather is quite typical. For UK coeliacs reading this, it is worth having a conversation with your GP if you haven't been vaccinated against shingles yet, if you are immunosuppressed or over 50. I have just googled this quickly - it is a helpful summary which I unashamedly took from AI, short for time as I am this morning!   My apologies. In the UK, coeliac patients aren't automatically eligible for the shingles jab unless they're severely immunosuppressed or over the general age for vaccination (currently 50+) but Coeliac UK recommends discussing the vaccine with a GP due to potential splenic dysfunction, which can increase risk, even if not routine for all coeliacs. Eligibility hinges on specific criteria like weakened immunity (chemo, certain meds) or age, with the non-live Shingrix vaccine offered in two doses to those deemed high-risk, often starting from age 18 for the immunocompromised.