Overview

Zinc is a mineral. It is called an "essential trace element" because very small amounts of zinc are necessary for human health. Since the human body does not store excess zinc, it must be consumed regularly as part of the diet. Common dietary sources of zinc include red meat, poultry, and fish. Zinc deficiency can cause short stature, reduced ability to taste food, and the inability of testes and ovaries to function properly.

Zinc is used for the treatment and prevention of zinc deficiency and its consequences, including stunted growth and acute diarrhea in children, slow wound healing, and Wilson's disease. Zinc is also used for many other conditions. There is some scientific evidence to support its use for some of these conditions. But for most, there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.

Note that many zinc products also contain another metal called cadmium. This is because zinc and cadmium are chemically similar and often occur together in nature. Exposure to high levels of cadmium over a long time can lead to kidney failure. The concentration of cadmium in zinc-containing supplements can vary as much as 37-fold. Look for zinc-gluconate products. Zinc gluconate consistently contains the lowest cadmium levels.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): While zinc may have benefit for the common cold and other airway infections, there is no good evidence to support using it for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Mineral

Primary Functions:

Zinc Deficiency

Also Known As:

Acétate de Zinc, Acexamate de Zinc, Aspartate de Zinc

How Does It Work?

Zinc is needed for the proper growth and maintenance of the human body. It is found in several systems and biological reactions, and it is needed for immune function, wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and much more. Meats, seafood, dairy products, nuts, legumes, and whole grains offer relatively high levels of zinc.

Zinc deficiency is not uncommon worldwide, but is rare in the US. Symptoms include slowed growth, low insulin levels, loss of appetite, irritability, generalized hair loss, rough and dry skin, slow wound healing, poor sense of taste and smell, diarrhea, and nausea. Moderate zinc deficiency is associated with disorders of the intestine which interfere with food absorption (malabsorption syndromes), alcoholism, chronic kidney failure, and chronic debilitating diseases.

Zinc plays a key role in maintaining vision, and it is present in high concentrations in the eye. Zinc deficiency can alter vision, and severe deficiency can cause changes in the retina (the back of the eye where an image is focused).

Zinc might also have effects against viruses. It appears to lessen symptoms of the rhinovirus (common cold), but researchers can’t yet explain exactly how this works. In addition, there is some evidence that zinc has some antiviral activity against the herpes virus.

Low zinc levels can be associated with male infertility, sickle cell disease, HIV, major depression, and type 2 diabetes, and can be fought by taking a zinc supplement.

Uses

• Zinc deficiency.Zinc deficiency might occur in people with severe diarrhea, conditions that make it hard for the bowel to absorb food, liver cirrhosis and alcoholism, after major surgery, and during long-term use of tube feeding in the hospital. Taking zinc by mouth or giving zinc intravenously (by IV) helps to restore zinc levels in people who are zinc deficient. However, taking zinc supplements regularly is not recommended.

• Diarrhea. Taking zinc by mouth reduces the duration and severity of diarrhea in children who are undernourished or zinc deficient. Severe zinc deficiency in children is common in developing countries. Also giving zinc to undernourished women during pregnancy and for one month after delivery reduces the incidence of diarrhea in infants during the first year of life.
• An inherited disorder that causes copper to build up in many organs (Wilson disease). Taking zinc by mouth improves symptoms of an inherited disorder called Wilson disease. People with Wilson disease have too much copper in their bodies. Zinc blocks how much copper is absorbed and increases how much copper the body releases.
• Acne. Research suggests that people with acne have lower blood and skin levels of zinc. Taking zinc by mouth appears to help treat acne. However, it's unclear how beneficial zinc is compared to acne medications such as tetracycline or minocycline. Applying zinc to the skin in an ointment does not seem to help treat acne unless used in combination with the antibiotic drug called erythromycin.
• A disorder of zinc deficiency (acrodermatitis enteropathica). Taking zinc by mouth seems to help improve symptoms of acrodermatitis enteropathica.
• An eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD). People who consume more zinc as part of their diet seem to have a lower risk of developing age-related vision loss. Research shows that taking supplements containing zinc and antioxidant vitamins may modestly slow vision loss and prevent age-related vision loss from becoming advanced in people at high risk. It's still not clear if taking zinc along with antioxidant vitamins helps prevent age-related vision loss from becoming advanced in people at low risk. Most research shows that taking zinc alone, without antioxidant vitamins, does not help most people with age-related vision loss. However, it's possible that people with certain genes that make them susceptible to age-related vision loss might benefit from zinc supplements.
• An eating disorder (anorexia nervosa). Taking zinc supplements by mouth might help increase weight gain and improve depression symptoms in teens and adults with anorexia.
• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is evidence that children with ADHD might have lower blood levels of zinc than children without ADHD. There is also evidence that people with ADHD who have lower zinc levels might not respond well enough to prescription medications for ADHD (stimulants). Thus, zinc supplements are of interest for people with ADHD. Taking zinc by mouth along with medicine for ADHD might slightly improve hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and socialization problems in some children with ADHD. But zinc doesn't seem to improve attention span. Most studies using zinc for ADHD have taken place in the Middle East, where zinc deficiency is more common than in Western countries. One small study shows that taking zinc alone or as add-on therapy to prescription ADHD medication does not consistently improve symptoms of ADHD. But it does seem to lower the optimal dose of ADHD medication that is needed.
• Burns. Giving zinc intravenously (by IV) together with other minerals seems to improve wound healing in people with burns. However, taking zinc alone does not appear to improve wound healing in all people with burns, but it might reduce recovery time in people with severe burns.
• Non-cancerous growths in the large intestine and rectum (colorectal adenoma). Research suggests that taking a supplement containing selenium, zinc, vitamin A 2, vitamin C, and vitamin E by mouth daily for 5 years reduces the risk of recurrent large-bowel tumors by about 40%.
• Common cold. Although some conflicting results exist, most research shows that taking lozenges containing zinc gluconate or zinc acetate by mouth helps reduce the duration of a cold in adults. However, side effects such as bad taste and nausea might limit its usefulness. It is unclear if zinc helps prevent common colds. In adults, taking zinc supplements by mouth does not seem to prevent common colds. However, zinc gluconate lozenges might help prevent colds in children and adolescents. Using zinc as a nose spray does not seem to help prevent colds.
• Depression. Early research suggests that zinc levels are lower in people with depression. Ingesting more zinc is associated with less risk of depression. Some research suggests that taking zinc along with antidepressants improves depression in people with major depression. However, other research shows that it improves depression in only people who do not respond to treatment with antidepressants alone. It doesn't seem to improve depression in people who respond to antidepressant treatment.
• Diabetes. Taking zinc seems to reduce blood sugar, increase insulin levels, improve the way the body uses insulin, and decrease cholesterol and other fats (lipids) in the blood in people with type 2 diabetes. Zinc also seems to decrease body weight in people with diabetes who are overweight or obese. Taking zinc might also help to lower blood sugar in women who develop diabetes during pregnancy. But it doesn't seem to reduce the need for a caesarean section during labor in these women.
• Foot sores in people with diabetes. Research suggests that applying zinc hyaluronate gel can help foot ulcers heal faster than conventional treatment in people with diabetes.
• Diaper rash. Giving zinc gluconate by mouth to infants seems to speed up the healing of diaper rash. Applying zinc oxide paste also seems to improve the healing of diaper rash. However, it doesn't seem to work as well as applying 2% eosin solution.
• A mild form of gum disease (gingivitis). Using toothpastes containing zinc, with or without an antibacterial agent, appears to prevent plaque and gingivitis. Some evidence also shows that zinc-containing toothpaste can reduce existing plaque. However, other conventional treatments may be more effective. Also, most studies that showed benefit used zinc citrate in combination with triclosan, which is not available in the US.
• Bad breath. Research suggests that chewing gum, sucking on a candy, or using a mouth rinse containing zinc reduces bad breath.
• Cold sores (herpes labialis). Applying zinc sulfate or zinc oxide to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, seems to reduce the duration and severity of oral and genital herpes. However, zinc might not be beneficial for recurrent herpes infections.
• Reduced ability to taste (hypogeusia). Some early research suggests that taking zinc by mouth does not improve taste disorders in children with zinc deficiency. But most evidence suggests that taking zinc by mouth is effective for people with a reduced ability to taste foods due to zinc deficiency or some other conditions.
• Skin infection caused by Leishmania parasites (Leishmania lesions). Research suggests that taking zinc sulfate by mouth or injecting as a solution into lesions helps heal lesions in people with Leishmaniasis. However, injecting zinc solutions into lesions does not seem to be more effective than conventional treatments.
• Leprosy. Taking zinc by mouth in combination with anti-leprosy drugs seems to help treat leprosy.
• Muscle cramps. Taking zinc by mouth seems to help treat muscle cramps in people with cirrhosis and zinc deficiency.
• Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Low zinc intake seems to be linked to lower bone mass. Taking a zinc supplement in combination with copper, manganese, and calcium might decrease bone loss in women who have passed menopause.
• Stomach ulcers. Taking zinc acexamate by mouth seems to help treat and prevent peptic ulcers. However, this form of zinc is not available in the US.
• Sore throat (pharyngitis). Using a zinc lozenge before surgery that involves having a tube placed into the windpipe seems to reduce the chance of having a sore throat after surgery.
• Pneumonia. Most research suggests that taking zinc might help PREVENT pneumonia in undernourished children. However, research assessing the effects of zinc for TREATING pneumonia once it develops shows conflicting.
• Preterm birth. Taking zinc by mouth during pregnancy appears to reduce the risk for early delivery. But zinc supplementation doesn't seem to reduce the risk for stillbirths, miscarriage, or infant deaths.
• Bed sores (pressure ulcers). Applying zinc paste appears to help improve the healing of bed sores in elderly people. Also, increasing zinc intake in the diet seems to improve bed sore healing in hospitalized patients with bed sore.
• Illness from a Shigella bacteria infection (shigellosis). Research shows that taking a multivitamin syrup containing zinc along with conventional treatment can improve recovery time and reduce diarrhea in undernourished children with food poisoning.
• Sickle cell disease. Taking zinc by mouth seems to help reduce symptoms of sickle cell disease in people with zinc deficiency. Taking zinc supplements also appears to decrease the risk for complications and infections related to sickle cell disease.
• Leg sores caused by weak blood circulation (venous leg ulcer). Taking zinc sulfate by mouth appears to help some types of leg ulcers heal faster. The effects seem to be greater in people with low levels of zinc before treatment. Applying zinc paste to leg ulcers also appears to improve healing.
• Vitamin A deficiency. Taking zinc by mouth together with vitamin A seems to improve vitamin A levels in undernourished children better than vitamin A or zinc alone.
• Warts. Early research suggests that applying a zinc sulfate solution improves plane warts but not common warts. Applying zinc oxide ointment appears to be as effective as conventional treatments for curing warts. Taking zinc sulfate by mouth also appears to be effective.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• General: Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) quantities of zinc have been established for boys and men age 14 and older, 11 mg/day; women 19 and older, 8 mg/day; pregnant women 14 to 18, 13 mg/day; pregnant women 19 and older, 11 mg/day; lactating women 14 to 18, 14 mg/day; lactating women 19 and older, 12 mg/day. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) of zinc for people who are not receiving zinc under medical supervision: adults 19 years and older (including pregnancy and lactation), 40 mg/day. The typical North American male consumes about 13 mg/day of dietary zinc; women consume approximately 9 mg/day. Different salt forms provide different amounts of elemental zinc. Zinc sulfate contains 23% elemental zinc; 220 mg zinc sulfate contains 50 mg zinc. Zinc gluconate contains 14.3% elemental zinc; 10 mg zinc gluconate contains 1.43 mg zinc.
• For zinc deficiency: In people with mild zinc deficiency, recommendations suggest taking two to three times the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of zinc for 6 months. In people with moderate to severe deficiency, recommendations suggest taking four to five times the RDA for 6 months.
• For diarrhea: To prevent diarrhea in infants, pregnant women have used 15 mg of zinc, with or without 60 mg of iron and 250 mcg of folic acid, starting 10-24 weeks into pregnancy through one month after giving birth.
• For an inherited disorder that causes copper to build up in many organs (Wilson disease): Zinc acetate (Galzin in the U.S.; Wilzin in Europe) is an FDA-approved drug for treating Wilson disease. The recommended dose, which contains 25-50 mg of zinc, is to be taken three to five times daily.
• For acne: 30-150 mg elemental zinc daily has been used.
• For a disorder of zinc deficiency (acrodermatitis enteropathica): Taking 2-3 mg/kg of elemental zinc daily for a lifetime is recommended for treating an inherited disorder that affects zinc uptake.
• For an eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD): A combination of 80 mg of elemental zinc, 2 mg of copper, 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 15 mg of beta-carotene taken daily for 5 years has been used in people with advanced age-related vision loss.
• For an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa): 14-50 mg of elemental zinc has been used daily.
• For the common cold: One zinc gluconate or acetate lozenge, providing 4.5-24 mg elemental zinc, dissolved in the mouth every two hours while awake when cold symptoms are present.
• For depression: 25 mg of elemental zinc has been used daily for 12 weeks along with antidepressant medications.
• For diabetes:
• For type 2 diabetes: 25 mg of zinc gluconate has been taken twice daily for 8 weeks.
• For diabetes in pregnant women: 30 mg of zinc gluconate has been taken daily for 6 weeks.
• For reduced ability to taste (hypogeusia): 140-450 mg of zinc gluconate has been taken in up to three divided doses daily for up to 4 months. Also, 25 mg of elemental zinc taken daily for 6 weeks has been used. A zinc-containing product called polaprezinc (Promac, Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd) has also been used.
• For a skin infection caused by Leishmania parasites (Leishmania lesions): 2.5-10 mg/kg of zinc sulfate has been taken in three divided doses daily for 45 days.
• For muscle cramps: 220 mg of zinc sulfate has been taken twice daily for 12 weeks.
• For weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis): A combination of 15 mg of zinc combined with 5 mg of manganese, 1000 mg of calcium, and 2.5 mg of copper has been used.
• For stomach ulcers: 300-900 mg of zinc acexamate has been taken in one to three divided doses daily for up to one year. Also, 220 mg of zinc sulfate has been taken three times daily for 3-6 weeks.
• For bed sores (pressure ulcers): A standard hospital diet plus 9 grams of arginine, 500 mg of vitamin C, and 30 mg of zinc has been used daily for 3 weeks.
• For sickle cell disease: 220 mg of zinc sulfate three times daily has been used. Also, 50-75 mg of elemental zinc taken daily in up to two divided doses for 2-3 years has been used.
• For leg sores caused by weak blood circulation (venous leg ulcer): 220 mg of zinc sulfate taken three times daily has been used along with ulcer dressings.
• For warts: 400-600 mg of zinc sulfate daily for 2-3 months.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

• For acne: Zinc acetate 1.2% with erythromycin 4% as a lotion applied twice daily.
• For foot sores in people with diabetes: A zinc hyaluronate gel has been applied once daily to ulcers until healed.
• For a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis): Toothpaste containing 0.2% to 2% zinc citrate alone or with sodium monofluorophosphate or 0.2% triclosan, have been used at least two times daily for up to 7 months. A mouth rinse containing 0.4% zinc sulfate and 0.15% triclosan has also been used.
• For bad breath: Two zinc-containing mouth rinses called Halita and Meridol have been used as single doses or twice daily for 7 days. Candies and chewing gums containing zinc have also been used.
• For cold sores (herpes labialis): Zinc sulfate 0.025% to 0.25% applied 8 to 10 times daily or zinc oxide 0.3% with glycine applied every 2 hours while awake has been used. Specific products containing zinc (Virudermin Gel, Robugen GmbH, SuperLysine Plus +, Quantum Health, Inc., Herpigon) have also been used.
• For bed sores (pressure ulcers): A zinc oxide paste has applied daily along with standard care for 8-12 weeks.
• For leg sores caused by weak blood circulation (venous leg ulcer): A paste containing zinc oxide 25% has been applied as a dressing once daily for the first 14 days of treatment and every third day thereafter for 8 weeks.
• For warts: A zinc oxide 20% ointment has been applied twice daily for 3 months or until cured. Zinc sulfate 5% to 10% has been applied to the skin three times daily for 4 weeks..

INJECTED INTO THE VEIN:

• For burns: An injectable solution containing 59 mcmol of copper, 4.8 mcmol of selenium, and 574 mcmol of zinc has been used for 14-21 days.
• For reduced ability to taste (hypogeusia): A zinc solution has been added to 10 L of commercially available dialysis concentrate for 12 weeks.
• For a skin infection caused by Leishmania parasites (Leishmania lesions): An injection of zinc sulfate 2% for 6 weeks has been used.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

• General: The Institute of Medicine has established Adequate Intake (AI) levels of zinc for infants from birth to 6 months is 2 mg/day. For older infants and children, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) quantities of zinc have been established: infants and children 7 months to 3 years, 3 mg/day; 4 to 8 years, 5 mg/day; 9 to 13 years, 8 mg/day; girls 14 to 18 years, 9 mg/day. The Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) of zinc for people who are not receiving zinc under medical supervision: Infants birth to 6 months, 4 mg/day; 7 to 12 months, 5 mg/day; children 1 to 3 years, 7 mg/day; 4 to 8 years, 12 mg/day; 9 to 13 years, 23 mg/day; and 14 to 18 years (including pregnancy and lactation), 34 mg/day.
• For a disorder of zinc deficiency (acrodermatitis enteropathica): Taking 2-3 mg/kg of elemental zinc daily for a lifetime is recommended for treating an inherited disorder that affects zinc uptake.
• For an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa): 14-50 mg of elemental zinc has been used daily.
• For attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): 55-150 mg of zinc sulfate containing 15-40 mg of elemental zinc has been taken daily for 6-12 weeks.
• For the common cold: One lozenge containing 10-23 mg of zinc gluconate, dissolved in the mouth every two hours has been used for up to 10 days. A syrup containing 15 mg of zinc has also been used twice daily for up to 10 days.
• For diaper rash: 10 mg of zinc has been taken daily from the first or second day of life until 4 months of age.
• For diarrhea: 10-40 mg of elemental zinc has been taken daily for 7-15 days to treat diarrhea in malnourished or zinc-deficient children.
• For a skin infection caused by Leishmania parasites (Leishmania lesions): 2.5-10 mg/kg of zinc sulfate taken in three divided doses daily has been used for 45 days.
• For pneumonia: In developing countries, 10-70 mg of elemental zinc has been taken daily in undernourished children aged 3 months to 5 years. Also, 2 mg/kg of zinc sulfate has been taken daily in two divided doses for 5 days.
• For illness from a Shigella bacteria infection (shigellosis): Multivitamin syrup containing 20 mg of elemental zinc has been used in two divided doses daily for 2 weeks.
• For sickle cell disease: 10 mg of elemental zinc has been taken daily for one year in children 4-10 years of age. Also, 15 mg of elemental zinc has been taken twice daily for one year in boys aged 14-18 years.
• For leg sores caused by weak blood circulation (venous leg ulcer): 220 mg of zinc sulfate has been used three times daily along with ulcer dressings.
• For vitamin A deficiency: 20 mg of elemental zinc has been taken daily for 14 days, with 200,000 IU of vitamin A on day 14, has been used in children 1-3 years of age.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

• For acne: Zinc acetate 1.2% with erythromycin 4% as a lotion applied twice daily for 12-40 weeks.
• For diaper rash: A zinc oxide paste containing allantoin 0.5%, cod liver oil 17%, and zinc oxide 47% has been used for 5 days.

INJECTED INTO THE VEIN:

• For skin infection caused by Leishmania parasites (Leishmania lesions): An injection of zinc sulfate 2% for 6 weeks has been used.

Zinc Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of taking zinc?

Zinc, a nutrient found throughout your body, helps your immune system and metabolism function. Zinc is also important to wound healing and your sense of taste and smell. With a varied diet, your body usually gets enough zinc.

Is it safe to take zinc supplements?

Taking high amounts of zinc is LIKELY UNSAFE. High doses above the recommended amounts might cause fever, coughing, stomach pain, fatigue, and many other problems. Taking more than 100 mg of supplemental zinc daily or taking supplemental zinc for 10 or more years doubles the risk of developing prostate cancer.

What is the best form of zinc to take as a supplement?

Zinc picolinate is the form that the body absorbs the best, which makes this a common choice for treating zinc deficiencies and for pregnant women. This form is "chelated," which means it's attached to picolinic amino acids to help it pass easier into your intestines for absorption.

How much zinc is too much?

Health authorities have set the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for zinc at 40 mg per day for adults. The UL is the highest recommended daily amount of a nutrient. For most people, this amount is unlikely to cause negative side effects.

Can you take vitamin C and zinc together?

Vitamin C Plus Zinc Interactions

Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar products together can result in an overdose or serious side effects.

Should you take zinc everyday?

Only a small intake of zinc is necessary to reap the benefits. Currently, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for zinc in the United States is 8 milligrams (mg) a day for women and 11 mg a day for men. The element is naturally found in many different foods, but it is also available as a dietary supplement.

What should you not take with zinc?

Immunosuppressant medications -- Since zinc may make the immune system stronger, it should not be taken with corticosteroids (such a prednisone), cyclosporine, or other medications intended to suppress the immune system.

What does zinc do for you sexually?

Zinc helps produce key sex hormones, such as testosterone and prolactin. Zinc also enables the creation of the main component of prostatic fluid. There is evidence that dietary zinc may impact male sexual competency.

Is Zinc bad for your liver?

Zinc is an essential trace element required for normal cell growth, development, and differentiation. Clinical trials in human liver disease are limited in size and quality, but it is clear that zinc supplementation reverses clinical signs of zinc deficiency in patients with liver disease.

When should I take zinc supplements?

Zinc supplements are most effective if they are taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, if zinc supplements cause stomach upset, they may be taken with a meal. You should tell your health care professional if you are taking your zinc supplement with meals.

Is Zinc an antiviral?

ABSTRACT. Zinc is an essential trace element that is crucial for growth, development, and the maintenance of immune function. This review summarizes current basic science and clinical evidence examining zinc as a direct antiviral, as well as a stimulant of antiviral immunity.

What is zinc good for in woman?

Zinc is needed for DNA synthesis, immune function, metabolism and growth. It may reduce inflammation and your risk of some age-related diseases. Most people meet the RDI of 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women through diet, but older adults and people with diseases that inhibit zinc absorption may need to supplement.

Can I take 50 mg of zinc?

A review of several studies on zinc and cholesterol levels suggests that supplementing with more than 50 mg of zinc per day may lower your “good” HDL levels and not have any effect on your “bad” LDL cholesterol

How long does zinc stay in system?

It usually only lasts about 24–48 hours and can cause symptoms that include: chills.

Is Zinc an immune booster?

Zinc is a mineral that's important to the body in many ways. Zinc keeps the immune system strong, helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth. Zinc deficiency in the U.S. is rare, because most diets provide more than the recommended dietary allowance.

Is zinc or vitamin C better?

Researchers have found that zinc is the best supplement for warding off colds, while Vitamin C is likely to be a waste of money. Out of all the studies, only taking a zinc supplement was found to be beneficial at preventing colds.

Can zinc raise blood pressure?

Lower-than-normal zinc levels may contribute to high blood pressure (hypertension) by altering the way the kidneys handle sodium. ... Recent research has suggested that zinc may help regulate proteins that in turn regulate the NCC, but a direct link between zinc-deficiency-induced hypertension has not been examined.

Is 50 mg zinc daily too much?

Health authorities have set the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for zinc at 40 mg per day for adults. The UL is the highest recommended daily amount of a nutrient. For most people, this amount is unlikely to cause negative side effects (1, 2).

How long does it take for zinc supplements to work?

If your skin is an area of concern, research has found that supplementing with antioxidants, vitamin C, and zinc improves skin radiance by increasing skin luminosity and reducing imperfections such as dark circles and redness as well as improving skin firmness within around 8 weeks of supplementation⁵.

Is zinc good for kidneys?

Zinc is considered an essential trace element for humans, and zinc deficiency has been linked to adverse outcomes in kidney disease. Supplementation with zinc may improve the nutritional status of maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients, according to researchers in China.

Does zinc heal the gut?

Zinc is a necessary element of many metabolic processes and is well-known for its ability to boost the immune system. A 2001 study found that zinc supplementation helped to strengthen the gut lining in patients with Crohn's disease.

Clinical Studies

• ^ a b Koehler K, et al. Serum testosterone and urinary excretion of steroid hormone metabolites after administration of a high-dose zinc supplement. Eur J Clin Nutr. (2009)
• ^ Weismann K, et al. Zinc gluconate lozenges for common cold. A double-blind clinical trial. Dan Med Bull. (1990)
• ^ Guéguen M, et al. Shellfish and residual chemical contaminants: hazards, monitoring, and health risk assessment along French coasts. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. (2011)
• ^ Maret W, Sandstead HH. Zinc requirements and the risks and benefits of zinc supplementation. J Trace Elem Med Biol. (2006)
• ^ Brown KH, Hambidge KM, Ranum P; Zinc Fortification Working Group. Zinc fortification of cereal flours: current recommendations and research needs. Food Nutr Bull. (2010)
• ^ Prasad AS. Zinc: an overview. Nutrition. (1995)
• ^ Vallee BL, Falchuk KH. The biochemical basis of zinc physiology. Physiol Rev. (1993)
• ^ Haase H, Rink L. Functional significance of zinc-related signaling pathways in immune cells. Annu Rev Nutr. (2009)
• ^ Anzellotti AI, Farrell NP. Zinc metalloproteins as medicinal targets. Chem Soc Rev. (2008)
• ^ Vallee BL, Auld DS. Zinc metallochemistry in biochemistry. EXS. (1995)
• ^ Abreu IA, Cabelli DE. Superoxide dismutases-a review of the metal-associated mechanistic variations. Biochim Biophys Acta. (2010)
• ^ Prasad AS. Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Mol Med. (2008)
• ^ Prasad AS. Clinical, immunological, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles of zinc. Exp Gerontol. (2008)
• ^ Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand: Zinc.
• ^ Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition.
• ^ Prasad AS. Clinical manifestations of zinc deficiency. Annu Rev Nutr. (1985)
• ^ Prasad AS. Zinc deficiency in human subjects. Prog Clin Biol Res. (1983)
• ^ a b Cope EC, Levenson CW. Role of zinc in the development and treatment of mood disorders. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. (2010)
• ^ a b Takeda A, Tamano H. Insight into zinc signaling from dietary zinc deficiency. Brain Res Rev. (2009)
• ^ Quantifying Selected Major Risks to Health.
• ^ Hambidge M. Human zinc deficiency. J Nutr. (2000)
• ^ Lukaski HC. Magnesium, zinc, and chromium nutriture and physical activity. Am J Clin Nutr. (2000)
• ^ Campbell WW, Anderson RA. Effects of aerobic exercise and training on the trace minerals chromium, zinc and copper. Sports Med. (1987)
• ^ Galbo H, et al. Thyroid and testicular hormone responses to graded and prolonged exercise in man. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. (1977)
• ^ Hackney AC, et al. Comparison of the hormonal responses to exhaustive incremental exercise in adolescent and young adult males. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. (2011)
• ^ a b c d Canfield WK, Hambidge KM, Johnson LK. Zinc nutriture in type I diabetes mellitus: relationship to growth measures and metabolic control. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. (1984)
• ^ a b Kinlaw WB, et al. Abnormal zinc metabolism in type II diabetes mellitus. Am J Med. (1983)
• ^ a b McNair P, et al. Hyperzincuria in insulin treated diabetes mellitus--its relation to glucose homeostasis and insulin administration. Clin Chim Acta. (1981)
• ^ a b Zargar AH, et al. Copper, zinc and magnesium levels in type-1 diabetes mellitus. Saudi Med J. (2002)
• ^ a b c d Cellular zinc in patients with diabetes mellitus.
• ^ a b c d e Jansen J, et al. Disturbed zinc homeostasis in diabetic patients by in vitro and in vivo analysis of insulinomimetic activity of zinc. J Nutr Biochem. (2012)
• ^ a b Aguilar MV, et al. Plasma mineral content in type-2 diabetic patients and their association with the metabolic syndrome. Ann Nutr Metab. (2007)
• ^ a b Kiilerich S, et al. 65 zinc absorption in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus assessed by whole-body counting technique. Clin Chim Acta. (1990)
• ^ a b Williams NR, et al. Plasma, granulocyte and mononuclear cell copper and zinc in patients with diabetes mellitus. Analyst. (1995)
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