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Zinc

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mineralentity:supplement:zinc

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Zinc gluconatemineral compound
Zinc citratemineral compound

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Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 5 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence not identified in the frozen metadata
Randomized trials: Randomized trials not identified in the frozen metadata
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses not identified in the frozen metadata
Evidence recency: 2000–2020
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

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Evidence types identified

Government reference1
Study type could not be determined4

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Government reference · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Ryu M-S, Aydemir TB. Zinc. In: Marriott BP, Birt DF, Stallings VA, Yates AA, eds. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 11th ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020:393-408.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
King JC, Cousins RJ. Zinc. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014:189-205.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
MacDonald RS. The Role of Zinc in Growth and Cell Proliferation. The Journal of Nutrition 2000;130:1500S-8S. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Nagraj SK, Naresh S, Srinivas K, George RP, Shetty N, Levenson D, et al. Interventions for the managing taste disturbances. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017:CD010470. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

Read imported source wording

Zinc, an essential mineral, is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Zinc is also found in some cold lozenges, over-the-counter drugs sold as cold remedies, and some denture adhesive creams.

Zinc is involved in many aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of hundreds of enzymes, and it plays a role in enhancing immune function, protein and DNA synthesis, wound healing, and cell signaling and division [1-4]. Zinc also supports healthy growth and development during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence and is involved in the sense of taste [2,3,5].

The total amount of zinc in the body is approximately 1.5 grams (g) in women and 2.5 g in men [2]. Most of this zinc is stored in skeletal muscle and bone [1-3].

Source-described amount

Zinc homeostasis is maintained through absorption of zinc from the diet, excretion into the gastrointestinal tract, and reabsorption in the gastrointestinal lumen [2,3]. In general, as zinc intakes rise, the amount of zinc absorbed also increases, but its fractional absorption drops [2,3].

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Introduction
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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No overall rating assigned

Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 7 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence identified
Randomized trials: Randomized trials not identified in the frozen metadata
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses not identified in the frozen metadata
Evidence recency: 1994–2020
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details

Evidence types identified

Government reference1
Study type could not be determined6

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Government reference · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Ryu M-S, Aydemir TB. Zinc. In: Marriott BP, Birt DF, Stallings VA, Yates AA, eds. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 11th ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020:393-408.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
King JC, Cousins RJ. Zinc. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014:189-205.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Nations SP, Boyer PJ, Love LA, Burritt MF, Butz JA, Wolfe GI, et al. Denture cream: an unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease. Neurology 2008;71:639-43. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Doherty K, Connor M, Cruickshank R. Zinc-containing denture adhesive: a potential source of excess zinc resulting in copper deficiency myelopathy. Br Dent J 2011;210:523-5. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Plum LM, Rink L, Haase H. The essential toxin: impact of zinc on human health. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2010;7:1342-65. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Spencer H, Norris C, Williams D. Inhibitory effects of zinc on magnesium balance and magnesium absorption in man. J Am Coll Nutr 1994;13:479-84. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

Getting excessive amounts of zinc can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, gastric distress, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Doses of 50 mg of zinc or more over a period of weeks can inhibit copper absorption, reduce immune function, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; however, it is unlikely that a person would obtain this much zinc from food alone. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for zinc is 40 mg for adults, and it ranges from 4 to 34 mg for infants, children, and adolescents, depending on age.

UL reference intakeSource intake rangeSource-described amount

High zinc intakes can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, gastric distress, vomiting, and loss of appetite [2,3]. If used for weeks, doses of 50 mg zinc or more—typically from supplements or excessive use of denture adhesive creams that contain zinc—can interfere with copper absorption (which can cause low copper status), reduce immune function, and lower HDL cholesterol levels [1-3,101]. The amount of zinc obtained from food is rarely as high as 50 mg, so the zinc in foods is unlikely to cause zinc toxicity. Very high doses of zinc from supplements (142 mg/day) might also interfere with magnesium absorption and disrupt magnesium balance [102].

Source-described amount

According to a few reports, overuse of denture adhesive creams that contain up to 34 mg zinc per gram of product can lead to neurological symptoms (including sensory ataxia and myelopathy) and anemia. Zinc-free formulations are available to prevent these effects [2,20,21].

Source-described amount

The FNB has established ULs for zinc from food and supplements for healthy individuals based on the levels of zinc that have an adverse effect on copper status (Table 3) [1]. The ULs do not apply to individuals who are receiving zinc for medical treatment, but such individuals should be under the care of a physician.

Table 3: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Zinc in Milligrams (mg) [1]
Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
0–6 months	4 mg	4 mg
7–12 months	5 mg	5 mg
1–3 years	7 mg	7 mg
4–8 years	12 mg	12 mg
9–13 years	23 mg	23 mg
14–18 years	34 mg	34 mg	34 mg	34 mg
19+ years	40 mg	40 mg	40 mg	40 mg

UL reference intakeSource-described amount

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Health Risks from Excessive Zinc
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 1, 2, 3, 101, 102, 20, 21

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Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Side effects

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Imported NIH ODS source content is available for this topic. MEDucated has preserved the source wording and has not converted it into personalized guidance.

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Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned

Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 4 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence identified
Randomized trials: Randomized trial identified
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses not identified in the frozen metadata
Evidence recency: 1995–2018
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

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Evidence types identified

Study type could not be determined3
Randomized controlled trial1

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Donaldson M, Touger-Decker R. Vitamin and mineral supplements: friend or foe when combined with medications? J Am Dent Assoc 2014;145:1153-8. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Lomaestro BM, Bailie GR. Absorption interactions with fluoroquinolones. 1995 update. Drug Saf 1995;12:314-33. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Chen JC, Chuang CH, Wang JD, Wang CW. Combination therapy using chelating agent and zinc for Wilson's isease. J Med Biol Eng 2015;35:697-708. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Suliburska J, Skrypnik K, Szulinska M, Kupsz J, Markuszewski L, Bogdanski P. Diuretics, ca-antagonists, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors affect zinc status in hypertensive patients on monotherapy: a randomized trial. Nutrients 2018;10. [PubMed abstract]
Randomized controlled trial · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed

Zinc may interact with certain medications, such as quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and penicillamine. In addition, some diuretics can decrease serum zinc concentrations by increasing zinc excretion in urine.

Zinc has the potential to interact with certain medications. In addition, several types of medications might adversely affect zinc levels. A few examples are provided below. Individuals who are taking these and other medications on a regular basis should discuss their zinc status with their health care providers.

Both quinolone antibiotics (such as Cipro) and tetracycline antibiotics (such as Achromycin and Sumycin) might interact with zinc in the gastrointestinal tract, which could inhibit the absorption of both zinc and the antibiotic if they are taken at the same time [103,104]. Taking the antibiotic at least 2 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after the zinc supplement minimizes this interaction [103].

Zinc can reduce the absorption and action of penicillamine, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Wilson disease [105]. To minimize this interaction, people should take zinc supplements and penicillamine at least 1 hour apart.

Thiazide diuretics, such as chlorthalidone (e.g., Hygroton, Thalitone) and hydrochlorothiazide (e.g., Esidrix, HydroDIURIL), increase zinc excretion in the urine. This increased excretion, in turn, decreases serum zinc concentrations [106].

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Interactions with Medications
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 103, 104, 105, 106

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Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Supplement interaction evidence

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Evidence unavailable

Typical forms

Imported NIH ODS source content is available for this topic. MEDucated has preserved the source wording and has not converted it into personalized guidance.

Source-backed preview

Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned

Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 7 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence identified
Randomized trials: Randomized trials not identified in the frozen metadata
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses not identified in the frozen metadata
Evidence recency: 1986–2021
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details

Evidence types identified

Study type could not be determined7

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Label Database. 2021.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Brnic M, Wegmuller R, Melse-Boonstra A, Stomph T, Zeder C, Tay FM, et al. Zinc absorption by adults is similar from intrinsically labeled zinc- biofortified rice and from rice fortified with labeled zinc sulfate. J Nutr 2016;146:76-80. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Wegmuller R, Tay F, Zeder C, Brnic M, Hurrell RF. Zinc absorption by young adults from supplemental zinc citrate is comparable with that from zinc gluconate and higher than from zinc oxide. J Nutr 2014;144:132-6. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Solomons NW. Competitive interaction of iron and zinc in the diet: consequences for human nutrition. J Nutr 1986;116:927-35. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Whittaker P. Iron and zinc interactions in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;68:442s-6s. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
European Food Safety Authority. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for zinc. 2014.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Arredondo M, Martínez R, Núñez MT, Ruz M, Olivares M. Inhibition of iron and copper uptake by iron, copper and zinc. Biol Res 2006;39:95-102. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

Read imported source wording

Forms of zinc that are commonly found in dietary supplements include zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, and zinc gluconate. Taking supplements that contain a substantial amount of iron (≥25 mg) at the same time as zinc supplements can reduce zinc absorption and plasma concentrations of zinc.

Source-described amount

Zinc is available in supplements that only contain zinc, supplements that contain zinc in combination with other ingredients, and in many multivitamin/mineral products [13]. Supplements can contain any of a variety of forms of zinc, including zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, and zinc gluconate [14]. The Supplement Facts panel on a dietary supplement label declares the amount of elemental zinc in the product, not the weight of the entire zinc-containing compound.

Absorption of zinc from supplements that contain zinc citrate or zinc gluconate is similar, at approximately 61% in young adults; the absorption from supplements that contain zinc oxide is 50% [15]. Taking supplements containing 25 mg elemental iron or more at the same time as zinc supplements can reduce zinc absorption and plasma zinc concentrations [16-19]. However, the iron added to enriched or fortified foods does not significantly interfere with zinc absorption because the chemical form of iron used in fortification is typically poorly soluble in the gut and does not compete strongly with zinc for absorpion.

Source-described amount

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Dietary supplements
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Inspect the official NIH ODS source

Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Evidence-backed dosage information

Imported NIH ODS source content is available for this topic. MEDucated has preserved the source wording and has not converted it into personalized guidance.

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Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned

Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 1 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence not identified in the frozen metadata
Randomized trials: Randomized trials not identified in the frozen metadata
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses not identified in the frozen metadata
Evidence recency: 2001–2001
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details

Evidence types identified

Government reference1

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Government reference · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

Read imported source wording

The Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has established Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes for zinc. These values range from 8 to 12 mg for adults and from 2 to 13 mg for infants, children, and adolescents, depending on age, sex, and life stage.

RDA reference intakeAI reference intakeSource intake rangeSource-described amount

Intake recommendations for zinc and other nutrients are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [1]. DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values include the following:

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals; often used to plan nutritionally adequate diets for individuals
Adequate Intake (AI): Intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy; established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): Average daily level of intake estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of healthy individuals; usually used to assess the nutrient intakes of groups of people and to plan nutritionally adequate diets for them; can also be used to assess the nutrient intakes of individuals
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): Maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects

RDA reference intakeAI reference intakeUL reference intake

Table 1 lists the current zinc RDAs. For infants from birth to 6 months, the FNB established an AI for zinc that is equivalent to the mean intake of zinc in healthy, breastfed infants.

AI reference intake

Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Zinc in Milligrams (mg) [1]
Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
0–6 months*	2 mg	2 mg
7–12 months	3 mg	3 mg
1–3 years	3 mg	3 mg
4–8 years	5 mg	5 mg
9–13 years	8 mg	8 mg
14–18 years	11 mg	9 mg	12 mg	13 mg
19+ years	11 mg	8 mg	11 mg	12 mg

RDA reference intakeSource-described amount

*Adequate Intake (AI)

AI reference intake

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Recommended Intakes
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 1

Inspect the official NIH ODS source

Source attribution does not imply NIH or ODS endorsement of MEDucated.

Populations needing caution

Imported NIH ODS source content is available for this topic. MEDucated has preserved the source wording and has not converted it into personalized guidance.

Source-backed preview

Structural characterization

Evidence profile

No overall rating assigned

Evidence source: NIH ODS evidence synthesis
Linked references: 28 identified
Human evidence: Human evidence identified
Randomized trials: Randomized trial identified
Reviews and meta-analyses: Systematic review or meta-analysis identified
Evidence recency: 1994–2021
Source-described consistency: Not characterized in these source blocks
MEDucated evidence rating: Not assigned

Reference counts describe frozen source associations; a larger count does not establish stronger evidence.

Inspect technical evidence details

Evidence types identified

Government reference1
Study type could not be determined22
Systematic review4
Randomized controlled trial1

Source-described limitations

No explicit limitation phrase was identified in these imported source blocks.

Classified references

Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Government reference · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Ryu M-S, Aydemir TB. Zinc. In: Marriott BP, Birt DF, Stallings VA, Yates AA, eds. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 11th ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020:393-408.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
King JC, Cousins RJ. Zinc. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014:189-205.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Bailey RL, Pac SG, Fulgoni VL, 3rd, Reidy KC, Catalano PM. Estimation of total usual dietary intakes of pregnant women in the United States. JAMA Netw Open 2019;2:e195967. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Siva S, Rubin DT, Gulotta G, Wroblewski K, Pekow J. Zinc deficiency is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2017;23:152-7. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Ehrlich S, Mark AG, Rinawi F, Shamir R, Assa A. Micronutrient Deficiencies in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Nutr Clin Pract 2020;35:315-22. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Wierdsma NJ, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA, Berkenpas M, Mulder CJ, van Bodegraven AA. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are highly prevalent in newly diagnosed celiac disease patients. Nutrients 2013;5:3975-92. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Gasparri C, Peroni G, Naso M, Picciotto G, et al. Micronutrients dietary supplementation advices for celiac patients on long-term gluten-free diet with good compliance: a review. Medicina (Kaunas) 2019;55. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Bakaloudi DR, Halloran A, Rippin HL, Oikonomidou AC, Dardavesis TI, Williams J, et al. Intake and adequacy of the vegan diet. A systematic review of the evidence. Clin Nutr 2021;40:3503-21. [PubMed abstract]
Systematic review · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Foster M, Chu A, Petocz P, Samman S. Effect of vegetarian diets on zinc status: a systematic review and meta- analysis of studies in humans. J Sci Food Agric 2013;93:2362-71. [PubMed abstract]
Systematic review · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Agnoli C, Baroni L, Bertini I, Ciappellano S, Fabbri A, Papa M, et al. Position paper on vegetarian diets from the working group of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2017;27:1037-52. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Foster M, Samman S. Vegetarian diets across the lifecycle: impact on zinc intake and status. Adv Food Nutr Res 2015;74:93-131. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Wilson RL, Grieger JA, Bianco-Miotto T, Roberts CT. Association between maternal zinc status, dietary zinc intake and pregnancy complications: a systematic review. Nutrients 2016;8. [PubMed abstract]
Systematic review · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
He L, Lang L, Li Y, Liu Q, Yao Y. Comparison of serum zinc, calcium, and magnesium concentrations in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and healthy pregnant women: A meta- analysis. Hypertens Pregnancy 2016;35:202-9. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Ota E, Mori R, Middleton P, Tobe-Gai R, Mahomed K, Miyazaki C, et al. Zinc supplementation for improving pregnancy and infant outcome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015:Cd000230. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Bzikowska-Jura A, Sobieraj P, Michalska-Kacymirow M, Wesołowska A. Investigation of iron and zinc concentrations in human milk in correlation to maternal factors: an observational pilot study in Poland. Nutrients 2021;13:303. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Keikha M, Shayan-Moghadam R, Bahreynian M, Kelishadi R. Nutritional supplements and mother's milk composition: a systematic review of interventional studies. Int Breastfeed J 2021;16:1. [PubMed abstract]
Systematic review · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Aumeistere L, Ciproviča I, Zavadska D, Bavrins K, Borisova A. Zinc content in breast milk and its association with maternal diet. Nutrients 2018;10. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Abe SK, Balogun OO, Ota E, Takahashi K, Mori R. Supplementation with multiple micronutrients for breastfeeding women for improving outcomes for the mother and baby. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;2:Cd010647. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Katayama K, Hosui A, Sakai Y, Itou M, Matsuzaki Y, Takamori Y, et al. Effects of zinc acetate on serum zinc concentrations in chronic liver diseases: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial and a dose adjustment trial. Biol Trace Elem Res 2020;195:71-81. [PubMed abstract]
Randomized controlled trial · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Ackland ML, Michalczyk AA. Zinc and infant nutrition. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016;611:51-7. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Martyres DJ, Vijenthira A, Barrowman N, Harris-Janz S, Chretien C, Klaassen RJ. Nutrient insufficiencies/deficiencies in children with sickle cell disease and its association with increased disease severity. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2016;63:1060-4. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: human · Directness: not assessed
Swe KM, Abas AB, Bhardwaj A, Barua A, Nair NS. Zinc supplements for treating thalassaemia and sickle cell disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013:Cd009415. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Skalny AV, Skalnaya MG, Grabeklis AR, Skalnaya AA, Tinkov AA. Zinc deficiency as a mediator of toxic effects of alcohol abuse. Eur J Nutr 2018;57:2313-22. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Kang YJ, Zhou Z. Zinc prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease. Mol Aspects Med 2005;26:391-404. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
McClain C, Vatsalya V, Cave M. Role of zinc in the development/progression of alcoholic liver disease. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol 2017;15:285-95. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Navarro S, Valderrama R, To-Figueras J, Gimenez A, Lopez JM, et al. Role of zinc in the process of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Pancreas 1994;9:270-74. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Menzano E, Carlen PL. Zinc deficiency and corticosteroids in the pathogenesis of alcoholic brain dysfunction--a review. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1994;18:895-901. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

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Certain groups of people are more likely than others to have zinc inadequacy. These include people with gastrointestinal disorders and those who have had bariatric surgery, people who follow vegetarian or vegan diets, and women who are pregnant or lactating. In addition, infants who are exclusively breastfed after 6 months of age and children with sickle cell disease have a higher risk of zinc inadequacy, as do people with alcohol use disorder.

The following groups are among those most likely to have inadequate zinc status.

Zinc inadequacy is common in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) and those who have had bariatric surgery that involved a resection of the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to poor dietary intake, decreased zinc absorption, or increased urinary excretion as a result of inflammation [31,32]. Approximately 15% to 40% of people with IBD have zinc deficiency during active disease states and while in remission [31,32]. In patients with zinc deficiency, the risk of IBD-related symptoms (e.g., anemia, hemorrhage, abdominal or perianal fistula) increases, and these patients are more likely to need hospitalization or surgery. Zinc supplementation might reduce these risks [31].

Approximately 50% of people with newly diagnosed celiac disease have a high risk of zinc inadequacy or deficiency; potential contributors to this risk might include zinc malabsorption and mucosal inflammation [33,34]. These deficiencies sometimes persist even when people with celiac disease avoid foods containing gluten [34].

The bioavailability of zinc from vegetarian diets is often lower than from nonvegetarian diets because people who follow vegetarian diets typically eat large amounts of legumes and whole grains, which contain phytates that bind zinc and inhibit its absorption [2]. In addition, meat is high in bioavailable zinc [35]. As a result, people who follow vegetarian diets and vegan diets usually have lower dietary intakes of zinc and lower serum zinc levels than those who include animal products in their diet [36].

People who follow vegetarian or vegan diets might benefit from using certain food preparation techniques that reduce the binding of zinc by phytates and increase its bioavailability, such as soaking beans, grains, and seeds in water for several hours before cooking them [37]. Canned and pre-cooked items are another option. In addition, organic acids in fermented foods might increase zinc absorption [37]. People who follow vegetarian or vegan diets might also benefit from zinc supplements [38].

During pregnancy, the amount of zinc needed increases to accommodate fetal growth, and the FNB therefore recommends that pregnant women consume 3 mg/day more zinc than nonpregnant women in the same age group [1,3]. Similarly, the zinc requirement increases by 4 mg/day during lactation.

Source-described amount

NHANES data from 2001 to 2014 show that 11% of pregnant women in the United States have total zinc intakes from foods and supplements that are below the EAR [25]. Low serum zinc concentrations during pregnancy might increase the risk of preeclampsia and low-birthweight infants [39,40]. Routine zinc supplementation during pregnancy does not appear to reduce the risk of low birthweight, stillbirth, or neonatal death, but it might lower the risk of preterm birth [41].

During lactation, some [42,43] but not all [44] studies show that adequate intakes of foods rich in zinc increase concentrations of the mineral in breast milk. Evidence is also conflicting on whether zinc supplementation during lactation increases the zinc content of breast milk [45,46].

AI reference intake

Zinc concentrations in breast milk peak during the first month after birth and then decline by approximately 75% by the ninth month [3]. Because of this sharp drop, human breast milk alone is not sufficient to meet the infant’s zinc requirement after age 6 months [3,47]. The FNB recommends that in addition to breast milk, infants age 7 to 12 months consume age-appropriate foods or formula that contains zinc [1].

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a high risk of zinc insufficiency or deficiency, possibly as a result of the chelation therapy used to treat iron overload [3,48]. Children with SCD and low zinc status often are shorter and weigh less than age-matched peers, and they also have a higher risk of maturation delays, vaso-occlusive pain crises (blockages of blood flow to an area of the body), and associated hospitalizations [48]. Supplemental zinc might enhance growth in children with SCD and decrease the risk of bacterial infections, hospitalizations, and vaso-occlusive pain crises [3,48,49].

Low zinc status has been observed in 30% to 50% of people with alcohol use disorder [1,50]. Ethanol consumption decreases intestinal absorption of zinc and increases urinary zinc excretion [1,50,51,52]. In addition, the variety and amount of food consumed by many people with alcohol use disorder is limited, leading to inadequate zinc intake [53,54].

Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Groups at Risk of Zinc Inadequacy
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 31, 32, 33, 34, 2, 35, 36, 37, 38, 1, 3, 25, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54

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Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Government reference · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Ryu M-S, Aydemir TB. Zinc. In: Marriott BP, Birt DF, Stallings VA, Yates AA, eds. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 11th ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020:393-408.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
King JC, Cousins RJ. Zinc. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014:189-205.
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed
Hennigar SR, Lieberman HR, Fulgoni VL, 3rd, McClung JP. Serum Zinc Concentrations in the US population are related to sex, age, and time of blood draw but not dietary or supplemental zinc. J Nutr 2018;148:1341-51. [PubMed abstract]
Study type could not be determined · Population basis: unknown · Directness: not assessed

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Serum or plasma zinc concentrations are often used to assess zinc status, and concentrations in healthy people typically range from 80 to 120 mcg/dL. However, these measures have important limitations. For example, zinc concentrations in serum can be affected by age, sex, and time of day, and they do not always correlate with dietary or supplemental zinc intakes.

Source intake rangeSource-described amount

Serum or plasma zinc concentrations are typically used in clinical practice to assess zinc status. In healthy people, the amount of zinc in serum or plasma is 80 to 120 micrograms/deciliter (mcg/dL) (12 to 18 micromoles/liter [mcmol/L]) [2]. Serum zinc concentrations below 70 mcg/dL in women and 74 mcg/dL in men indicate inadequate zinc status. However, both serum and plasma measures have important limitations. Zinc concentrations in serum are associated with the patient’s sex and age as well as the time of the blood draw (morning vs. evening) and do not always correlate with dietary or supplemental zinc intakes [6]. Zinc concentrations also fluctuate in response to other factors, including infections, changes in steroid hormones, and muscle catabolism during weight loss or illness [1,3]. When assessing a patient's zinc status, clinicians also consider risk factors for zinc deficiency, such as inadequate caloric intake, chronic alcohol use, and malabsorptive digestive diseases, as well as signs of zinc deficiency, such as impaired growth in infants and children [1].

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Where did MEDucated get this?

Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Government health-professional reference material imported without MEDucated medical review.

Source section: Assessing zinc status
ODS revision: January 6, 2026
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T22:07:08.802Z
Source fingerprint: e2f6aba81491596341956f3feef8ef8fbf86c5d47bd9573d1df5ad20dd791ffe
Cited reference numbers: 1, 2, 3, 6

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Fixture ID: fixture:supplement:zinc:ods-evidence-preview
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Zinc — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Fixture ID: fixture:supplement:zinc:ods-evidence-preview
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Evidence classification: government reference
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