{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"zinc","kind":"supplement","name":"zinc","aliases":["zinc gluconate","zinc citrate","zinc picolinate","zinc sulfate","zinc acetate"],"brands_sg":["Holistic Way","GreenLife","NOW Foods","Thorne"],"class":"mineral","tags":["immune","general"],"use_for":"immune function, wound healing, dna synthesis and taste","use_after":"no timing rule · antibiotic ≥2 h before or 4–6 h after zinc","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · iron 25 mg+ taken with it cuts uptake · phytates too","pros":["citrate and gluconate absorb ~61%, oxide ~50%","lozenges started early may shorten a cold, not ease it","small daily need: 11 mg men, 8 mg women"],"cons":["50 mg+ for weeks can deplete copper and lower hdl","nausea, headache, stomach upset at higher doses","iron 25 mg+ taken together blunts zinc uptake"],"dose_note":"rda 11 mg (men) / 8 mg (women) a day; ul 40 mg a day from all sources, set on copper status; hsa's limit for health supplements is 15 mg a day; sg retail products run from 15 mg to 50 mg a tablet — the 50 mg ones sit above the ul","dosage":{"ul":40,"unit":"mg","fda_dv":11,"rda_ai":"11 (men) · 8 (women)","ul_status":"established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":15},"ul_status":"established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["on quinolone/tetracycline antibiotics or penicillamine — absorption clashes; ask your pharmacist about timing","on thiazide diuretics — more zinc is lost in urine; ask your doctor","over 40 mg a day — above the ul; only under a doctor's care","vegetarian or vegan — phytates in legumes and whole grains cut zinc uptake"],"clashes":[{"src":["nih_ods_zinc_hp","nih_ods_zinc_con"],"note":"each blunts the other's absorption; antibiotic 2 h before or 4–6 h after zinc","with":"quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics"},{"src":["nih_ods_zinc_hp","nih_ods_zinc_con"],"note":"zinc cuts its absorption and action; at least 1 h apart","with":"penicillamine"},{"src":["nih_ods_zinc_hp"],"note":"raise zinc loss in urine; serum zinc falls","with":"thiazide diuretics"},{"src":["nih_ods_zinc_hp"],"note":"taken together, less zinc is absorbed","with":"iron supplements (25 mg+)"},{"src":["nih_ods_zinc_hp","nih_ods_zinc_con"],"note":"50 mg+ zinc for weeks interferes with copper absorption","with":"copper"}],"sources":[{"id":"nih_ods_zinc_hp","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Zinc (Health Professional), updated January 6, 2026","quote":"[RDA] 19+ years: Male 11 mg, Female 8 mg, Pregnancy 11 mg, Lactation 12 mg … [UL] 19+ years: 40 mg … it plays a role in enhancing immune function, protein and DNA synthesis, wound healing, and cell signaling and division … is involved in the sense of taste … 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% … Taking supplements containing 25 mg elemental iron or more at the same time as zinc supplements can reduce zinc absorption and plasma zinc concentrations … Phytates, the storage form of phosphorus in plants, bind some minerals such as zinc in the intestine and form an insoluble complex that inhibits zinc absorption … High zinc intakes can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, gastric distress, vomiting, and loss of appetite … 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 … 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 … 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 … supplemental zinc in lozenge or syrup form appears to reduce the duration, but not the severity, of signs and symptoms of the common cold when taken shortly after a person develops a cold … zinc may reduce symptom duration by about 2 days in people who already have a cold, but zinc appears to make little to no difference in preventing colds … low to very low certainty of evidence … 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 … Taking the antibiotic at least 2 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after the zinc supplement minimizes this interaction … Zinc can reduce the absorption and action of penicillamine … 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 … 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 … Forms of zinc that are commonly found in dietary supplements include zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, and zinc gluconate","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_zinc_con","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/","label":"NIH ODS — Zinc (Consumer), updated October 4, 2022","quote":"It helps your immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. Your body also uses zinc to make DNA (the genetic material in cells) and proteins … Zinc also helps wounds heal and is important for the proper sense of taste … Adult males 11 mg … Adult females 8 mg … If you take too much zinc for a long time, you could have problems such as lower immunity, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (good) cholesterol, and low copper levels … The daily upper limits for zinc include intakes from all sources—foods, beverages, supplements, and medications … Adults 40 mg … To help avoid this interaction, take the antibiotic at least 2 hours before, or 4 to 6 hours after, taking a zinc supplement … take zinc supplements and penicillamine at least 1 hour apart … It's not clear whether one form is better than the others … Some studies suggest that zinc lozenges or zinc syrup speeds recovery from the common cold if you start taking them at the start of a cold","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_dv","url":"https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels","label":"FDA — Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (Reference Guide: Daily Values for Nutrients), content current as of 03/05/2024","quote":"Zinc … 11mg … DVs are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_hs_guidelines","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines, GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020, January 2026 (clause 4.8 + Table 5 Minerals Limits)","quote":"4.8 HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5 … Table 5: Minerals Limits … Nutrient … Maximum Daily Limit … Zinc 15 mg … 4.11 Examples of supplements intended for specific adult population groups that require higher levels of supplementation are: a. Zinc for patients with wounds or metabolic conditions","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"watsons_sg_zinc","url":"https://www.watsons.com.sg/search?text=zinc","label":"Watsons Singapore — site search 'zinc' (retail listings, SGD)","quote":"[HOLISTIC WAY] Zinc Citrate High Absorption 15mg (Maintain Healthy Skin and Immune Function) 100s … [GREENLIFE] Zinc Forte Dietary Capsule (Immune Complex) 60s … [SHAKLEE] Zinc Complex 120 Tablets","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg_zinc","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/search?kw=zinc","label":"iHerb Singapore — search 'zinc' (retail listings)","quote":"NOW Foods, Zinc, 50 mg, 250 Tablets … Thorne, Zinc Picolinate, 15 mg, 60 Capsules … Solgar, Zinc Picolinate, 22 mg, 100 Tablets … Thorne, Zinc Bisglycinate, 15 mg, 60 Capsules … Nature's Bounty, Zinc, 50 mg, 200 Tablets","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":[{"brand":"Thorne","example":"Thorne® Zinc Picolinate 30 mg","programme":"NSF Certified for Sport","matching_products":1,"brand_total_certified":66}],"updated_at":"2026-08-30T17:59:38.376296+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}