mineral
Zinc supplements
Half of the 13,186 zinc supplements in the NIH label database that print an amount list 11 mg or less per serving; the middle half list 5 mg to 15 mg, and 1 in 17 of the 13,065 with a plausible amount give more than the adult upper limit at the most servings their labels direct (DSLD version 9.4.0, January 2026). The 418 products whose only supplement ingredient is zinc list a median of 30 mg, and 44% of them give more than the upper limit.
- Products listing it
- 13,75113,186 print an amount; 371 list it inside a blend without an amount
- Median per serving
- 11 mgmiddle half 5 mg to 15 mg
- FDA Daily Value
- 11 mgthe median is 100% of it
- Adult upper limit (IOM)
- 40 mg786 products go above it a day
How much zinc do supplements contain?
The median product lists 11 mg per serving. One in ten lists 2.2 mg or less, one in ten 30 mg or more. The amount printed most often is 15 mg (2,885 products).
Products by amount of zinc per serving
13,372 products, log scale; extreme 0.2% at each end left out of the drawing.
Source: Supplement Facts rows of every product's current label, NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0; amounts in one measure (weight).
How do the amounts compare with the Daily Value and the upper limit?
The FDA Daily Value for zinc is 11 mg (adults and children 4 and older). The median product gives 100% of it per serving; the 90th percentile 273%.
The adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level is 40 mg a day (total intake from food, water and supplements). At the most servings their labels direct, 786 of the 13,065 products with a plausible amount (6.0%) give more than that from the supplement alone (what counts as plausible).
The upper limit is for total intake from food, water and supplements unless stated, and does not apply under medical supervision. A label amount is what the maker printed. This is data, not advice: the NIH ODS fact sheets explain what each nutrient does.
Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) (Daily Values); Institute of Medicine, DRI summary tables (2011) (upper limits); on reading them, the FDA's Daily Value page.
Which forms of zinc do labels name?
Zinc oxide is the form named most often: 2,798 of the 13,751 zinc products (20%), ahead of zinc citrate (2,614, 19%) and zinc gluconate (1,509, 11%). A product naming two forms counts in both; the table below gives every form.
Products by the form of zinc on the label
Count, and the median amount per serving in that form.
| Form | Products | Share of zinc products | Median per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc oxide | 2,798 | 20% | 15 mg |
| Zinc citrate | 2,614 | 19% | 10 mg |
| Zinc gluconate | 1,509 | 11% | 10 mg |
| Zinc glycinate | 1,215 | 9% | 13 mg |
| Zinc picolinate | 720 | 5% | 15 mg |
| Zinc sulfate | 508 | 4% | 10 mg |
| Zinc monomethionine | 436 | 3% | 15 mg |
| Zinc carnosine | 61 | under 1% | 14.5 mg |
| Zinc acetate | 38 | under 1% | 16.88 mg |
Source: the form each label gives for its zinc row (DSLD "forms"), current labels.
Which products list the most zinc?
On-market products, per serving, with a plausible amount: the rule leaves out likely entry slips, such as an amount far beyond every other label with no %DV or strength on the label to back it (each product page still shows its own amount, marked).
- Vita-Glan-FDouglas Laboratories100 mg
- Vita-Glan-MDouglas Laboratories100 mg
- Vita-M ForteDouglas Laboratories100 mg
- Zinc 50 mgIndiana Botanic Gardens100 mg
- Premium Immune SupportNutrivein100 mg
- Zinc Complex 100 mgMicro Ingredients100 mg
- OnSetNB Pure100 mg
- Zinc 100 mgNature's Blend100 mg
Have the amounts changed over the years?
Products whose current label entered DSLD in 2011 list a median of 15 mg; those entered in 2025, 11 mg.
| Year | Products | Median per serving |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 244 | 15 mg |
| 2012 | 786 | 15 mg |
| 2013 | 1,006 | 15 mg |
| 2014 | 567 | 11 mg |
| 2015 | 555 | 10 mg |
| 2016 | 538 | 11 mg |
| 2017 | 608 | 15 mg |
| 2018 | 502 | 10 mg |
| 2019 | 645 | 10 mg |
| 2020 | 1,199 | 10 mg |
| 2021 | 1,294 | 10 mg |
| 2022 | 1,453 | 11 mg |
| 2023 | 1,338 | 10 mg |
| 2024 | 1,446 | 10 mg |
| 2025 | 1,191 | 11 mg |
Source: DSLD label entry dates and amounts, current labels.
In which products and brands?
Products listing zinc by DSLD product type
Brands listing it most: Nature's Way (300), Douglas Laboratories (255), Nature's Plus (218), NOW (95), Bronson (94), Metagenics (82), Pure Encapsulations (79), Rainbow Light (77), XYMOGEN (75), Puritan's Pride (74).
Every product listing zinc
13,751 products, A to Z by name (page 105 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- ImmunePerformance Lab5 mg
- Immune +Higher Nature5 mg
- Immune + Gut HealthCaptavida15 mg
- Immune + Super OrangeEmergen-C10 mg
- Immune 24 Hour +Nature's Bounty15 mg
- Immune 4California Gold Nutrition10 mg
- Immune 4.8 Billion CFULongevity Premier16 mg
- Immune 5North American Herb & Spice4.7 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Immune ActiveMetagenics30 mg
- Immune AdvancedNDS Nutrition40 mg
- Immune Aid ZincKirkman5.5 mg
- Immune AVTransFormation Professional Protocol5 mg
- Immune Balance DailyGarden of Life5 mg
- Immune Balance with EpiCorLuckyVitamin7.5 mg
- Immune BoostNutraChamps15 mg
- Immune BoostDC8 mg
- Immune BoostNatrol15 mg
- Immune BoostNaturesPlus30 mg
- Immune BoostGreenPeach3 mg
- Immune BoostOXZGEN15 mg
- Immune BoostWonder Laboratories8 mg
- Immune Boost CherrySwanson10 mg
- Immune Boost DailyImmune Boost Daily1.1 mg
- Immune BoosterNatures Plus Source of Life ยท off the market15 mg
- Immune BoosterMineralife15 mg
- Immune BoosterNaturesPlus Source of Life15 mg
- Immune BoosterDoctor's Best23 mg
- Immune BoosterOrphic Nutrition16 mg
- Immune Booster +BioPerineApproved Science11 mg
- Immune Booster Tropical Berry FlavorNaturesPlus Animal Parade1.9 mg
- Immune BrothYES Youth Extension Solutions11 mg
- Immune BuilderMineralife15 mg
- Immune C PlusKAPPA NUTRITION50 mg
- Immune C Plus 12 in 1 Advanced ComplexKAPPA NUTRITION50 mg
- Immune C Plus Zinc & EchinaceaL'il Critters3 mg
- Immune C plus Zinc & Vitamin DL'il Critters2 mg
- Immune Charge+ Zinc IonophoreQuicksilver Scientific10 mg
- Immune Chewable Delicious Berry FlavorSource Naturals Wellness5 mg
- Immune CompleteThe Vitamin Shoppe10 mg
- Immune ComplexBioCare10 mg
- Immune ComplexDr. Rico Perez10 mg
- Immune Complex with Zinc Adult GummiesNature Made5 mg
- Immune DefendClean Nutraceuticals50 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Immune DefenseNatrium Health8 mg
- Immune DefenseHerbadiet10 mg
- Immune DefenseSnugell16 mg
- Immune DefenseMegaFood5 mg
- Immune DefenseOrzax15 mg
- Immune DefenseSafrel100 mg
- Immune Defense Formula Ruby Lemon HoneyEmergen-C15 mg