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 125 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Liquid Multi Vite MinGenestra Brands10 mg
- Liquid Multi Vite Min Natural Lemon-Cardamom FlavorGenestra Brands20 mg
- Liquid Multi Wild Berry FlavorNOW3 mg
- Liquid Multinutrient FormulaBluebonnet Super Earth · off the market15 mg
- Liquid Multinutrient Formula Natural Tropical Fruit FlavorBluebonnet Super Earth11 mg
- Liquid Multiple MineralsCarlson · off the market15 mg
- Liquid Multiple Minerals Natural Grape FlavorNature's Answer7.5 mg
- Liquid Multiple Vitamin & Mineral Natural Mango FlavorNature's Answer5 mg
- Liquid Multiple Vitamin And Mineral Tropical Orange FlavorNew Sun3 mg
- Liquid MultivitaminDouglas Laboratories12 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Formula Fruit PunchGarden of Life Vitamin Code · off the market8 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Formula Fruit Punch FlavorGarden of Life Vitamin Code8 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Formula Orange Mango FlavorGarden of Life Vitamin Code8 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Formula Ornage-Mango FlavorGarden of Life Vitamin Code8 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Orange VanillaThe Vitamin Shoppe15 mg
- Liquid Multivitamin Tropical BerryThe Vitamin Shoppe15 mg
- Liquid Nighttime Multimineral Coconut DreamMary Ruth's8 mg
- Liquid Prenatal MultiLiquid Health10 mg
- Liquid Pro Anti-Aging TherapyCalifornia Academy of Health · off the market15 mg
- Liquid Ultra Mega Multivitamin Natural Citrus FlavorGNC · off the market15 mg
- Liquid Vitamin Mineral RushSunwarriorin a blend
- Liquid Weight LossCalifornia Academy of Health3 mg
- Liquid Zinc AssayPremier Research Labs · off the market10 mg
- Liquid Zinc Magnesium Aspartate Natural Berry FlavorTrace Minerals Research30 mg
- Liquid Zinc Magnesium Aspartate Natural Berry FlavorTrace Minerals Research TMRFIT Series30 mg
- Liquid Zinc UltraPremier Research Labs25 mg
- Liquid ZMA Natural Berry FlavorTrace Minerals Research · off the market30 mg
- LiquiNutrients Natural Lemon Creme FlavorPure Encapsulations6 mg
- LiquiVive Comprehensive Wellness FormulaLifeMiracle USA15 mg
- Lit-Control Devicare pH BalanceOmneDiem10 mg
- Lit-Control Devicare pH DownOmneDiem10 mg
- Lit-Control Devicare pH UpOmneDiem10 mg
- Little AngelsMaximum Living5 mg
- Little Buddies Complete Delicious Cocoa/Carob FlavorGood 'N Natural · off the market3.75 mg
- Little OneMetabolic Maintenance15 mg
- LIV PureJust Ripe Nutrition30 mg
- Liva Guard CapsulesPerque10 mg
- Liva Guard FortePerque5 mg
- Liva Guard Forte SoftgelsPerque10 mg
- LivaplexSP Standard Process · off the market5.5 mg
- LiveReaction Nutrition · off the market20 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Liver & Kidney CleanseThrive Naturals30 mg
- Liver & Organ DefenderRich Piana 5% Nutrition30 mg
- Liver and Organ DefenderRich Piana 5% Nutrition · off the market30 mg
- Liver CleanseNutraChamps30 mg
- Liver CleanseEnvy Nutrition30 mg
- Liver CleanseNutriFlair30 mg
- Liver CleanseArazo Nutrition30 mg
- Liver Cleansedr.bo30 mg
- Liver Clear PlusIVL Institute For Vibrant Living · off the market2.5 mg