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 176 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- OsteoForce SupremeDesigns for Health5 mg
- OsteoGenesisBioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market8 mg
- OsteoGenesisNutra BioGenesis8 mg
- OsteoGenesis ESBioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market10 mg
- OsteoGenesis ESNutra BioGenesis10 mg
- OsteoLogic ProPhysioLogics · off the market2.5 mg
- OsteoLogic Pro Calcium HydroxyapatitePhysioLogics · off the market5 mg
- OsteoMatrixShaklee0.38 mg
- OsteoMDMD Prescriptives · off the market5 mg
- OsteoOnePatient One MediNutritionals5 mg
- OsteoOne with Ca, D3, K2 ComplexPatient One MediNutritionals · off the market5 mg
- OsteoPrimeNature's Way20 mg
- Osteoprime ForteIntegrative Therapeutics20 mg
- OsteoPrime PlusNature's Way · off the market20 mg
- OsteoPrime Plus Calcium & MagnesiumNature's Way20 mg
- Osteoprime UltraIntegrative Therapeutics20 mg
- OsteoPurePureFormulas5 mg
- OsteoSelectMoss Nutrition10 mg
- OsteoSense PlusNatural Factors WomenSense7.5 mg
- OsteoSheathVinco's · off the market15 mg
- OsteoSheathVinco15 mg
- OsteoSheath 4Vinco's · off the market15 mg
- OsteoSheath 4Vinco15 mg
- OsteoStrongTerry Naturally20 mg
- OsteoStrongEuroMedica20 mg
- Ovarian ComplexMBi Nutraceuticals10 mg
- Over 30 Hormone SupportGleeFull Supplements26 mg
- Overnighter Collagen Blueberry Pomegrante FlavorNeoCell · off the market2 mg
- Overnighter Collagen Powder Blueberry Pomegranate FlavorNeoCell · off the market2 mg
- OxMTN OPS11 mg
- Oxi-PlusPriority One Nutritional Supplements21 mg
- Oxy Quench (Antioxidant Mitochondrial Complex)BioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market5 mg
- Oxy-Guard ForteKlaire Labs · off the market5 mg
- OxygenicsMetagenics5 mg
- Oxylent 5-In-1 Formula Sparkling Berries FlavorOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-In-1 Formula Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate FlavorOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-in-1 Formula Sparkling Mandarin FlavorOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-In-1 Multivitamin Supplement Drink Sparkling BerriesOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-In-1 Multivitamin Supplement Drink Sparkling Blackberry PomegranateOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-In-1 Multivitamin Supplement Drink Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate FlavorOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-in-1 Multivitamin Supplement Drink Sparkling MandarinOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent 5-in-1 Multivitamin Supplement Drink Variety PackOxylent · off the market15 mg
- Oxylent Children's Multivitamin Supplement Drink Bubbly Berry Punch! FlavorOxylent · off the market5 mg
- Oxylent Multivitamin Supplement Drink 5-in-1 Formula Variety PackOxylent · off the market15 mg
- OxypermIntegrative Therapeutics30 mg
- OxyvectinNutriPharm · off the market15 mg
- P 100% Plant Protein Vanilla FlavorBiochem2.7 mg
- P PancreasSystemic Formulas Bio Function23 mg
- P+ 100% Plant Protein Flex Vanilla FlavorBiochem2.8 mg
- P+ 100% Plant Protein Lean Vanilla FlavorBiochem2.7 mg