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 180 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- PhytoMulti TabletsMetagenics15 mg
- PhytoMulti with Iron TabletsMetagenics15 mg
- PhytoSoy Double Dutch ChocolateUniversal Nutrition1.1 mg
- PhytoSoy Vanilla Cake MixUniversal Nutrition0.9 mg
- PhytostanIntegrative Therapeutics0.3 mg
- Phytotality Daily Greens FormulaPhysioLogics · off the market10 mg
- Phytox CardioPurity Products6 mg
- Pic-MinsThorne Research · off the market15 mg
- Pic-MinsThorne · off the market15 mg
- Pico Zinc PlusRnA ReSet20 mg
- Picolinate Zinc 50 mgNew Age500 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Pina Colada ShakeUniversal7.5 mg
- PinkbHIP1.8 mg
- Pink 1,000 mg Vitamin C Pink LemonadeEmergen-C2 mg
- Pixie VitesDr. Fuhrman12 mg
- Planet 1000 mg Vitamin C Dragon FruitEmergen-C2 mg
- Plant Head Men's FormulaGenceutic Naturals3 mg
- Plant Head Original GreensGenceutic Naturals3 mg
- Plant Man MultivitaminGame Up11 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Plant Protein Chocolate Cake FlavorSwolverine2 mg
- Plant Protein Chocolate Cake Natural FlavorSwolverine2 mg
- Plant Protein Creamy VanillaFREZZOR1 mg
- Plant Protein Salted CaramelSwolverine2 mg
- Plant-Based MultivitaminLife Extension11 mg
- Plant-Based Protein Chocolate FlavorOrganic Muscle · off the market0.6 mg
- Plant-Based Protein Dark ChocolateOrganic Muscle0.7 mg
- Plant-Based Protein Strawberry FlavorOrganic Muscle0.7 mg
- Plant-Based Protein Vanilla FlavorOrganic Muscle0.7 mg
- Planta Madagascar VanillaAmbrosia7.5 mg
- Plantopia Chocolate Hazelnut BrowniePurely Inspired2 mg
- Plantopia Strawberry Banana SplitPurely Inspired1.7 mg
- Plantopia Tahitian VanillaPurely Inspired1.7 mg
- PlantPro5 Chocolate CakeSwolverine · off the market2 mg
- PlatformLifeLink20 mg
- PlatinumHydroxycut4.4 mg
- Platinum 50+ Natural Peach Flavorvitafusion1.2 mg
- Platinum 50+ Peachvitafusion · off the market1.5 mg
- Platinum Multi VitaminMuscleTech Essential Series9.5 mg
- Platinum Multi VitaminMuscleTech13.3 mg
- Platinum Series Restore Immune with ZincGarden of Life Dr. Formulated11 mg
- PlnMNP Michael's Naturopathic Programs10 mg
- Plus Tri-Factor Formula with Zinc4Life10 mg
- PlusKenkOGarden of Life Minami Nutrition5 mg
- PlusOneMetagenics25 mg
- PmThorne FX · off the market20 mg
- PmLife Time Fitness · off the market20 mg
- PM EveningKAL5.5 mg
- PM FormulaTriVita15 mg
- PM FormulaLife Time Fitness · off the market55 mg
- PM Monster Test Sleep & Grow Testosterone BoosterMonster Test15 mg