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 190 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Pro Mass PM-1250 Chocolate CakeSNI Hardcore Series · off the marketin a blend
- Pro Mass PM-1250 Milk and CookiesSNI Hardcore Series · off the marketin a blend
- Pro Mass PM-1250 Vanilla Cake BatterSNI Hardcore Series · off the marketin a blend
- Pro Muscle EnhancerRise-N-Shine · off the market4.5 mg
- Pro Series Free TestApplied Nutriceuticals · off the market19.6 mg
- Pro Series Intense VanillaMuscle Milk2.2 mg
- Pro Series Protein Powder Intense VanillaMuscle Milk2 mg
- Pro VitalityNeoLife15 mg
- Pro Vitality +NeoLife · off the market15 mg
- Pro+ Clean Lean Creamy French VanillaComplete Life Nutrition · off the market3.25 mg
- Pro-100Vitamin Bounty12 mg
- Pro-Antium Double Chocolate CookieRonnie Cole Signature Seriesno amount
- Pro-CHealth Products Distributors2 mg
- PRO-Dental Natural Mint FlavorHyperbiotics2 mg
- Pro-Equalizer Protein CapsulesDouglas Laboratories · off the market0.3 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Pro-Equalizer Protein PowderDouglas Laboratories10 mg
- PRO-Gut Integrity with EpicorHyperbiotics10 mg
- Pro-Night ChocolateSNAC Nutrition1 mg
- Pro-Night VanillaSNAC Nutrition1 mg
- Pro-Series Trig X2 Muscle BoosterTrig X2 · off the market45 mg
- Pro-Shake 19 Natural Vanilla Protein PowderDouglas Laboratories6.75 mg
- Pro-Test1 Up Nutrition20 mg
- pro:play Hydration lemon Limepro:play Hydration11 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Proactive 65+ for Men & WomenBayer One A Day15 mg
- Probio DefenseXYMOGEN2 mg
- Probiotic + Multivitamin Chewables Natural Fruit Punch Flavor!Culturelle Kids1.88 mg
- Probiotic + Multivitamin Gummies Mixed BerryCulturelle3.63 mg
- Probiotic Advantage Oral SinusWilliams Nutrition5 mg
- Probiotic Advantage Oral Sinus Cinnamon FlavorWilliams Nutrition · off the market5 mg
- Probiotic Advantage Oral Sinus Natural Cinnamon FlavorDr. David Williams · off the market5 mg
- Probiotic Assorted Fruit FlavorsAirborne Plus1 mg
- Probiotic MPFProgressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories5 mg
- Probiotic MultiBronson Laboratories · off the market11 mg
- Probiotic MultiBronson11 mg
- Probiotic Solutions Energy 25 Billion CFUsGNC Probiotic Solutions15 mg
- Probiotic Solutions Immune Support 25 Billion CFUsGNC Probiotic Solutions15 mg
- Probiotic Super Greens With TurmericOrganic Traditions0.72 mg
- Probiotic Superfood Smoothie Mix Decadent Chocolate CoconutOrganic Traditions0.49 mg
- Probiotic Superfood Smoothie Mix Delicious Berry BurstOrganic Traditions0.54 mg
- Probiotic Superfood Smoothie Mix Luscious Lucuma BaobabOrganic Traditions0.41 mg
- Probiotic+Dioxyme75 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Probiotics + Weight LossPurely Inspired4.4 mg
- Probiotics +Weight LossPurely Inspired4.4 mg
- Probiotics Advanced +Immune Health 250 mg Vitamin CSchiff Digestive Advantage2 mg
- Probiotics Immune 50 BillionGarden of Life Dr. Formulated11 mg
- Probiotics Immune SupportProcera10 mg
- ProCerv HPTheralogix15 mg
- ProCreation Female Fertility SupportDreamQuest Nutraceuticals · off the market15 mg
- ProCreation Male Fertility SupportDreamQuest Nutraceuticals · off the market25 mg
- ProDentimRillvo · off the market12 mg