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 197 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- ProviqNutriPharm · off the market10 mg
- PsorioSupportDesigns for Health20 mg
- PUDD'N Denali Chocolate Moose TracksCore Nutritionals0.2 mg
- PulseRivalusin a blend
- Pulseplex 360Clean Nutraceuticals25 mg
- PureBuried Treasure Liquid Nutrients · off the market0.0046 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Pure & Essential Methylated Multivitamin & Minerals For MenIgennus Healthcare Nutrition15 mg
- Pure Adrenal SupportShape by HIT Nutrition · off the market5 mg
- Pure Balance Vegan Complete Dutch ChocolateShape by HIT Nutrition · off the market3.25 mg
- Pure Balance Vegan Complete French VanillaShape by HIT Nutrition · off the market3.25 mg
- Pure Colloidal MineralsBuried Treasure Liquid Nutrients0.0046 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Pure Defense Mushroom-8 Immune SupportIrwin Naturals15 mg
- Pure Energy4 Today · off the market5 mg
- Pure EnergyBodyLogicMD Elite5 mg
- Pure Energy Fizz Natural Mixed Berry FlavorShape by HIT Nutrition · off the market3 mg
- Pure Fat BurnShape by HIT Nutrition · off the market1.5 mg
- Pure Food Bone StructureNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea · off the market5 mg
- Pure Food Men'sNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea · off the market25 mg
- Pure Food Men's 50+Natural Factors Whole Earth & Sea25 mg
- Pure Food Men's 50+ Multivitamin & MineralNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea25 mg
- Pure Food Men's Multivitamin & MineralNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea25 mg
- Pure Food Men's Multivitiamn & MineralNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea25 mg
- Pure Food Women's 50+ Multivitamin & MineralNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea15 mg
- Pure Food Women's Multivitamin & MineralNatural Factors Whole Earth & Sea · off the market15 mg
- Pure Mineral CompletePureFormulas20 mg
- Pure Protein Complete French VanillaPure Protein3 mg
- Pure Protein Super Food Vanilla BeanPure Protein3 mg
- Pure Synapse XT MaxJustified Laboratories10 mg
- Pure ZincBodyLogicMD Elite54 mg
- Pure-Amino GrapeBetancourt Nutrition · off the market22 mg
- PureDefense Chewables Natural Cherry Vanilla FlavorPure Encapsulations · off the market7.5 mg
- PureDefense Chewables Natural Mango FlavorPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- PureDefense w/NACPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer Natural ChocolateGNC Earth Genius · off the market2.5 mg
- PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer Natural VanillaGNC Earth Genius · off the market2.5 mg
- PureFood NutrientsPure Encapsulations14 mg
- PureForm for HimPureFormulas10 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- PureGenomics MultivitaminPure Encapsulations25 mg
- PureGenomics Ultra MultivitaminPure Encapsulations20 mg
- PureLean (with Stevia) Natural Vanilla Bean FlavorPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- PureLean Natural Chocolate FlavorPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- PureLean Natural Vanilla Bean FlavorPure Encapsulations11 mg
- PureLean NutrientsPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- PureLean Pure PackPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- Purely PrenatalDoctor's Best20 mg
- Purely-Zinc PlusNorth American Herb & Spice3.03 mg
- PureMulti for MenPureFormulas15 mg
- PureMulti for WomenPureFormulas15 mg
- PureNatalPure Synergy13 mg
- PureNutrients Gummy Natural Raspberry-Lemonade FlavorPure Encapsulations13.5 mg