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 2 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- 10X LifeMax Drive Nutrition10 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- 10x Pure Ultimate Multi-Vitamin & Mineral SupplementCTFO Changing The Future Outcome · off the market15 mg
- 12 Hour X-TremeBioXgenic15 mg
- 14 ZincSomaplex0.0006 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- 1Shot Protein Berry1Shot Protein · off the marketin a blend
- 1Shot Protein Coffee1Shot Protein · off the marketin a blend
- 1Shot Protein Mixed Berry1Shot Protein · off the marketin a blend
- 1Shot Protein Tropical1Shot Protein · off the marketin a blend
- 2 Own the Knight2 Own the Knight · off the marketin a blend
- 2-Day Fast Formula Chocolate FlavoredBeachbody Nutritionalsin a blend
- 2-Day Fast Formula Vanilla FlavoredBeachbody Nutritionalsin a blend
- 2-in-1 Kidney & Liver Super CleanseIrwin Naturals7.5 mg
- 2-Phase Dual Immune BoosterRoyal Guard5 mg
- 2/A Day MultiAdaptogen Research15 mg
- 21 MultiSomaplexin a blend
- 2:1 Cal-Mag Citrate With Zinc And Vitamin DNature's Harmony2.5 mg
- 3 en 1Bellodec-tta100 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- 3 Way Immune BoostHerbaDiet7 mg
- 30 Day Beauty RegimenBronson15 mg
- 35+ Mom & BabyRainbow Light · off the market13 mg
- 35+ Mom and Baby MultivitaminRainbow Light · off the market15 mg
- 40+ Every Man IINew Chapter Organics · off the market15 mg
- 40+ Every Man II MultivitaminNew Chapter Organics · off the market15 mg
- 40+ Every Man II MultivitaminNew Chapter15 mg
- 40+ Every Man's Multivitamin One DailyNew Chapter7.4 mg
- 40+ Every Man's One Daily MultiNew Chapter7.4 mg
- 40+ Every Man's One Daily Whole-Food MultivitaminNew Chapter · off the market7.4 mg
- 40+ Every Woman IINew Chapter Organics · off the market7.5 mg
- 40+ Every Woman II MultivitaminNew Chapter7.5 mg
- 40+ Every Woman's One Daily MultiNew Chapter7.5 mg
- 40+ Every Woman's One Daily Whole Food MultivitaminNew Chapter5.5 mg
- 40+ Every Women's One Daily MultiNew Chapter7.5 mg
- 40+ Heart DefenseLife · off the market0.0015 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- 4Life Elements Zinc Factor4Life0.18 mg
- 4Life Transfer Factor Cardio4Life · off the market10 mg
- 4Life Transfer Factor Plus4Life10 mg
- 4Life Transfer Factor Plus RiteStart Men4Life50 mg
- 4Life Transfer Factor Vista4Life · off the market5 mg
- 4SightOrtho Molecular Products15 mg
- 5 Day Elderberry Immune Berry FlavorLife Extension10 mg
- 5-HTP 100 mgEveryday Health4 mg
- 5-HTP ComplexHigher Nature2.5 mg
- 5-HTP PowerNature's Sunshine3 mg
- 5-HTP WORxSuperiorLabs2 mg
- 5-Way Metabolic Fat FighterProvida Labs15 mg
- 50 & Wiser MenGarden of Life Vitamin Code11 mg
- 50 & Wiser WomenGarden of Life Vitamin Code7.7 mg
- 50 PlusGNC Women's Ultra Mega15 mg
- 50 PlusGNC Mega Men25 mg
- 50 Plus FormulaSimply Supplements · off the market0.72 mg