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 205 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Saw Palmetto & Lycopene ComplexSolgar · off the market10 mg
- Saw Palmetto & Pygeum 420 mgSolaray15 mg
- Saw Palmetto & Pygeum with ZincSolaray15 mg
- Saw Palmetto 450 mg21st Century15 mg
- Saw Palmetto Berry ComplexBronson Laboratories5 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexThe Vitamin Shoppe15 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexNutriCology10 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexHampshire Labs · off the market15 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexFoster Regal15 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexHigher Nature5 mg
- Saw Palmetto ComplexBioCare · off the market10 mg
- Saw Palmetto Complextnvitamins15 mg
- Saw Palmetto Extract21st Century · off the market30 mg
- Saw Palmetto ExtractFlora15 mg
- Saw Palmetto ExtractSAN1.5 mg
- Saw Palmetto ExtractNOW20 mg
- Saw Palmetto Extract 160 mgSundown Naturals · off the market15 mg
- Saw Palmetto FormulaGNC Mega Men3.75 mg
- Saw Palmetto FormulaGNC Men's7.5 mg
- Saw Palmetto PlusThe Vitamin Shoppe15 mg
- Saw Palmetto Plus 160 mg Standardized Extract with PygeumMartin Avenue Pharmacy15 mg
- Saw Palmetto Pygeum Lycopene ComplexSolgar · off the market10 mg
- Saw Palmetto Xtra 160 mgSundown Naturals15 mg
- SBO Probiotics Gut Restore 25 Billion CFUAncient Nutrition20 mg
- SBO Probiotics ImmuneAncient Nutrition · off the market20 mg
- SBO Probiotics Men's 25 Billion CFUAncient Nutrition15 mg
- SBO Probiotics Once Daily ImmuneAncient Nutrition20 mg
- SCD B Complex with C & ZincFreeda15 mg
- SCD MultivitaminFreeda22.5 mg
- Scientifically Advanced Vita-Lea Ocean WondersShaklee · off the market5 mg
- Sclera WhiteSuccess Chemistry32 mg
- Scooby-Doo! GummiesBayer One A Day Kids2.5 mg
- ScorbatateGenestra Brands1.75 mg
- Score! HardcoreForce Factor8 mg
- Score! XXLForce Factor12 mg
- Screen Shield ProEyePromise15 mg
- Screen Shield Teen Natural Fruit Punch FlavorEyePromise1.5 mg
- Se-Natal 19Seton Pharmaceuticals20 mg
- Se-Natal 19 ChewableSeton Pharmaceuticals20 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Sea Buddies Daily Multiple SplashberryEnzymatic Therapy · off the market2.5 mg
- Sea Buddies Daily Multiple Tropical SplashEnzymatic Therapy · off the market5 mg
- Sea Buddies Immune DefenseNature's Way2 mg
- Sea Buddies Immune Defense SparkleberryEnzymatic Therapy · off the market2 mg
- Sea Cucumber & OystersVinsic4.5 mg
- Sea Moss Gummies 1200 mgO Orgeuos11 mg
- SeaNU HairIVL Institute For Vibrant Living · off the market15 mg
- SeaNu HairIVL5 mg
- SeasonalGarden of Life Herbal Immune Balance15 mg
- Seasonal EaseAOR Advanced Orthomolecular Research Advanced22.5 mg
- Seasonal ShieldNuMedica25 mg