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 221 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Superfruits Max WatermelonZHOU5.5 mg
- Supergreen GummiesAtlantis Nutrition3.3 mg
- Supergreen Tonik BerryHuman Tonik15 mg
- Supergreens GummiesGoli Nutrition1.1 mg
- Supergreens Max Raspberry Natural FlavorZHOU3.3 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- SuperHairMoon Juice10 mg
- SuperHuman Sleep Fruit PunchAlpha Lion27 mg
- Superhuman Sleep Slaughtermelon Watermelon LemonadeAlpha Lion27 mg
- Superhuman TestAlpha Lion30 mg
- Superior Adult Chewable Raspberry Rapture Multi-Vitamins & MineralsNature's Harmony2.5 mg
- Superior Children's Multi Mixed Fruit FlavorBodSmith · off the market5 mg
- Superior One-Per-Day Multi-Vitamins & Minerals Iron Free FormulaNature's Harmony5 mg
- Superior One-Per-Day Multi-Vitamins & Minerals With IronNature's Harmony5 mg
- Superior Strength Hair, Skin & Nails with 5,000 mcg BiotinNature's Truth · off the market7.5 mg
- Superior Vitamin C 1000 mgCountry Life2 mg
- SuperNutesOrtho Molecular Products · off the market2.5 mg
- SuperNutes Chewable MultivitaminOrtho Molecular Products · off the market2.5 mg
- SuperVB.E.S.T Process Alka-Line Supplements8 mg
- SuperVitaminBodycor Naturals · off the market10 mg
- Supradyn ActivoBayer10 mg
- Supreme Keto Super Fruit Keto MaxJustified Laboratories5.5 mg
- Supreme Liquid Multivitamin Tropical Fruit FlavorOptim Nutrition7.5 mg
- Supreme Multivitaminnbi10 mg
- Supreme NutritionPrescribed Choice · off the market2 mg
- Supreme Vital Hair with MSMLifeTIME5 mg
- Sure Slim Keto Super Fruit Gummies MaxJustified Laboratories5.5 mg
- Surf SupplementAPSU · off the market5 mg
- Surge TestosteroneNeon Sport30 mg
- Sustained Release C-AscorbsNatures Plus · off the market10 mg
- Sustained Release Dyno VitesNature's Plus · off the market25 mg
- Sustained Release Endur-VM Multi-Vitamin & Mineral (Contains Iron)EP · off the market15 mg
- Sustained Release Endur-VM Multi-Vitamin & Mineral (Without Iron)EP · off the market15 mg
- Sustained Release Magnum-75Windmill · off the market1.9 mg
- Sustained Release Power-PlexNature's Plus · off the market0.18 mg
- Sustained Release Ultra HairNature's Plus · off the market5 mg
- Sustained Release Ultra IINatures Plus · off the market20 mg
- Sustained Release Ultra II DailyNaturesPlus20 mg
- Sustained Release Ultra II LightNatures Plus · off the market20 mg
- Sustained Release Ultra SkinNature's Plus · off the market50 mg
- Sweet DefenseEnzymatic Therapy · off the market10 mg
- Sweet DefenseNature's Way10 mg
- Sweet Relief Glycogen Support ExtremeJustified Laboratories10 mg
- Symbiont-GIPEScience16 mg
- Syndion CapsulesYasoo Health · off the market9 mg
- Syndion PowderYasoo Health · off the market3.75 mg
- Synergistic Nail ComplexMH Michael's Health Naturopathic Programs10 mg
- Synergistic Zinc 20 mg Plus Copper And Beta-CaroteneQuest · off the market20 mg
- Synergy 3000 Multi-VitaminVitacost30 mg
- SynerPro Calcium-Magnesium With SynerPro ConcentrateNature's Sunshine · off the market7.5 mg
- Syntha Phase ChocolatePrecision Engineered3 mg