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 23 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- ARTA JointezSystemic Formulas Bio Challenge0.056 mg
- ArteriozymeEnergique8 mg
- Arth-9Rx Vitamins15 mg
- Arth-PlusMicroTech Professional Formulations2 mg
- Arth-Support FormulaDouglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive 2000 Series · off the market50 mg
- Arth-Support FormulaDouglas Laboratories · off the market50 mg
- Artho Joint ComplexProfessional Botanicals3.5 mg
- Arthri-Flex Advantage21st Century · off the market15 mg
- Arthri-Flex Advantage + Vitamin D321st Century HealthCare · off the market15 mg
- Arthri-Flex Advantage + Vitamin D321st Century15 mg
- Arthrit-EzeXtendlife9 mg
- ArthritinVAXA2 mg
- Arthro-SynDouglas Laboratories25 mg
- ArthroCare Advanced Extra Strength FormulaLidtke5 mg
- ArthroSootheDesigns for Health10 mg
- ArthroSoothe SupremeDesigns for Health10 mg
- AS 10 LifeAmeriSciences · off the market15 mg
- AS 10 LifeNugevity15 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Ascorbate Bio-C with Bioflavonoids and MineralsNutriBiotic Immunity1 mg
- Ascorbates SAPNFH4.5 mg
- Ascorbyl-C + BioflavonoidsGenestra Brands8.3 mg
- AsensiaThe Daily Wellness Company15 mg
- Ashwagandha CherrySwolverine2 mg
- Ashwagandha Complex Gummies Tart Cherry FlavorPhytoral2 mg
- Ashwagandha GummiesNew Age4 mg
- Ashwagandha GummiesRise-N-Shine · off the market2 mg
- Ashwagandha Gummies 1500 mgJustified Laboratories4 mg
- Ashwagandha Gummies 1500 mg Natural Tart Cherry FlavorVitamatic4 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Ashwagandha Gummies Cherry FlavorTotally Products2 mg
- Ashwagandha Gummies Cherry FlavorFuturebiotics2 mg
- Ashwagandha GummyNatural Smart Health2 mg
- Ashwagandha Gummy+ with Vitamin D and ZincNutriRise6 mg
- Ashwaghanda GummiesAtlantis Nutrition4 mg
- Aspartic-Multi-MinNutri-West3 mg
- Astaxanthin +BioPerineApproved Science11 mg
- Astra CHealth Concerns10 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Astra-Vites Fruit FlavorDouglas Laboratories0.12 mg
- Athlete FormulaNutrina · off the market3.5 mg
- Athletic Greens Ultimate DailyAthletic Greens15 mg
- Athletic NutrientsPure Encapsulations5 mg
- Athletic Pure PackPure Encapsulations7.5 mg
- Atlas ChocolateLegion · off the market2.75 mg
- Atlas Dutch ChocolateLegion2.75 mg
- ATP Ignite Natural Citrus FlavorXYMOGEN3 mg
- ATP Ignite Natural Mixed Berry FlavorXYMOGEN3 mg
- ATP Ignite Workout Natural Mixed Berry FlavorXYMOGEN · off the market3 mg
- ATP Natural Citrus FlavorAdaptogen Research3 mg
- Attack 3.0 Orange FlavourBody Attack Sports Nutrition10 mg
- Attack 3.1 Cassis FlavourBody Attack3 mg
- Attack 3.1 Green Apple FlavourBody Attack3 mg