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 66 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Denti StrengthPhytAge Labs30 mg
- DentitoxJustified Laboratories50 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Dentitox MaxJustified Laboratories50 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Dentra-VitaDentra Perfect · off the market15 mg
- DenxiBone FormulaCATALO8 mg
- Derma Care With Proprietary Omega BlendIntegrative Therapeutics10 mg
- Derma ClarisHealthy Choice Naturals30 mg
- Derma Klear Akne-ZymeEnzymatic Therapy · off the market30 mg
- Derma Klear Akne-ZymeNature's Way30 mg
- Derma-DZahler50 mg
- Derma-VitesMBi Nutraceuticals130 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Dermatologic HealthCooper Complete · off the market5 mg
- Dermatologic Health Skin, Hair & NailsCooper Complete · off the market5 mg
- Designer Whey ChocolateDesigner Whey · off the market5.6 mg
- Designer Whey Double ChocolateDesigner Wellness5.2 mg
- Designer Whey French VanillaDesigner Whey · off the market5 mg
- Designer Whey French VanillaDesigner Wellness5.2 mg
- Designer Whey Gourmet ChocolateDesigner Wellness5.2 mg
- Designer Whey NaturalDesigner Whey · off the market5 mg
- Designer Whey Purely UnflavoredDesigner Wellness5.5 mg
- Designer Whey StrawberryDesigner Whey · off the market5 mg
- Designer Whey Summer StrawberryDesigner Wellness5.2 mg
- Designer Whey Vanilla PralineDesigner Whey5.3 mg
- Despicable Me Complete MultivitaminL'il Critters2.7 mg
- DetoxCustom Health Centers30 mg
- Detox & Antioxidant SupportNBX Wellness5 mg
- Detox & NourishNutriCology10 mg
- Detox AntioxDesigns for Health15 mg
- Detox CompleteecoNugenics10 mg
- Detox CompleteClinical Synergy Professional Formulas10 mg
- Detox GuardAerobic Life10 mg
- Detox Pure PackPure Encapsulations12.5 mg
- Detox SupportNOW5 mg
- Detox SupportmyDNAhealth5 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Detox-RiteNewtonEverett5 mg
- Detoxication FactorsIntegrative Therapeutics10 mg
- DetoXicholOTC Pharmaceutical Products1 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- DetoxiCleanseBioclinic Naturals10 mg
- Detoxification FactorsIntegrative Therapeutics · off the market10 mg
- DetoxitechNatural Factors10 mg
- Detoxitech Detoxification And Cellular CleansingNatural Factors · off the market10 mg
- DetoxRiteNewtonEverett · off the market5 mg
- Devine Locksnutra4health · off the market7 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- DFH Complete MultiDesigns for Health25 mg
- DFH Complete Multi With CopperDesigns for Health25 mg
- DFH Complete Multi with Copper and IronDesigns for Health25 mg
- DGST Support FormulaDouglas Laboratories20 mg
- DHA OneTriCare Prenatal10 mg
- DHA ONE RxTriCare Prenatal10 mg
- DHA ONE with FolateTriCare Prenatal10 mg