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 89 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- GastricSootheSource Naturals16 mg
- GastricSoothe 37.5 mgSource Naturals16 mg
- Gastro Comfort with PepZin GINOW5 mg
- Gastro ReliefAOR Advanced Orthomolecular Research Advanced16.1 mg
- Gastro-AssistNatural Factors8 mg
- Gastro-EaseLife Extension16.5 mg
- GastrobiPlex Orange CremetruDERMA · off the marketin a blend
- GastrobiPlex Shake Orange CremetruDERMA · off the marketin a blend
- GastroCareKaruna5 mg
- GastroOne Natural Orange FlavorPatient One 1 MediNutritionals16 mg
- GastroOne Natural Strawberry FlavorPatient One 1 MediNutritionals · off the market16 mg
- GastroOne Natural Strawberry FlavorPatient One MediNutritionals16 mg
- GC Factors With Cinnulin PFPatient One MediNutritionals · off the market30 mg
- GCEL Intracellular GlutathioneSystemic Formulas Bio Challenge2 mg
- Gelcavit Q-10Pharmacaps7.2 mg
- Gelenk-FitFitLine3.6 mg
- Gemini Keto MaxJustified Laboratories5.5 mg
- Genacol Bone & JointGenacol · off the market7.5 mg
- General Health Daily FundamentalsSP Standard Process2.7 mg
- Generation MCoast Science7.5 mg
- Genessenntials Spectra SNPDaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont · off the market10 mg
- Genessentials BHDaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont15 mg
- Genessentials HCH-2DaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont5 mg
- Genessentials OS-1DaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont15 mg
- Genius Electrolytes Orange FizzThe Genius Brand1 mg
- Gentle MultipleBluebonnet Early Promise Prenatal15 mg
- Geramin B12Medicinas Rosario18.6 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Geri-Freeda Senior FormulaFreeda7.5 mg
- Geri-Vite 25Douglas Laboratories · off the market15 mg
- Geriatric Biochemical with GinsengBiokemical1.24 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Geritol CompleteMeda Consumer Healthcare · off the market13.5 mg
- Geromulti Without IronSwanson Premium Brand · off the market13.5 mg
- Get Healthy VitaminsRise-N-Shine · off the market10 mg
- Get Well SoonRainbow Light · off the market14 mg
- GH MaleNatures Plus · off the market8 mg
- Gh MaleNaturesPlus8 mg
- GH-Electron PlusNutri-West0.166 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- GHT MaleNature's Plus · off the market8 mg
- GHT MaleNaturesPlus8 mg
- GI + Biome ComplexEnzyme Science6 mg
- GI Advantage1st Phorm0.86 mg
- GI BalanceXYMOGEN16 mg
- GI Balance Powder Natural Chai FlavorXYMOGEN32.25 mg
- GI CLeanse Protein Powder Vanilla DelightNHC Natural Healthy Concepts10 mg
- GI ComplexBioCare20 mg
- GI DeFlame Creamy ChocolateWoodstock Vitamins10 mg
- GI GuardProtocol For Life Balance8 mg
- GI Guard AMProtocol For Life Balance · off the market8 mg
- GI Guard PMProtocol For Life Balance15 mg
- GI Meal Select ChocolateMoss Nutrition5 mg