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 94 of 276), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Gummy Vitamins Lemon Citrus FlavorRemington Health Products · off the market0.5 mg
- Gummy VitesL'il Critters · off the market1.4 mg
- Gummy Vites CompleteL'il Critters2.7 mg
- Gummy Vites Complete MultivitaminL'il Critters1.4 mg
- Gummy Vites Daily MultivitaminL'il Critters1.4 mg
- Gummy Vites PlusL'il Critters3 mg
- Gummy Vites Plus Omega-3 DHA SupportL'il Critters2.7 mg
- Gummy Vites SourL'il Critters2.7 mg
- Gummy VitsGenepro Protein1 mg
- Guna-BasicGUNA Biotherapeutics7.5 mg
- Gut Care for Kids Pineapple FlavourMetagenics40 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Gut HealthSNAP15 mg
- Gut Health FormulaCodeage15 mg
- Gutsyl +BioPerineApproved Science · off the market20 mg
- GynecrineProgressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories15 mg
- Gynovite PlusOptimox Corporation · off the market15 mg
- Gynovite PlusOptimox15 mg
- GynplexDNA Dynamic Nutritional Associates15 mg
- H FactorsHigher Nature10 mg
- H RescueHRx38 mg
- H-Proof Black CherryH-Proof0.34 mg
- H-S-N ComplexDesigns for Health30 mg
- H. Pylori ReliefZenMen Man's Natural Pantry · off the market8.5 mg
- H. pylori SupportZenMen8.5 mg
- HA Collagen PeptidesHyalogic Beauty from Within · off the market5 mg
- HairViva Vitamins30 mg
- HairCodeage20 mg
- Hair & Nail FormulaRejuviCare · off the market30 mg
- Hair & Nail FormulaFoods Plus · off the market10 mg
- Hair & Nails FormulaSuperSmart15 mg
- Hair & Skin NutritionEnzymatic Therapy · off the market10 mg
- Hair + Beard GrowthRainbow Nutrients15 mg
- Hair + Skin + NailsINNOSUPPS10 mg
- Hair AbundanceTrio Nutrition5 mg
- Hair Bloomnutra4health · off the market7.2 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Hair BoostVital Proteins · off the market11 mg
- Hair ComplexHigher Nature Aeterna Men6 mg
- Hair EffectsDaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont · off the market15 mg
- Hair EffectsDaVinci Laboratories15 mg
- Hair FareWindmill Health Products · off the market10 mg
- Hair ForceKAL15 mg
- Hair FormulaDr. Berg0.334 mg
- Hair FullKey Nutrients10 mg
- Hair GroNew Nordic · off the market10 mg
- Hair Growth & VolumeSuccess Chemistry7.2 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
- Hair Growth ComplexPrimal Harvest20 mg
- Hair Growth Formula24 Bio · off the market30 mg
- Hair Growth Gummies with BiotinBuilt By Nature2.7 mg
- Hair Growth SupplementViviscal11 mg
- Hair Growth VitaminsZenwise Health1 mg