Zinc
What’s New This Month
- EU alerts: Four 2026 EU alerts concern zinc supplements with too much zinc per dose, 36 to 50 mg. One named NOW Zinc Picolinate 120 caps; Sweden banned its sale. 1 2 3
- FDA letter: FDA warned a seller in January 2026 over anti-viral claims for a zinc supplement. 4
- Colds: A network review found zinc may lower the chance of a cold, but the result fades once weaker trials are removed. Cochrane’s larger review still finds little or no effect. 5 6
- Wound healing: The diabetic foot ulcer trial behind many online claims carries a 2024 journal Expression of Concern over research integrity. 7
Overview
Zinc is a mineral your body needs for enzymes, immune defense, wound repair and taste. Oysters hold the most per serving; beef supplies the most in the US diet. 8
Labels promise immune support, fewer and shorter colds, clearer skin, higher testosterone and eye health. Each supplement form holds a different share of actual zinc.
How We Researched It
We rate each marketing claim with a modified version of GRADE, the system medical researchers use to say how sure we can be (i.e., high, moderate, low or very low), and check each trial with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, which asks whether a study’s design could skew its results. For zinc we used 21 studies and records, plus 15 regulatory items, mostly published from October 2022 through October 2026. We also checked FDA, Health Canada, EU, UK, Australian, Singapore and Japanese regulators, and California Prop 65.
Research NotesTop three benefits
Corrects zinc deficiency GRADE: Moderate
NIH sets daily needs at 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women and lists who is most at risk of running low. Supplements restore zinc in people who are low. 8
Bias check: This rests on a reference sheet and nutrition science rather than one trial. How common low zinc is among US adults was not reported.
Shorter Colds GRADE: Low
A Cochrane review of 34 studies found colds 2.37 days shorter on zinc, but the range was wide, from 0.53 to 4.21 days. 6 Pooling only high-dose lozenge trials found colds 33% shorter. 9
Bias check: The 33% figure comes from long-time zinc-lozenge advocates who chose which trials to include. Side effects were 34% more common on zinc. 6
Skin and Acne GRADE: Low
A review found fewer inflamed pimples with zinc than without, and no difference in side effects. 10 One small trial of 16 completers posted no statistical tests. 11
Bias check: The review gave no effect size in its abstract, and we read abstracts only. 10
Benefit Evaluation
| Claim | Claim Verdict | Research Confidence | Supporting Evidence | Safety Risk | Product Quality | FactStack™ Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrects zinc deficiency | Supported | Moderate | Convincing | Caution | Within Limits | Favorable |
| Shorter Colds | Promising | Low | Promising | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Skin and Acne | Promising | Low | Promising | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Cold Symptoms | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Testosterone | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Blood Sugar | TBD | Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Eye Health | TBD | Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Reproductive Health | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Wound Healing | TBD | Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Infection and Inflammation in Older Adults | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Within Limits | Caution |
| Cold Prevention and Immune Support | Doubtful | Low | Doubtful | Caution | Within Limits | Warning |
| Nasal Zinc for Colds | Doubtful | Low | Doubtful | Real Concern | Within Limits | Warning |
What Sellers Say vs. What Studies Show
| “Zinc keeps colds away.” | Across 34 studies and 8,526 people, zinc made little or no difference to catching a cold. 6 |
| “More zinc is better.” | 50 mg or more a day for weeks can interfere with copper absorption, and side effects were 34% more common on zinc. 8 6 |
| “A 50 mg label means 50 mg of zinc.” | Zinc is a share of the compound: about 14% of gluconate and 80% of oxide. Read the elemental zinc per serving. 8 |
| “Zinc raises testosterone.” | Only in men who were low in zinc to begin with. Most of the 38 papers reviewed were animal studies. 12 |
| “Nasal zinc is a quick fix.” | Nasal zinc products have been linked to loss of smell, and recalls of Zicam swabs continue. 8 13 |
| “Zinc keeps older adults infection free.” | One trial of 50 adults reported 7 infections on zinc against 35 on placebo; it was co-funded by industry. A 40-adult study measured only blood markers. 14 |
Trial ParametersIf you try it
| Who | Adults with a plausible reason to be low (plant-based diet, older age, gut disease, heavy drinking, a thiazide water pill) or a documented deficiency. 8 |
| Dose | RDA 11 mg a day for men, 8 mg for women. 8 |
| Ceiling | US upper limit 40 mg a day; the EU limit is 25 mg. Avoid more for long periods. 8 15 |
| Duration | 50 mg or more a day for weeks can interfere with copper. No stop rule established. 8 |
| Form | Read elemental zinc per serving; oxide is about 80% zinc, gluconate 14%. Avoid nasal zinc. Use 80 mg eye formulas only with an eye clinician. 8 |
| Ask First | Pregnancy, breastfeeding or a medical condition; quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics; penicillamine; thiazides; iron pills; stacked zinc products. |
How to Take It
| Pick a plan | Most adults need 8 to 11 mg a day in total. Add a supplement only if food falls short, and total zinc from every product. 8 |
| Time of day | Not reported. |
| With food | Not reported. Take it apart from iron pills of 25 mg or more, which cut zinc absorption. 8 |
| What to expect | Zinc corrects a shortage. Lozenges may shorten a cold by about 2 days, with a wide range of 0.5 to 4.2 days. 6 |
| How to take | Swallow capsules or tablets with water. Total every zinc product you take, including multivitamins and lozenges. |
Works With / Don’t Mix With
✓ Works with
Food sources. Oysters, beef and other meats supply most of the zinc people eat. 8
⚠ Ask first / don’t mix
Quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics. Take the antibiotic at least 2 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after zinc. 8
Penicillamine. Separate it from zinc by at least 1 hour. 8
Iron pills. 25 mg or more of iron at the same time lowers zinc absorption. Take them apart. 8
Thiazide water pills. They raise zinc loss in urine. 8
Other zinc products. Multivitamins, lozenges and eye formulas add up. 8
Manufacturer Recalls & WarningsLast 36 months, newest first
| Date | Maker / Brand | Product | Action | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Not named | Zinc food supplements | Three further EU RASFF notifications in 2026 concern too much zinc per dose, 36 to 50 mg. | 2 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Church & Dwight (Zicam) | Zicam Cold Remedy Medicated Nasal Swabs, Cooling Menthol and Eucalyptus | FDA Class II recall (D-0790-2026): out-of-limit microbiological results; Ongoing. FDA lists the swabs as “Zinc-Free Homeopathic”. | 16 |
| May 2026 | NOW Foods | NOW Zinc Picolinate 120 caps | An EU food-safety alert reported 50 mg of zinc per dose; Sweden banned its sale. | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Intelligent Remedies, Inc. | Ionophoric Zinc | FDA warning letter (MARCS-CMS 681941) cites anti-viral claims for the zinc supplement. | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Church & Dwight (Zicam) | Zicam Medicated Fruit Drops Elderberry | FDA Class II recall (D-0095-2026): elderberry not declared on the label; Ongoing. | 17 |
| Jul 2025 | Church & Dwight (Zicam) | Zicam Cold Remedy Medicated Nasal Swabs; Zicam Nasal AllClear | FDA Class I recall (D-0504-2025, D-0505-2025): fungal contamination; Ongoing. | 13 |
Where to Buy
We compare products side-by-side not just on price, but on whether NSF lists the product as NSF/ANSI 173 Contents Certified (an independent lab confirms the label matches the contents), whether it is NSF Certified for Sport, whether USP lists it as USP Verified, and whether the seller says it is manufactured in the USA. We leave out a brand’s products for this supplement when, in the last 36 months, the FDA took action against that brand over this supplement (a Class I or II recall, a warning letter, an import alert or an advisory letter). We also leave out any brand with an FDA Class II recall or warning letter on any product. We also leave out any product named in a California Prop 65 notice or a non-US recall, along with that brand’s products of the same ingredient and form. Brands with other actions stay listed and are marked in the Recall Screen column. Our goal remains to provide you, the Consumer, with the information and data necessary to make an informed purchasing decision. Prices reflected below are static and subject to change.
Ratings above describe the ingredient’s research, not any product listed below.
| # | Retailer | Product | Price | NSF 173 | NSF Sport | USP | Mfg. in USA (per seller) | Recall Screen | Affiliate link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | Momentous Zinc Picolinate, 15 mg per Serving | Check Price | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | View on Amazon ↗ | |
| 2 | Amazon | Klean Athlete Klean Zinc, Orange, 100 Chewable Tablets | Check Price | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | View on Amazon ↗ | |
| 3 | iHerb | Thorne, Zinc Picolinate, 30 mg, 180 Capsules | $42.23 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | |
| 4 | Amazon | Nature Made Zinc 30 mg, 100 Tablets | Check Price | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | View on Amazon ↗ | ||
| 5 | iHerb | NOW Foods, Zinc, 50 mg, 100 Tablets | $4.68 | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | |||
| 6 | HerbsPro | Source Naturals, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, 100 Tabs | $6.99 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 7 | HerbsPro | 21st Century, Zinc Citrate, 50 Mg, 360 Tabs | $8.02 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 8 | HerbsPro | Doctors Best, High Absorption Zinc Bisglycinate 100% Chelated, 50 mg, 90 Veggie Caps | $12.50 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 9 | Green's Nutrition | Pure Encapsulations Zinc 15 60 Caps | $13.50 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ | |||
| 10 | Green's Nutrition | Bluebonnet Nutrition Zinc Picolinate 50 Veg Caps | $14.50 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ |
Sources
1. RASFF notification 2026.4404: too high content of zinc in food supplement from USA (NOW Zinc Picolinate 120 caps). European Commission, RASFF Window, 19 May 2026. webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/845280
2. RASFF notification: too high content of zinc in food supplements (2026.1733 or 2026.4708). European Commission, RASFF Window, Mar to May 2026. webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/827500
3. RASFF notification: too high content of zinc in food supplement from USA (2026.4708 or 2026.1733). European Commission, RASFF Window, Mar to May 2026. webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/847379
4. Intelligent Remedies, Inc., warning letter 681941. US Food and Drug Administration, 23 Jan 2026. www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/intelligent-remedies-inc-681941-01232026
5. Zhu et al. Network meta-analysis of supplements for respiratory infections (107 trials, 4 on zinc). eClinicalMedicine 88:103479, 2025. doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103479
6. Nault et al. Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold (34 studies, 8,526 people). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD014914, 9 May 2024. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2
7. Momen-Heravi et al. Zinc sulfate in diabetic foot ulcer: Expression of Concern. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 20 Aug 2024. doi.org/10.1111/wrr.13214
8. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, updated 6 Jan 2026. ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
9. Hemilä and Chalker. Meta-analysis of high-dose zinc lozenges for colds (7 trials). JRSM Open 8(5), 2017. doi.org/10.1177/2054270417694291
10. Yee et al. Zinc for acne: meta-analysis. Dermatologic Therapy 33(6):e14252, 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32860489/
11. NCT05096312: oral zinc gluconate added to adapalene and benzoyl peroxide for acne. ClinicalTrials.gov, results posted 13 Apr 2022. clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05096312
12. Te et al. Zinc and testosterone: systematic review of 38 papers, mostly animal studies. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36577241/
13. Recalls D-0504-2025 and D-0505-2025: Zicam Cold Remedy Medicated Nasal Swabs and Nasal AllClear. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA drug enforcement), Jun to Jul 2025. api.fda.gov/drug/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22D-0504-2025%22
14. Prasad et al. Zinc supplementation and infections in adults aged 55 to 87 (50 people). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 85(3):837, 2007. doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/85.3.837
15. Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels as derived by the Scientific Committee on Food and the EFSA NDA Panel. European Food Safety Authority, 2024. www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-05/ul-summary-report.pdf
16. Recall D-0790-2026: Zicam Cold Remedy Medicated Nasal Swabs, Cooling Menthol and Eucalyptus. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA drug enforcement), Aug to Sep 2026. api.fda.gov/drug/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22D-0790-2026%22
17. Recall D-0095-2026: Zicam Medicated Fruit Drops Elderberry. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA drug enforcement), Oct 2025. api.fda.gov/drug/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22D-0095-2026%22
18. FDA CAERS adverse-event reports naming zinc in the brand name. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food event), accessed 11 Oct 2026. api.fda.gov/food/event.json?search=products.name_brand:%22zinc%22
19. openFDA food enforcement reports, search for zinc. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food enforcement), accessed 11 Oct 2026. api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=product_description:zinc
