Top 5 Zinc Supplements – Full Analysis, Reviews & Buying Guide (2023)

Zinc is an essential micronutrient in human metabolism and health. It is necessary for proper immune response against pathogens, protein and DNA synthesis, maintaining special senses (i.e. vision, taste, and smell), proper growth and development, and wound-healing [****]. 

Zinc deficiency is more common among individuals with malnutrition, alcoholism, inflammatory bowel disease, and malabsorption syndromes [*]. Vegetarians, pregnant and lactating women, and people with sickle cell disease may also be at a higher risk of zinc deficiency [*]. 

Symptoms of zinc deficiency are non-specific and may include weakened immune function, growth retardation, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypogonadism in males, hair loss, eye and skin lesions, taste abnormalities, mental lethargy, and diarrhea [**]. 

The recommended daily intake for zinc vary depending on various factors including age, sex, pregnancy, and lactation. To find out what is right for you, refer to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies [*]. 

Individuals who are at a higher risk of zinc deficiency should eat a well balanced diet with food rich in zinc. Zinc supplementation may also be necessary for certain individuals. Talk to a healthcare provider about your specific needs, especially if you suffer from any conditions or are taking medication [*].

There is a wide variety of food containing zinc. Oysters contain the highest concentration of zinc, but it is also found in crabs, lobsters, red meat, poultry, and dairy products. Plant-based food such as beans, peas, nuts, whole grains, and fortified breakfast cereals also contain zinc [*].

Compared to plant-based food sources of zinc, animal-based sources have higher bioavailability. Plant-based sources of zinc such as grains and legumes contain phytates, a compound that inhibits zinc absorption [*]. 

Zinc is also sold as a single-ingredient dietary supplement or part of a multivitamin. 

Zinc dietary supplements come in a variety of forms including zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc picolinate, zinc orotate, zinc citrate, zinc glycerate, and zinc monomethionine. 

It’s been proposed that zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc glycerate, and zinc monomethionine have higher absorption [*].

The popularity of Zinc has led to hundreds of brands flooding the marketplace; however not all supplements are created equal! Unfortunately, more than 90% of zinc supplements in the market simply DON’T WORK!

We understand the challenges in finding the right supplement for your health needs. That’s why we gathered years of research and made this guide to help you find the top-rated formulas that work for you.

Things To Be Cautious About

Has your brand been third-party tested? You should never buy supplements that don’t have Certificate of Analysis. The studies should be conducted in labs that are not affiliated with the manufacturer. These labs verify the product for safety and potency.

Does your zinc supplement contain cheap synthetic fillers? Some brands add artificial fillers to cut cost to offer cheap products. Some of these cheap fillers we found were titanium dioxide and artificial coloring. You should never purchase cheap products when it comes to supplements.

No return policy or customer service – A reputable supplement company will offer 100% money-back guarantee policy and provide customer support through phone number and email. We noticed many formulas out there are just copies of the top-rated brands. They don’t offer an easy refund policy or don’t even have a phone number to prove they are real.

Top 5 Zinc Supplements

The result: we reviewed over 100+ brands of Zinc Supplements in the market and complied a list of top 5 formulas based on effectiveness, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

1. Integrative Zinc

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

2. MegaFood Zinc

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

3. NewChapter Zinc Complex

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

4. Thorne Zinc

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

5. Carlyle Zinc

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

Ranking Factors

Shipping & Return Policy: we check the shipping and return policy of each recommended product to make sure these brands stand behind their products.

Customer Service: we contact the top rated brands through email, chat or phone to make sure they are responsive and can answer potential questions customers might have.

Essential Ingredients: we verify the ingredients in every top rated brands, their safety and dosage amount in comparison with the latest scientific studies.

Overall Effectiveness: we check with real customers through their reviews and testimonials to make sure the top brands are as effective as they claim to be. We recommend the top 5 formulas based on their average score.

We highly recommend our reader to do their own research, read real reviews and contact any brands directly to make sure they can provide the products and services based on their needs.

*This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our independent research and customer feedback. Results may vary based on individual.

Disclosure of Material Connection: we only recommend products and services which we believe will add value to the users. However, you should assume the owner of this website and/or blog has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection, to any suppliers of goods and services that may be discussed here and may be compensated for showing ads or recommending products or services or linking to the supplier’s website.

Sources and Citations

1. Zinc Consumer Fact Sheet https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/
2. Zinc and the special senses https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6349457/
3. Zinc: An Essential Micronutrient https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2820120/
4. Zinc https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/zinc