Zinc: Everything You Need to Know

Zinc is considered an essential nutrient, meaning that your body can’t produce or store it.

For this reason, you must get a constant supply through your diet.

Zinc is required for numerous processes in your body, including (1):

• gene expression
• enzymatic reactions
• immune function
• protein synthesis
• DNA synthesis
• wound healing
• growth and development

Zinc is naturally found in a wide variety of both plant and animal foods.

Foods that don’t naturally contain this mineral, such as breakfast cereals and snack bars, are often fortified with synthetic forms of zinc.

You can also take zinc supplements or multi-nutrient supplements that provide zinc.

Because of its role in immune function, zinc is likewise added to some lozenges and other natural cold treatments (2).

Summary

Zinc is an essential mineral that your body does not make on its own. It aids growth, DNA synthesis, immune function, and more.

Zinc is a vital mineral that your body uses in countless ways.

In fact, zinc is the second-most abundant trace mineral in your body — after iron — and is present in every cell (3).

Zinc is necessary for the activity of over 300 enzymes that aid in metabolism, digestion, nerve function, and many other processes (4).

In addition, it’s critical for the development and function of immune cells (5).

This mineral is also fundamental to skin health, DNA synthesis, and protein production (3).

What’s more, body growth and development relies on zinc because of its role in cell growth and division (6).

Zinc is also needed for your senses of taste and smell. Because one of the enzymes crucial for proper taste and smell is dependent on this nutrient, a zinc deficiency can reduce your ability to taste or smell (7).

Summary

Zinc is essential for cell growth and division, immune function, enzyme reactions, DNA synthesis, and protein production.

Research shows that zinc has numerous health benefits.

Boosts your immune system

Zinc helps keep your immune system strong.

Because it is necessary for immune cell function and cell signaling, a deficiency can lead to a weakened immune response (7).

Zinc supplements stimulate particular immune cells and reduce oxidative stress.

For example, a review of seven studies demonstrated that 80–92 milligrams (mg) per day of zinc may reduce the length of the common cold by up to 33% (8).

What’s more, some older research suggests that zinc supplements significantly reduce the risk of infections and promote immune response in older adults (9).

Accelerates wound healing

Zinc is commonly used in hospitals as a treatment for burns, certain ulcers, and other skin injuries (10).

Because this mineral plays critical roles in collagen synthesis, immune function, and inflammatory response, it is necessary for proper healing.

In fact, your skin holds a relatively high amount — about 5% — of your body’s zinc content (10).

While a zinc deficiency can slow wound healing, supplementing with zinc can speed recovery in people with wounds.

For example, in a 12-week study in 60 people with diabetic foot ulcers, those treated with 50 mg of zinc per day experienced significant reductions in ulcer size compared to a placebo group (11).

May reduce the risk of certain age-related diseases

Zinc may significantly reduce your risk of age-related diseases, such as pneumonia, infection, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Zinc may relieve oxidative stress and improve immune response by boosting the activity of T-cells and natural killer cells, which help protect your body from infection (12).

Older adults who supplement with zinc in some older studies experience improved influenza vaccination response, reduced risk of pneumonia, and boosted mental performance (13, 14, 15).

In fact, one 2007 study determined that 45 mg per day of elemental zinc may decrease the incidence of infection in older adults by nearly 66% (16).

Additionally, in a 2013 study in over 4,200 people, taking daily antioxidant supplements — vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene — plus 80 mg of zinc decreased vision loss and significantly reduced the risk of advanced AMD (17).

May help treat acne

Acne is a common skin disease that is estimated to affect up to 9.4% of the global population (18).

Acne is driven by obstruction of oil-producing glands, bacteria, and inflammation (19).

Studies suggest that both topical and oral zinc treatments can effectively treat acne by reducing inflammation, inhibiting the growth of P. acnes bacteria, and suppressing oil gland activity (20).

People with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc. Therefore, supplements may help reduce symptoms (21).

Decreases inflammation

Zinc decreases oxidative stress and reduces levels of certain inflammatory proteins in your body (22).

Oxidative stress leads to chronic inflammation, a contributing factor in a wide array of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and mental decline (23).

In a 2010 study in 40 older adults, those who took 45 mg of zinc per day experienced greater reductions in inflammatory markers than a placebo group (24).

Summary

Zinc may effectively reduce inflammation, boost immune health, reduce your risk of age-related diseases, speed wound healing, and improve acne symptoms.

Although severe zinc deficiency is rare, it can occur in people with rare genetic mutations, breastfeeding infants whose mothers don’t have enough zinc, people with alcohol addictions, and anyone taking certain immune-suppressing medications.

Symptoms of severe zinc deficiency include impaired growth and development, delayed sexual maturity, skin rashes, chronic diarrhea, impaired wound healing, and behavioral issues (25).

Milder forms of zinc deficiency are more common, especially in children in developing countries where diets are often lacking in important nutrients.

It is estimated that around 2 billion people worldwide are deficient in zinc due to inadequate dietary intake (7).

Since zinc deficiency impairs your immune system — increasing the chances of infection — zinc deficiency is thought to cause over 450,000 deaths in children under 5 every year (26).

Those at risk of zinc deficiency include (27):

• people with gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease
• vegetarians and vegans
• people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• older infants who are exclusively breastfed
• people with sickle cell anemia
• people who are malnourished, including those with anorexia or bulimia
• people with chronic kidney disease
• people with alcohol use disorder

Symptoms of mild zinc deficiency include diarrhea, decreased immunity, thinning hair, impaired taste or smell, dry skin, fertility issues, and impaired wound healing (7, 28).

Zinc deficiency is difficult to detect using laboratory tests due to your body’s tight control over zinc levels. Thus, you may still be deficient even if tests indicate normal levels.

Doctors consider other risk factors — such as poor dietary intake and genetics — alongside blood results when determining whether you need supplements (29).

Summary

Risk factors for zinc deficiency include insufficient dietary intake, poor absorption, alcoholism, genetic mutations, and old age.

Many animal and plant foods are naturally rich in zinc, making it easy for most people to consume adequate amounts.

Foods highest in zinc include (30):

• Shellfish: oysters, crab, mussels, lobster, and clams
• Meat: beef, pork, lamb, and bison
• Poultry: turkey and chicken
• Fish: flounder, sardines, salmon, and sole
• Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, etc.
• Nuts and seeds: pumpkin seeds, cashews, hemp seeds, etc.
• Dairy products: milk, yogurt, and cheese
• Eggs
• Whole grains: oats, quinoa, brown rice, etc.
• Certain vegetables: mushrooms, kale, peas, asparagus, and beet greens

Animal products, such as meat and shellfish, contain high amounts of zinc in a form that your body easily absorbs.

Keep in mind that zinc found in plant-based sources like legumes and whole grains is absorbed less efficiently because of other plant compounds that inhibit absorption (31).

While many foods are naturally high in zinc, certain foods — such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and snack bars — are fortified with zinc (32).

Summary

Zinc occurs naturally in foods like shellfish, meat, poultry, and dairy, and is added to other foods, such as breakfast cereals and snack bars.

Just as a deficiency in zinc can cause health complications, excessive intake can also lead to negative side effects.

The most common cause of zinc toxicity is too much supplemental zinc, which can cause both acute and chronic symptoms (33).

Symptoms of toxicity include (33):

• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps and pain
• headaches

Taking too much zinc can also cause deficiencies in other nutrients.

For example, chronic high zinc ingestion can interfere with your absorption of copper and iron.

Reductions in copper levels have even been reported in people consuming only moderately high doses of zinc — 60 mg per day — for 10 weeks (34).

Recommended dosages

In order to avoid overconsumption, stay away from high dose zinc supplements unless recommended by a doctor.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 11 mg for adult males and 8 mg for adult females (1).

People who are pregnant and breastfeeding should consume 11 and 12 mg per day, respectively (35).

Unless a medical condition is hindering absorption, you should easily reach the RDA for zinc through diet alone.

However, people with certain dietary restrictions, including vegans and vegetarians, may have difficulty meeting their needs through diet alone (1).

The tolerable upper level for zinc is 40 mg per day. However, this does not apply to people with zinc deficiencies, who may need to take high dose supplements (1).

If you take supplements, choose absorbable forms such as zinc citrate or zinc gluconate rather than zinc oxide, which is poorly absorbed (36).

Summary

Zinc toxicity may cause diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, and reduced immunity. Most people can obtain their daily dose of zinc through diet alone.

Zinc is needed for DNA synthesis, immune function, metabolism, and growth.

It may reduce inflammation and your risk of some age-related diseases.

Most people meet the RDA of 11 mg for males and 8 mg for females through diet, but older adults, those following restrictive diets, and people with conditions that inhibit zinc absorption may need to supplement.

Because high dose zinc supplements can lead to dangerous side effects, it’s important to stick to recommendations and only take supplements when necessary.