12 Types of Zinc Supplementation and Absorption 2022
Zinc is a powerful immune nutrient known for its benefits for providing immune health support and inflammation reduction as well as for improving cold and respiratory symptoms, wound healing, acne reduction, and lowering the risk of age-related diseases. Research on atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus suggests that zinc deficiency may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation.
Does zinc help treat COVID 19?
In order to answer that question, there are many zinc studies underway and you can review the status of these trials on clinicaltrials.gov. As of August 2021, there are more than 20 launched studies investigate the benefits of Zinc against COVID-19.
Types of Zinc
Supplements contain several forms of zinc, including zinc gluconate, zinc citrate and zinc picolinate. The percentage of elemental zinc varies by form.
You may be confuse when choosing a zinc supplement because there are so many different types; zinc acetate, zinc angstrom, zinc carbonate, zinc carnosine, zinc chelate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc glycinate, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc l-aspartate / zinc aspartate, zinc methionine & monomethionine, zinc orotate, zinc oxide, zinc picolinate and zinc sulfate
1. Chelated Zinc
This form of zinc has undergone a process called chelation, whereby the organic molecules have been given an electrical charge that allows them to positively attract the charged mineral (in this case zinc). This creates a temporary increase in the complexity and concentration of the mineral within the molecule.
In other words, each molecule packs more concentrations of zinc via a process of attaching the mineral to something else, such as an amino acid. The belief is that this helps the body better absorb the mineral.
Zinc picolinate or zinc gluconate are formed when zinc is chelated to picolinic acid or gluconic acid, so the main difference between zinc gluconate and picolinate is what compound it is bound to.
2. Zinc Citrate
A study found that when given as a supplement without food, zinc citrate absorption was comparable with that of zinc gluconate, and higher than zinc oxide.
Zinc citrate is the zinc salt of citric acid. This compound is well-known as a dietary supplement that is useful in preventing zinc deficiency. Typically, we take this orally as a capsule or as a tablet.
However, due to the presence of zinc, this may have a metallic taste. However, taking a small amount of beverage after taking the tablet can avoid this unusual taste. Moreover, this treatment may irritate the digestive tract, resulting in an upset stomach. Another important side effect is, we may get flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat, chills, etc.
Moreover, most forms of dental hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash fight plaque and gingivitis are commonly using zinc citrate.
3. Zinc Gluconate
This is the most common over-the-counter zinc supplement that you can find in your local drug or health food store. It’s made with gluconic acid is often found in oral supplements, nasal zinc sprays or lozenges. A meta-analysis indicates that zinc gluconate lozenges were able to reduce cold duration 28 percent.
Zinc gluconate is the zinc salt of gluconic acid. We can find gluconic acid in natural sources, but for the preparation of the supplement, industries produce gluconic acid via the fermentation of glucose by Aspergillus niger or some species of fungi.
More importantly, this compound can also treat a common cold. We can use it in lozenges to treat the cold symptoms. When considering the side effects of this compound, anosmia (loss of smell) is a reported side effect. However, this compound is relatively safe than other zinc supplements.
4. Zinc Picolinate
5. Zinc Carnosine
A prospective randomized clinical trial published in 2017 showed the combination of antibiotic treatment for H. pylori infection and zinc carnosine – the eradication rate was improved without added toxicity (Ref). Also, a smaller trial published in 1999 reflected similar findings (Ref).
Moreover, zinc carnosine can be an amazing piece of any gut repair program & it was fun to learn that it does much more too.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are groups of proteins that have involvement in the body’s ability to respond to inflammation, immune challenges, and stress. Genes that code for HSPs are highly regarded as “longevity” genes – the more active, the better.
While Zinc may indirectly help HSP expression through the promotion of mucosal health (a healthy home for flora to bind and grow), zinc carnosine is also an antioxidant and may support HSP expression directly.
L-carnosine nor zinc have not been shown to support HSP expression by themselves, but the combined chelate form of zinc carnosine does support HSP activity for reasons that are still unclear.
6. Zinc Orotate
Zinc orotate is zinc that has been chelated to orotic acid. The human body’s cellular membranes readily absorb this type of zinc. Research from Dr. Hans Nieper has found that orotate forms of zinc were more neutrally charged, as compared to other types of zinc. This allowed them to pass through the membranes of cells easily, leading to higher tissue concentrations of zinc. Zinc orotates contain many antioxidant properties that can protect your health while offering your cells the most readily-absorbable form of zinc on the market today.
7. Zinc Acetate
Zinc Acetate is made from zinc nitrate and acetic anhydride, zinc acetate is another chemically-altered form of zinc and considered to be more absorbable than gluconate. This form of zinc, also known as zinc salt dihydrate and zinc diacetate, is created by adding acetic acid to zinc carbonate or zinc metal. This form may aid in reducing the duration of the common cold (PubMed), as well as offer relief for Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder whereby the body stores toxic levels of copper.
8. Zinc Oxide
9. Zinc Sulfate
10. Zinc Angstrom
11. Zinc Carbonate
The carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, from the rock known as smithsonite or zincspar.
12. Zinc Methionine & Monomethionine
Under the patented name Opti Zinc or Opti L-Zinc, zinc methionine and monomethionine is sold. According to the manufacturer, the difference between Opti Zinc and Opti L-Zinc is that Opti Zinc is synthetic methionine and Opti L-Zinc is natural methionine. The “L” version is the natural methionine, and thus more bioavailable. The natural L-methionine is the version that is approved for use in the EU (European Union). Europe almost always has stricter standards for food and supplements.
What is the Difference Between Zinc Citrate, Zinc Picolinate, Zinc Glycinate and Zinc Gluconate?
What’s the difference? Zinc Gluconate vs zinc picolinate
Zinc picolinate and zinc gluconate are zinc salts. One key difference between zinc picolinate and zinc gluconate is that zinc picolinate is derived from picolinic acid, whereas zinc gluconate is derived from gluconic acid. Zinc picolinate is 20% elemental zinc whereas zinc gluconate has 13% of elemental zinc.
Another difference between zinc gluconate and picolinate is that zinc gluconate, along with zinc acetate, has antiviral properties. This makes it a good form for making lozenges and nasal gels that don’t contribute to the amount of iron digested and absorbed by the body, but it can fight viruses infecting the nose and throat.
The Mayo Clinic explains that zinc-based lozenges and syrups can be effective if you use them within the first 24 hours of the sign of symptoms. However, be careful — there’s a link between the use of intranasal zinc and the loss of smell.
Although different forms of zinc have different amounts of elemental zinc that the body can use, the National Institutes of Health explains that there is not enough research indicating whether there are any superior forms in terms of absorption, bioavailability or tolerability.
One older study — published in the June 1987 issue of Agents Actions
Based on these results, it seems as if zinc picolinate is most likely to absorb into a person’s body, and zinc gluconate is the least likely.
The difference between zinc glycinate and zinc picolinate
In terms of zinc glycinate versus picolinate, the picolinate wins this one. Still, we need more research to know more about zinc glycinate versus picolinate, especially because this study was done so long ago.
Zinc Types and Elemental Zinc Amount: How much elemental Zinc is in the different zinc compounds
Different forms of zinc contain different amounts of elemental zinc, which refers to the weight of the zinc molecule by itself (Note: Most product labels tend to mark the elemental weight):
Zinc citrate is approximately 34% zinc by weight. For a dose of 50mg elemental zinc, take 146 mg zinc citrate. (Examine)
Zinc sulfate consists 23% of elemental zinc; thus, 220 mg of zinc sulfate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc (NIH).
Zinc gluconate is approximately 13% zinc by weight. For a dose of 50mg elemental zinc, take 385 mg zinc gluconate. (Examine)
Zinc monomethionine is approximately 21% zinc by weight. For a dose of 50mg elemental zinc, take 238 mg zinc monomethionine. (Examine)
Zinc picolinate (20% of elemental zinc) (Metabolics)
Zinc ascorbate (15%) (Metabolics)
Zinc chloride (48%) (Metabolics)
Zinc carbonate (52%) (Metabolics)
Zinc bisglycinate (25%) (Metabolics)
Zinc oxide (80%) (FamilyPractice). Although the percentage of elemental zinc is high, do take note that zinc oxide is one of the least bioavailable form.
Zinc carnosine: The typical clinical oral dose is 150 mg/day, containing 34 mg zinc and 116 mg L-carnosine.
What is chelated zinc supplement?
Chelated zinc is a zinc supplement that’s your body can easily absorb
Because it’s difficult for your body to efficiently absorb zinc on its own, zinc is often attached to a chelating agent in supplements. A chelating agent is a substance that bonds with zinc to create a more absorbable end product.
Types of chelated zinc
Amino acids
- aspartic acid: used to make zinc aspartate
- methionine: used to make zinc methionine
- monomethionine: used to make zinc monomethionine
- acetic acid: used to make zinc acetate
- citric acid: used to make zinc citrate
- gluconic acid: used to make zinc gluconate
- orotic acid: used to make zinc orotate
- picolinic acid: used to make zinc picolinate
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