III. Physiology
- Absorbed in Small Intestine (jejunum)
- Functions
IV. Precautions
- Avoid intranasal zinc (risk of permanent Loss of Smell)
V. Adverse Effects: Supplementation
- Gastrointestinal effects
- Metallic Taste
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea
- Genitourinary effects
- Miscellaneous effects
- Decreased HDL Cholesterol
VI. Contraindications: Supplementation (aside from Zinc Deficiency)
VII. Preparations: Dietary Zinc Sources
- Human Breast Milk
- Meats
- Shellfish
- Chickpeas
- Cashews
- Pumpkin seeds
VIII. Preparations: Medications
- Zinc Acetate: 25 mg (7.5 mg elemental zinc), 50 mg (15 mg elemental zinc)
- Zinc Gluconate: 50 mg (7 mg elemental zinc), 100 mg (14 mg elemental zinc)
- Zinc Sulfate: 110 mg (25 mg elemental zinc), 220 mg (50 mg elemental zinc)
- Zinc Oxide: 100 mg (80 mg elemental zinc)
IX. Dosing: Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
- See Zinc Deficiency for dosing
- Age 0-6 months: 2 mg elemental zinc
- Age 7-36 months: 3 mg elemental zinc
- Age 4-8: 5 mg elemental zinc
- Age 9-13: 8 mg elemental zinc
- Age 14 and older: 11 mg (men) or 8 mg (women) elemental zinc
- Pregnancy and Lactation: 11-12 mg elemental zinc
X. Efficacy: Supplementation Possible Benefits (Aside from Zinc Deficiency)
-
Pediatric Diarrhea
- Zinc 5-20 mg orally daily
- Lukacik (2008) Pediatrics 121(2): 326-36 [PubMed]
- Macular Degeneration (protection from oxidative stress)
-
Pediatric Pneumonia
- Zinc supplementation associated with decreased mortality, shorter hospitalizations and fewer treatment failures
- Greatest benefit appears to be in developing countries where Zinc Deficiency occurs frequently (30% of world population)
- Basnet (2012) Pediatrics 129(4): 701-8 [PubMed]
- Srinivasan (2012) BMC Med 10: 14 [PubMed]
- Pregnancy
- Zinc (25 mg) in Prenatal Vitamins
- Effects
- Increased birth weight and Head Circumference
- Resulted in birth at later Gestational age
- Resulted in shorter hospital stay
- Greatest benefit in thin women
- Goldenberg (1995) JAMA 274:463-8 [PubMed]
XI. Efficacy: Supplementation Disproven Benefits
- Wound Healing
-
Upper Respiratory Infection
- No consistent benefit with zinc preparations
- Turner (2000) Clin Infect Dis 31:1202-8 [PubMed]
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (unless significant Zinc Deficiency)
- Acne Vulgaris
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zinc (on 3/22/2023 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
ZINC OXIDE 20% OINTMENT | Generic OTC | $0.06 per gram |
Ontology: Zinc (C0043481)
Definition (NCI) | An element with atomic symbol Zn, atomic number 30, and atomic weight 65.39. |
Definition (CSP) | metallic trace element, atomic symbol Zn, atomic number 30; necessary in the diet, forms an essential part of many enzymes, and plays an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. |
Definition (MSH) | A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn. |
Concepts | Element, Ion, or Isotope (T196) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121) |
MSH | D015032 |
SnomedCT | 350591008, 46856009, 387254007, 86739005 |
LNC | LP14795-6, MTHU001006 |
English | Zinc, Zn, zinc (medication), mineral supplements zinc, Zinc [Chemical/Ingredient], ZINC, zinc preparation, zn, Zn element, zinc, Zinc preparation (substance), Zinc preparation, Zinc product, Zn - Zinc, Zinc (substance), Zinc product (product), Zinc preparation, NOS, Zinc, NOS, Zinc product (substance) |
Swedish | Zink |
Czech | zinek |
Finnish | Sinkki |
Russian | TSINK, ЦИНК |
Spanish | zinc (producto), producto con cinc (producto), zinc, producto con zinc, Zinc, producto con cinc, preparado de zinc, preparado de cinc, preparado de cinc (sustancia), Cinc, cinc (sustancia), cinc, producto (producto), cinc, producto (sustancia), cinc, producto, cinc, zinc, producto |
Croatian | CINK |
Latvian | Cinks |
Polish | Cynk |
Norwegian | Sink |
French | Zinc |
German | Zink |
Italian | Zinco |
Portuguese | Zinco |