Best zinc supplements 2024 – for immune health, wound healing, and healthy hair and skin
We looked at a sample of the leading zinc supplements – from sprays to gummies, capsules to tablets – to find which product might suit you best.
Zinc is an essential mineral, but because it is only needed in small ‘trace’ amounts we often underestimate its importance. Second to iron, zinc is one of the most abundant minerals in the body, but unlike other essential nutrients, we don’t store it, so we need to get a regular supply from our diet.
For more information, read our guide: what is zinc?
Depending on the foods you eat and how well you digest them, you should absorb about 20-40% of the zinc you eat. Foods rich in this mineral include oysters, followed by red meat and poultry, seafood (such as crab and lobster) beans, nuts, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products. Most of us get adequate amounts of zinc from a varied, balanced diet, however, certain groups may benefit from supplementation. These include women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, vegetarians and vegans, people with digestive disorders and those taking certain medications, including some diuretics.
Read on to discover the best zinc supplements.
Jump to section:
- Best zinc supplements to buy 2024
- What does zinc do for the body?
- Is zinc good for hair and skin?
- What is the best form of zinc to take?
- How much zinc should you take per day?
- Who might benefit from using a zinc supplement?
- Who shouldn't take a zinc supplement?
- How we tested zinc supplements
Best zinc supplements at a glance
Best Zinc tablets
- Best zinc tablet: BioCare Zinc Citrate 17mg, £7.69
- Best zinc supplement for value for money: Vitabright Zinc Gluconate 25mg, £9.99
- Runner up zinc supplement for value for money: Boots Max Strength Zinc 25mg, £5.60
- Best high-strength, budget-friendly zinc supplement: Holland & Barrett Zinc 25mg, £9.49
- Best zinc supplement for longer term use: Vitabiotics Ultra Zinc 15mg with copper, £3.85
- Runner up budget zinc supplement: Superdrug Zinc 15mg, £3.99
- Runner up budget zinc supplement: HealthAid Zinc Gluconate 70mg, £6.79
Best Zinc capsules
- Best zinc capsule: PuroLabs Puro Zinc 15mg, £23.99
- Best natural zinc: Wild Nutrition Zinc Plus 15mg, £15.50
Best Zinc Liquid/Spray
- Best zinc for digestive issues: Betteryou Zinc Oral spray 10mg, £7.49
- Best zinc for easy absorption: BioCare Nutrisorb Zinc Complex 15mg, £11.86
- Best zinc for a high-strength dose: BioCare Nutrisorb Zinc 7mg, £15.35
Best Zinc gummies
- Best zinc gummy: Weight world Zinc gummies 50mg, £15.99
Best zinc supplements to buy 2024
Best Zinc tablets
BioCare Zinc citrate 17mg
Available from BioCare (£7.69)
Best zinc tablet
Price per tablet: 8p
Star rating: 4.5/5
From a long established and reputable manufacturer, these small, easy to take tablets offer excellent value for money. Supplying 171% of the NRV as zinc citrate our tester found these an easy addition to their daily routine.
Available from:
Vitabright Zinc Gluconate 25mg
Available from Vitabright (£9.99), Amazon (£9.99)
Best zinc supplement for value for money
Price per tablet: 4p
Star rating: 4.5/5
Offering the best value for money as well as a 100% money back guarantee, this small, easy to swallow tablet, provides 25mg of zinc. It is vegan and allergen-free, and produced to good manufacturing standards (GMP).
Available from:
Boots Max Strength Zinc 25mg
Available from Boots (£5.60)
Runner up zinc supplement for value for money
Price per tablet: 6p
Star rating: 4/5
At just 6p each, these small zinc tablets provide 25mg of zinc as citrate. Our tester found these vegan-friendly tablets easy to take, they are also free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.
Available from:
Holland & Barrett Zinc 25mg
Available from Holland & Barrett (£9.49)
Best high-strength, budget-friendly zinc supplement
Price per tablet: 6p
Star rating: 4/5
Larger in size than some of the other tablets we trialled these high strength tablets offer good value supplying 25mg of zinc gluconate.
Available from:
Vitabiotics Zinc 15mg with 1 mg copper
Available from Vitabiotics (£3.85), Amazon (£3.85), Holland & Barrett (£3.85), Superdrug (£3.99)
Best zinc supplement for longer term use
Price per tablet: 6p
Star rating: 4/5
Providing 15mg of zinc as sulphate, this product may be suited for those who are advised to supplement over the longer term. This is because the product combines zinc with 1mg of copper to help prevent copper deficiency (zinc and copper compete for the same absorption sites). These tiny green tablets have no taste or smell, and were easy to swallow.
Available from:
Superdrug Zinc 15mg
Available from Superdrug (£3.99)
Best budget zinc supplement
Price per tablet: 7p
Star rating: 4/5
Supplying 15mg of zinc (150% NRV) as zinc citrate our tester found these small, vegan tablets easy to swallow.
Available from:
HealthAid Zinc Gluconate 70mg
Available from Amazon (£6.79), Pharmacy2U (£8.49)
Runner up budget zinc supplement
Price per tablet: 9p
Star rating: 4/5
Providing 10mg of elemental zinc (100% NRV) our tester found these odourless tablets easy enough to take with a glass of water, however, they were less keen on the ‘chalky’ texture and the rough feel of the tablet.
Available from:
Best zinc capsules
PuroLabs Puro Zinc 15mg
Available from PuroLabs (£23.99), Amazon (£23.99)
Best zinc capsule
Price per capsule: 40p
Star rating: 4.5/5
Produced to GMP standards and with no synthetic additives, this clean and natural product supplies 15mg (150%NRV) of zinc in a gentle and easily absorbed form. Our tester found the one a day capsule easy to swallow and was impressed with the offer of a 15-minute free product advice call with a nutritionist.
Available from:
Wild Nutrition Zinc Plus 15mg
Available from Wild Nutrition (£15.50), Amazon (£15.50), Naturisimo (£15.50)
Best natural zinc
Price per capsule: 52p
Star rating: 4/5
Using high quality, natural ingredients this food-grown product combines 15mg of zinc (150% NRV) with vitamins B1, B2 and B6. Our tester likened these easy to take capsules to the ‘taste and smell of cornflakes.’ Although one of the pricier products, of those we tested, Wild Nutrition offer save and subscribe discounts and a 100% money back guarantee.
Available from:
Best zinc liquid/spray
BetterYou Daily Zinc Oral Spray 10mg
Available from Amazon (£7.49), Bodykind (£7.49), BetterYou (£9.95)
Best zinc for digestive issues
Price per daily dose: 40p
Star rating: 4/5
Designed to bypass the digestive system, just five sprays into the inner cheek delivers 10mg of zinc (100% NRV) into the bloodstream. Our testers found the product convenient and portable being ‘easy to fit into my bag,’ and liked the natural lemon-lime flavour. Sweetened with stevia.
Available from:
BioCare Nutrisorb Zinc 7mg
Available from BioCare (£11.86)
Best zinc for easy absorption
Price per daily dose: 17p
Star rating: 4/5
Supplying 70% of the NRV as zinc gluconate, this easy to absorb liquid is taken with food either as seven drops in water or directly under the tongue. Our tester preferred to take the drops diluted in water alongside a main meal.
Available from:
BioCare Nutrisorb Zinc Complex 15mg
Available from BioCare (£15.35)
Best zinc for a high-strength dose
Price per daily dose: 51p
Star rating: 4/5
Just one tsp (5ml) daily mixed with water or juice (and taken with food) supplies 15mg of zinc (150% NRV). Although this product provides zinc in an easily absorbed form, our tester disliked the smell of the product and found mixing with juice tainted the taste of the drink.
Available from:
Best zinc gummy
Weightworld Zinc Gummies 50mg
Available from Weightworld (£15.99), Amazon (£15.99)
Best zinc gummy
Price per 2 gummies: 36p
Score: 4/5
With a 90day money back guarantee these gummies make a useful option if you struggle to take tablets or capsules. Our tester found them easy to fit into their day, describing the taste as ‘sweet but pleasant, with a natural and authentic raspberry flavour.’ Sweetened with sugar and glucose syrup.
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What does zinc do for the body?
Zinc plays a wide and varied role in the body – we need it to grow, develop and repair as well as to help wounds heal. This trace mineral plays an important part in immunity, fertility and reproduction as well as processing the protein, carbs and fats in our food. As well as this, zinc contributes to normal brain function and vision and plays an antioxidant role, protecting the body’s cells from damage.
Is zinc good for hair and skin?
Yes, zinc contributes to the normal maintenance of skin, hair, bones and nails so if you’re concerned about the condition of your hair and skin, zinc may be relevant for you. In particular, zinc helps maintain normal hair growth and it may be helpful for those with inflammatory skin conditions, like acne.
What is the best form of zinc to take?
Available in a number of forms with the less well absorbed, zinc sulphate, typically founded in cheaper, budget products. That said there is not a huge amount of evidence of greater effectivity of one form of zinc over another as absorption in the body is subject to many different factors. However, one study indicated that zinc picolinate may be better absorbed in some cases whilst other common forms include zinc citrate, zinc glyconate and zinc methionine.
How much zinc should you take per day?
The recommended daily nutrient reference value (NRV) of zinc is 10mg, with most zinc supplements containing 10–25 mg. However, make sure you read the label carefully– the relevant figure or ‘elemental’ amount is the figure that represents the amount of zinc on its own and not when it is combined with another compound.
Most of us are able to obtain the NRV for zinc by enjoying a wide variety of foods, however. If you do choose to supplement do not exceed the upper safe limit of 25mg of zinc per day, as consuming high amounts may cause digestive issues, flu-like symptoms, affect how much copper you absorb and if you are prescribed certain antibiotics, it may impact how well they work.
Ideally take your zinc supplement with a meal and away from other supplements that contain minerals like iron or calcium. A supplement that provides a conservative dose of zinc may actually improve absorption, so don’t assume you need to choose a high dose product.
Who might benefit from using a zinc supplement?
Certain groups may benefit from supplementation, these include pregnant or breast-feeding women, vegetarians and vegans, people with digestive disorders as well as heavy drinkers who are at a higher risk of zinc deficiency.
Who shouldn’t take zinc supplements?
Do not give zinc supplements to a child without talking to your doctor first. If you are on prescribed medication including certain blood pressure pills, diuretics and some antibiotics refer to your GP before supplementing.
How we tested zinc supplements
Our key criteria were price (which we judged by the cost of a recommended daily dose), the percentage of Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) provided in the recommended dose of each product, and how the format (capsule, tablet, drink, gummy etc) and form of zinc might affect the amount absorbed in the body.
Our panel of Good Food testers also trialled each product to see how easy it was to take or use, and they judged flavour and smell where appropriate. All supplements were tested over a similar time period, with notes made according to the testing criteria. We included samples from a range of manufacturers offering a variety of formats including tablets, capsules, gummies, liquids and sprays and with a range of price points to accommodate a range of budgets.
Read more about how we test different products at Good Food.
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Always keep supplements out of the reach of children.
Unless otherwise stated we tested products available in the UK market and suitable for adults. Check the product label and ingredients before purchase to ensure it is appropriate for your individual circumstances.
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