Ingredients

Zinc

Zinc is one of the minerals permitted in EU food supplements, in sixteen listed forms. EFSA's upper level is 25 mg a day for adults from all sources, set to protect copper status.

At a glance

Forms permitted in food supplements

Sixteen, listed in Directive 2002/46/EC Annex II, including zinc acetate, bisglycinate, citrate, gluconate, oxide, picolinate and sulphate

Nutrient reference value (labelling)

10 mg per day (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII)

EFSA upper level

25 mg/day for adults, including during pregnancy and lactation (Scientific Committee on Food, 2002)

Children

1–3 y 7 mg; 4–6 y 10 mg; 7–10 y 13 mg; 11–14 y 18 mg; 15–17 y 22 mg

Forms and labelling

Annex II lists zinc acetate, L-ascorbate, L-aspartate, bisglycinate, chloride, citrate, gluconate, lactate, L-lysinate, malate, mono-L-methionine sulphate, oxide, carbonate, L-pidolate, picolinate and sulphate. Zinc L-carnosine is not on the list, and in June 2026 EFSA concluded that neither its bioavailability nor its safety could be established. Labels declare the zinc itself per daily portion, together with the percentage of the 10 mg reference value.

The upper level

The 25 mg upper level applies to total daily intake, including food. The Scientific Committee on Food started from an intake of 50 mg a day with no adverse effects on indicators of copper status, its critical endpoint, and applied an uncertainty factor of 2. There is no harmonised EU maximum for a product. National figures for a daily dose differ: 15 mg in France, 22.5 mg in Belgium, and a non-binding 6.5 mg recommended in Germany. See EFSA upper levels.

Authorised health claims

Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 authorises eighteen zinc claims. They state that zinc contributes to normal acid-base metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cognitive function, DNA synthesis, fertility and reproduction, macronutrient metabolism, the metabolism of fatty acids and of vitamin A, and protein synthesis; to the maintenance of normal bones, hair, nails, skin, testosterone levels in the blood and vision; to the normal function of the immune system; and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. It also has a role in the process of cell division. A claim may be used only for food that is at least a source of zinc as defined in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Claims to prevent or treat colds or other diseases are not authorised.

Safety considerations

The main concern with long-term high intakes is copper. The Scientific Committee on Food explained that high zinc intakes increase the synthesis of metallothionein in intestinal cells, which binds copper and limits how much enters the body. Supplements of 50 to 300 mg a day were associated with changes including lower plasma copper. This page does not give dosing advice; ask a pharmacist or physician about your own situation.

In cosmetics

In cosmetics, zinc appears mainly as zinc oxide, a UV filter and colorant regulated under the Cosmetics Regulation. The food supplement rules on this page do not apply to it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the upper limit for zinc supplements?

EFSA's tolerable upper intake level is 25 mg per day for adults from all sources, including food. It is lower for children. There is no harmonised EU maximum amount per product.

Which forms of zinc are allowed in EU food supplements?

The sixteen forms in Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC, including zinc acetate, bisglycinate, citrate, gluconate, oxide, picolinate and sulphate. Zinc L-carnosine is not listed.

Can too much zinc lower copper?

Yes. High zinc intakes reduce how much copper the body absorbs, and copper status is the basis of EFSA's upper level.

Last reviewed: November 2026.