Zinc Picolinate 15mg by Thorne

This is a fit if you want a gentle, well-absorbed zinc picolinate 15 mg for maintenance rather than aggressive repletion. It’s useful when Zinc, Plasma or Serum is low or low-normal, if you rarely eat shellfish or red meat, follow a high‑phytate diet (lots of grains/legumes), are vegan, or have gut issues like celiac, inflammatory bowel disease, or post-bariatric surgery. Athletes with heavy sweat loss and those with frequent colds, poor wound healing, or reduced taste/smell also tend to benefit.

Zinc picolinate binds zinc to picolinic acid, which improves absorption compared to harder-to-absorb forms like zinc oxide. Once absorbed, zinc is a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes involved in DNA repair and cell division, which is why skin, nails, and wound healing respond. It also supports the activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (an enzyme that neutralizes damaging free radicals) and helps immune cells mature and signal effectively. For colds, the evidence is specific to high-dose zinc lozenges started early; capsules aren’t the same intervention.

Take 1 capsule once or twice daily as directed. Zinc can cause mild nausea on an empty stomach, so take with food if that happens. Separate from iron or calcium supplements by at least 2 hours, since they compete for absorption. If your Zinc, Plasma or Serum is meaningfully low, short-term higher dosing is sometimes used under clinician guidance, then stepped down to 15 mg for upkeep.

Zinc binds certain medications in the gut and blocks their absorption. Separate by at least 4 hours from antibiotics in the tetracycline or quinolone families, and from levothyroxine (thyroid hormone). Long-term higher zinc can lower copper, so if you take zinc daily for months, consider checking Copper, Serum. If you’re managing Wilson’s disease or on chelators, coordinate supplementation with your specialist.