11 Best Zinc Supplements of 2022, Approved by a Clinical Nutritionist – SI Showcase

The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. The Sports Illustrated editorial team is not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.

Zinc is an essential nutrient that your body cannot make on its own. It’s vital for much more than boosting your immune function during cold season. Zinc is also vital for healthy skin, digestion, vision and anti-inflammatory functions. But if your diet is low in zinc—as it is for many vegetarians and vegans—you may lack this important element. Zinc supplementation can also be helpful for those with certain health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, liver problems and age-related muscle deterioration.

There are seemingly endless zinc supplements on the market, which is why we consulted a clinical nutritionist to find the best zinc supplements available now, plus a primer on what kinds of zinc are available, the best time to take a zinc supplement and the best dose for your age and health.

Our Picks for the Best Zinc Supplement:

Key features and specs

• Serving size: Four capsules
• Servings per container: 30
• Zinc per serving: 15 milligrams
• Form: Zinc-L-methionine
• Other ingredients: EpiCor Dried Yeast Fermentate, Organic Reishi Mushroom, Quercetin Dihyrdate, CurcuWIN Ultra+ Tumeric extract, Gingever ginger extract, BioPerine (black pepper fruit extract), Magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12
• Certifications: NSF certified for sport and manufactured in a Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) facility
• Price: $39.99 ($1.33/serving) for one-time purchases, $35.99 ($1.20/serving) for subscribers

Our zinc recommendation for men is Transparent Labs Immune. This product contains promising immune boosters like dried fermented yeast, Tumeric extract and ginger extract, as well as evidence-based immune boosters, including organic reishi mushroom and, of course, zinc. The black pepper fruit extract (also called piperine or BioPerine) may increase absorption of the zinc.

Transparent Labs is a brand that’s committed to clean ingredients and transparent labels. On their website, you can reference the studies they use to support the inclusion of each active ingredient, which is rare in the supplement industry. They also exclude additives like artificial sweeteners, color and preservatives. 

Pros

• Contains patented L-OptiZinc (zinc-L-methionine), which Transparent Labs claims…