Now, given how much immunity has been a topic of conversation over the past two years, it only makes sense that you might be considering zinc supplements. Zinc is available in certain foods like oysters, red meat, poultry, fortified breakfast cereals, beans, nuts, whole grains, and dairy products. That said, there is a zinc dietary gap, particularly for vegetarians and vegans. As mbg vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., R.D., previously wrote: “Considering food sources alone, 15% of U.S. adults are not getting enough zinc. Because this statistic comes from nationally representative data, that means that approximately 50 million Americans have an unaddressed zinc gap.” If you do fall into the category of people who need to take a zinc supplement, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. In addition to choosing the optimal form of zinc (more on that here)—it’s important to consider the time of day you take your zinc supplement, how often to take it, and what else you’re taking alongside your zinc. Ferira adds the caveat that, “For some individuals, taking zinc on an empty stomach can make them queasy, and this can be true for those people in the morning generally. A chelated zinc is more gentle, but regardless, it’s an important individual consideration, as with most nutrition queries.” Also, there is some data to suggest that taking zinc at night “may help with quality of sleep,”* says Vijaya Surampudi, M.D., a professor of internal medicine at UCLA Health. One randomized controlled trial2 in older Italian adults with difficulty sleeping found that those who took a combination of melatonin, magnesium, and zinc one hour before bed over the course of eight weeks reported “considerably better” sleep quality scores than those who took a placebo.* Another double-blind randomized controlled trial3 on sleep quality in ICU nurses found that the nurses reported better sleep quality when they took 220-milligram zinc sulfate capsules (i.e., 50 mg of zinc) every 72 hours for a month.* Furthermore, Ferira notes, “This clinical trial in young women4 around the time of their menstrual cycle revealed that zinc supplementation at 30 milligrams per day significantly improved quality of life, and sleep quality was one of the parameters seen to improve (albeit modestly).”* “For ensuring nutritional sufficiency of this essential mineral and for intentional, targeted support for immune function, daily zinc input is not only OK, it’s prudent,”* Ferira explains. Nutritionist Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet, agrees, adding that “As long as you are following the recommended dosage, zinc is safe to be consumed daily.” Additionally, Surampudi points out that there are some groups of people that have particular trouble getting enough zinc and for whom daily supplementation should be top of mind (and often, in direct partnership with their health care provider): The question of individualized dosing can be raised with your health care practitioner. “It depends on if you have anything going on that can increase your needs,” says Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., dietitian, mbg Collective member, and author of The Little Book of Game-Changers. If you or your health care provider suspect that you may have a deficiency, Surampudi says you’ll likely be given a blood test (i.e., serum or plasma zinc) to confirm it. That can also help determine how much zinc you should take, she says. As for bolstering immune resilience, Ferira takes 15 mg of zinc bisglycinate daily provided via mindbodygreen’s immune support+ supplement.* Cohen points out that the maximum daily intake level is 40 milligrams1, although your doctor may recommend that you take more if you have certain medical reasons for using a higher-potency zinc supplement. For possible medication interactions (e.g., antibiotics, diuretics, etc.), it’s best to check in directly with your doctor, Cording says. Many people are able to get enough zinc from diet alone, but others need to supplement. Getting the timing of your zinc supplementation right can increase the odds you’ll get the levels you need.
