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What does it look like?

  • Predominantly available as a tablet or as a lozenge.
  • Intranasal zinc and zinc syrup have also been used.6
  • Multiple different zinc salts are available and marketed, potentially causing confusion. Elemental (or ionic) dose equivalents listed below.
    • Zinc Acetate: 50 mg (15 mg elemental zinc)
    • Zinc Gluconate: 50 mg (7 mg elemental zinc)
    • Zinc Sulfate: 55 mg (12.5 mg elemental zinc)
    • Zinc Oxide: 50 mg (40 mg elemental zinc)
    • Zinc Citrate: 50mg (15mg elemental zinc)
    • Note: dosages discussed in this document refer to the elemental dose of zinc
  • Zinc acetate has the most evidence, although other preparations have also shown efficacy.
  • There is more available research on zinc lozenges than zinc tablets, although the available evidence for tablets appears similar to lozenges.6
  • Combination zinc and vitamin C formulations are also available and marketed for treatment or prevention of upper respiratory tract infections.
    • Please refer to the vitamin C fact sheet to review the evidence and guidelines for Vitamin C supplementation.

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