Zinc

Advanced wellness

also zn

What it isZinc is a trace mineral and the second most abundant trace metal in the body. It serves as a structural and catalytic cofactor for thousands of proteins.

DoesDrives immune, taste, wound healing, testosterone synthesis, DNA repair, and antioxidant defense.

GoodMid-high zinc supports immune resilience, androgen synthesis, skin health, and gut barrier.

BadDeficiency causes impaired immunity, poor wound healing, low testosterone, loss of taste and smell, and increased infection susceptibility. Common in older adults, vegetarians, and on proton pump inhibitors.

Standard

56–134 µg/dL.

Optimal

100–130 µg/dL (higher is good within range)

Modifiers

Falls with chronic stress, high copper intake, phytate-heavy diets; rises with supplementation.

How to optimize

Lifestyle: —
Diet: Oysters (richest source), red meat, pumpkin seeds, cashews, chickpeas, dairy.
Supplements: Zinc picolinate or bisglycinate (15–30mg/day); balance with copper (2mg/day if supplementing zinc long-term).
Peptides: GHK-Cu provides copper alongside.
Drugs: —

within Minerals