Zinc supplements vary in their dosages from 5–10 milligrams (mg) up to 25–45 mg, and sometimes higher. Dosages in the lower range are typically used as a daily preventative, whereas dosages in the higher range are typically used to treat chronic conditions and zinc deficiency.

Zinc supplements contain different forms of zinc. Each of these forms contains different amounts of elemental zinc, which refers to the weight of the zinc molecule by itself, for example:

• Zinc acetate is approximately 36% zinc by weight; therefore, 140 mg of zinc acetate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc.
• Zinc picolinate is approximately 21% zinc by weight; therefore, 237 mg of zinc picolinate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc.
• Zinc citrate is approximately 34% zinc by weight; therefore, 146 mg of zinc citrate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc.
• The content of zinc sulfate depends on which form is used. The anhydrous, monohydrate, and heptahydrate forms of zinc sulfate are 41%, 36%, and 23% zinc by weight, respectively; therefore, 123 mg of anhydrous zinc sulfate, 137 mg of zinc sulfate monohydrate, and 220 mg of zinc sulfate heptahydrate each contain 50 mg of elemental zinc.
• Zinc gluconate is approximately 14% zinc by weight; therefore, 348 mg of zinc gluconate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc.
• Zinc monomethionine is approximately 31% zinc by weight; therefore, 163 mg of zinc monomethionine contains 50 mg of elemental zinc.

This can be confusing, but most zinc product labels indicate the elemental weight of zinc that each dose provides. For example, if a label says “Zinc (as picolinate) 50 mg”, this means that each dose provides 50 mg of elemental zinc.