Zinc levels also fluctuate in response to other factors, including infections, changes in steroid hormones, and muscle catabolism during weight loss or illness. evening) and do not always correlate with dietary or supplemental zinc intakes. Zinc concentrations in serum are associated with the patient’s sex and age as well as the time of the blood draw (morning vs. However, both serum and plasma measures have important limitations. Serum zinc levels below 70 mcg/dL in women and 74 mcg/dL in men indicate inadequate zinc status. In healthy people, the amount of zinc in serum or plasma is 80 to 120 mcg/dL (12 to 18 mcmol/L). Serum or plasma zinc levels are typically used in clinical practice to assess zinc status. In general, as zinc intakes rise, the amount of zinc absorbed also increases, but its fractional absorption drops. The processes that maintain zinc homeostasis are absorption of zinc from the diet, excretion into the gastrointestinal tract, and reabsorption in the gastrointestinal lumen. Most of this zinc is stored in skeletal muscle and bone. The total amount of zinc in the body is approximately 1.5 g in women and 2.5 g in men. Zinc also supports healthy growth and development during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence and is involved in the sense of taste. It is required for the catalytic activity of hundreds of enzymes, and it plays a role in enhancing immune function, protein and DNA synthesis, wound healing, and cell signaling and division. Zinc is involved in many aspects of cellular metabolism.

Zinc is also found in some cold lozenges, over-the-counter drugs sold as cold remedies, and some denture adhesive creams. Zinc, an essential mineral, is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. For a reader-friendly overview of Zinc, see our consumer fact sheet on Zinc. This is a fact sheet intended for health professionals.

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