Zinc supplements serve a number of purposes, from boosting your immune system’s function to supporting a healthy metabolism. If you’ve been considering increasing your zinc intake, it’s difficult to do this through diet alone. A supplement can ensure you’re getting the appropriate amount from a high-quality source.
Let’s look at the details of Nature’s Bounty Zinc. We’ll also compare it to some of the other options that are available.
Key Takeaways Before Buying
Product Description
Nature’s Bounty is a supplement brand that has been around for more than 50 years. This zinc supplement is just one of the many products that they currently sell in accordance with their high standards for quality and consistency. Each caplet contains 50mg of zinc as zinc gluconate. There are 100 servings in each container.
As an important mineral for antioxidant health, zinc from Nature’s Bounty has the potential to support a healthy immune system. The brand also claims that it can help with carbohydrate, protein, fat and energy metabolism. There are also studies that suggest zinc can support ideal reproductive health for men.
Nature’s Bounty does not include any artificial additives, colors or flavors in their products, so there isn’t much else in their zinc supplement, other than vegetable cellulose, vegetable-based magnesium stearate and dicalcium phosphate, which are all very safe.
What’s to Like?
- Nature’s Bounty Zinc is available in many different places, such as Amazon, pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens and Walmart.
- It’s affordably priced. A bottle of 100 caplets costs just $4.33 on Amazon. You can purchase larger quantities for an even lower price per caplet.
- This product has the potential to help support the body’s natural immune response and metabolism processes.
- It’s a positively reviewed product regardless of where you’re looking (Amazon, online pharmacy websites, etc.).
- Zinc is necessary for more than 300 different enzymatic activities in the body.
What’s Not to Like?
- There are other whole-food-based zinc supplements on the market that you might prefer taking.
- Nature’s Bounty Zinc may affect your stomach negatively. If you’re susceptible to having a GI reaction when taking certain supplements, this might not be an option that works for you.
- This product contains 50mg of zinc in each dose. It is often recommended that you don’t exceed 40mg of zinc per day if you’re trying to avoid unpleasant side effects.
My Notes on Improvements
- The dose of zinc that is included in this supplement from Nature’s Bounty is a bit high. We would like to see something available that is lower, making it easier to tolerate.
- This isn’t a supplement that is made from whole foods, so it’s not necessarily the purest and gentlest source of zinc out there. The brand could potentially stay true to their name, producing a more natural zinc supplement from “nature”.
- Nature’s Bounty explains that their products go through rigorous testing, but we would like to see some additional information on the testing that was completed.
- Knowing that zinc can be very harsh on the stomach, maybe Nature’s Bounty could come up with a way of decreasing the potential side effects of their product.
Formula and Ingredients
Each caplet of Nature’s Bounty Zinc contains 50mg of zinc gluconate. It is recommended that you take one per day. Zinc is a substance that is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. However, there are different forms of zinc used in supplements, including zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc glycerate and zinc monomethionine.
There are minimal other ingredients included in Nature’s Bounty Zinc, with most of them simply contributing to the physical integrity of the capsule. These ingredients include vegetable-based cellulose, silica and stearic acid.
Who Should Try Nature’s Bounty Zinc?
Zinc supplementation tends to be recommended for people who are extremely physically active, who need to boost their immune system for some reason or who may have a deficiency due to age or poor diet. Other signs that you may benefit from a zinc supplement include hair loss, decreased appetite and slow wound healing. You should speak with your doctor if you suspect that you are deficient in zinc and would like to try a supplement.
Who Shouldn’t?
You should avoid taking zinc if you have been diagnosed with a digestive disorder such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. When these conditions are present, the body doesn’t have the ability to absorb zinc properly. If you are a vegetarian, the foods that you’re eating may interfere with the absorption of zinc. Legumes are one such food that can hamper the body’s ability to absorb and utilize zinc.
Pricing and Where to Buy Nature’s Bounty Zinc?
You can find Nature’s Bounty zinc in a number of locations, including online on Amazon. The cost of 100 caplets is currently $4.33. You can also purchase 200 caplets for $9.48. The price may vary depending on where you’re shopping, but in general, this is a very affordable supplement.
If you’re not interested in purchasing your zinc supplement online (other online retailers include Vitacost and iHerb), you can skip Amazon and head to your local Walmart, Walgreens or CVS.
Other, Similar Zinc Supplements to Consider
If there’s a specific feature of Nature’s Bounty Zinc that you’re not keen on, there are a lot of other options to consider that are similar in some respects. Let’s take a look at what’s available.
Thorne Zinc Picolinate contains 30mg of zinc in each dose (180 count in each bottle). The Thorne brand claims that you can use their zinc supplement to support whole-body wellness, promote healthy connective tissue, support reproductive health and protect the eyes.
The cost of 180 capsules from Thorne is $35. This product is free of additives and artificial ingredients. Thorne claims it is the most highly recommended brand by healthcare practitioners. They also offer a zinc bisglycinate product. However, zinc picolinate can often provide better absorption.
Zinc picolinate from Sports Research contains 50mg of zinc in each serving. It is made using a softgel structure, which has the potential to increase bioavailability and reduce your risk of GI upset. Sports Research claims this product can be used to support a healthy immune response and enzyme function. The cost of 60 soft gels is $17.95.
Mary Ruth’s Ionic Zinc is a bit different from the others that we’ve discussed in that it comes in liquid form. The brand claims this makes it easy to consume and highly bioavailable. A serving size is 3.5 mL, which equates to 13.13mg of zinc. This is a much lower dose than other brands provide, but this may allow you to avoid some of the side effects that often come from a zinc supplement. The cost of a 4 oz., 40-serving bottle is $19.95 for a one-time purchase.
Final Thoughts
Zinc is an important trace mineral that is needed by the body for many different functions. Unfortunately, our diets are often deficient in many of the vitamins and minerals that we need. For a boost in immune function and to support a healthy metabolism, you may be considering using a zinc supplement. With so many on the market, it can be difficult to choose which one is right for your specific needs.
Nature’s Bounty is an affordable place to start if you feel the dose is adequate. Some of the other alternatives that we discussed provide different features, such as a lower dose, liquid administration or a different form of zinc. There are pros and cons to each of these products, but you can determine what you need by thinking about what you want to accomplish with a zinc supplement. You can also discuss the use of zinc with your doctor.
