"Zinc is not one of those nutrients that you can just take without paying attention to what you are doing. Here are some important considerations:

The RDA for adults, depending on which resource you consult and whether it is for males or females, and the referenced age, is somewhere between 8 - 14 mg for adults. The upper limit of safe intake is 40 mg. Notice that this product is 50 mg, and yes, that is OK, and that is because you will not absorb all of this zinc. However, zinc picolinate may be the best absorbed of the available supplements, as this form led to significant increases in hair, urine and erythrocyte zinc levels (Agents Actions. 1987 Jun;21(1-2):223-8). Other acceptable forms are Zinc Citrate and Zinc Gluconate. Some people do not seem to absorb Zinc oxide, and so I would not recommend that form (J Nutr. 2014 Feb;144(2):132-6. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.181487. Epub 2013 Nov 20.)

A second consideration is that unlike some other nutrients, the amount of zinc that you absorb will not depend on whether you had a deficiency or not, but upon your current intake. Zinc seems to be better absorbed from a supplement than from food, however, within 24 hours of supplementing zinc, absorption seems to be down-regulated (Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2010 Oct;80(4-5):300-6. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000037). Because the body adjusts to your zinc intake quite rapidly this is a supplement that should be taken regularly rather than one that you take only when you think you may need it. Exceptions may be days when you definitely eat enough high-zinc foods. Lists are readily available online- just use one that has the % RDA included, as some foods that appear on these lists have less than 10% of your RDA per serving so it is unlikely that you'd obtain enough through them. Zinc is essential for health, and it isn't easy to get it from food, though if you're having a huge porterhouse steak then you don't need to supplement that particular day!

A final consideration is that zinc must be kept in balance with copper. Copper is often over-looked because we do not need too much. However zinc blocks the absorption of copper, so when your zinc goes up, so does your need for copper. Yet, a study found that over 60% of those prescribed a zinc supplement were directed to take zinc at levels that would lead to a copper deficiency. Some of them actually were not deficient in zinc- your serum levels may be misleading if you have systemic inflammation or hypoalbuminaemia (J Clin Pathol. 2015 Sep;68(9):723-5. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2014-202837. Epub 2015 Jun 17). If you have been directed to take zinc by your physician, it is important that you also attend to your copper levels. If you are a patient with cancer, then work with your team on this, as you may require more strict, low levels of copper.

I would give this supplement 5 stars if it either included copper to prevent a supplement-induced deficiency, or if it included a warning of that risk on the label. As it is, someone may trade one problem for another, unaware that the supplement could be a contributing factor. I hope that this review is helpful to you. Let me know, and good health to you!"

"Great value for the product. I take it every night before bed."

"The Zinc supplement maybe great for others but for people like me who has reflux and other intestinal issues may present a problem. Btw, I have immune system illness, at the same time acid reflux. Anything I take always complicates with the reflux. Please... this is just me, continue taking the supplement if it will benefit you. I read good things about zinc and this one is easy to swallow. I wish you all, Good Health and take good care of yourself! 1000 Roses."