Who should not take zinc?

People with kidney disease, anyone taking a quinolone or tetracycline antibiotic at the same time of day, and anyone already taking zinc from a multivitamin or cold remedy should be careful about adding more — the details below cover why, plus who else should check with a doctor first.

Kidney disease

Zinc is cleared partly by the kidneys, and impaired clearance changes how a given dose behaves in the body, so ask your doctor before adding a zinc supplement if you have kidney disease.

Anyone taking a quinolone or tetracycline antibiotic

These antibiotic classes bind to zinc in the gut, which can reduce how much of the antibiotic gets absorbed — a documented drug interaction, covered in full on zinc and medications: what to check. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to space the two if you're prescribed one of these antibiotics while taking zinc.

Anyone already getting zinc from another source

A multivitamin, a cold remedy and a dedicated zinc supplement can each add to your daily total, and the 40 mg/day adult upper limit applies to the sum of all of them, not any one product alone. Add up every source before starting a new one — see zinc dosage for the numbers.

Anyone planning to take a high dose for weeks or months

A controlled 1984 study found that 50 mg/day of zinc for six weeks — a dose some people reach by combining supplements, though it's above the 40 mg/day upper limit — measurably reduced a marker of copper status in healthy men. That's a reason not to sustain a high daily zinc intake without a doctor's involvement, even though the study didn't test whether the effect continues or worsens beyond six weeks.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children

Zinc needs differ in pregnancy and lactation, and this page doesn't give a dosing recommendation for children. Ask a doctor or pediatrician for guidance specific to your situation rather than using an adult figure.

Questions people ask

Who should not take zinc?

People with kidney disease, anyone on a quinolone or tetracycline antibiotic, and anyone already taking zinc from another source should check with a doctor before adding more. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children should also get individual guidance rather than following a general adult amount.

Who should not take zinc supplements?

Same answer — the groups above are the ones with a documented reason for caution. Everyone else should still stay within the 40 mg/day adult upper limit from all sources.

What should I not take with zinc?

Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, and — at high, sustained doses — anything that would push your total copper intake down further. See zinc and medications: what to check for the full list.

Who needs zinc supplements?

This page doesn't make that determination for any individual — a doctor can test zinc status directly if there's a reason to suspect low intake. Most people get meaningful zinc from diet; what is zinc covers food sources.

Who discovered zinc?

Zinc metal was being smelted in India by around the 13th century, long before it was understood as a distinct element in the West. German chemist Andreas Marggraf is generally credited with isolating pure zinc metal in a laboratory in 1746 and is often called its European discoverer.

Related reading: zinc side effects, zinc and medications: what to check, and how much zinc should you take a day.