Ingredient Repository · Ingredient

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Ingredient

Zinc

Essential trace mineral cofactor required for immune defense, tissue repair, DNA synthesis, and gut mucosal integrity.

What it is

Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic functions. In Velobiotics specialized formulations—such as Velo16 Probiotics Zinc Picolinate (featuring highly absorbable zinc picolinate), Her-Biotics, His-Biotics Testo Boost, and Almasi Skin Hair Nails—zinc is combined with microencapsulated probiotics for maximal systemic absorption, skin barrier repair, and immune support.

Also known as: Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Picolinate, Zinc Citrate, Zinc Oxide

What it does

  • Supports T-lymphocyte maturation, neutrophil activity, and innate immune responsiveness.
  • Maintains gut tight junction architecture including occludin and ZO-1, preventing mucosal permeability.
  • Cofactor for RNA/DNA polymerases and zinc-finger transcription factors in cell division and tissue repair.
  • Promotes keratin synthesis, skin wound healing, and reproductive hormone metabolism.

Amplified by probiotics

Lactic acid probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) generate short-chain fatty acids that lower intestinal pH, maintaining zinc ions in a soluble divalent Zn2+ state optimal for ZIP4 (SLC39A4) enterocyte transporter binding. Probiotics also produce phytase enzymes that cleave dietary phytate complexes, preventing phytate-induced zinc precipitation. In return, zinc acts as a vital structural cofactor for probiotic bacterial enzymatic machinery, and probiotic enhancement of intestinal tight junctions works synergistically with zinc to maintain gut epithelial barrier defense.

Typical dose

11–25 mg/day (elemental zinc)

The evidence

Evidence: strong

Extensive clinical research demonstrates that zinc supplementation shortens viral infection duration, accelerates mucosal and cutaneous wound healing, and strengthens intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. (Wessels I, et al. 2017, Nutrients; Prasad AS. 2013, Adv Nutr; Skrovanek S, et al. 2014, World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol).

  1. Wessels I, et al. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1286 PubMed ↗
  2. Prasad AS. Discovery of human zinc deficiency: its impact on human health and disease. Adv Nutr. 2013;4(2):176-190 PubMed ↗
  3. Skrovanek S, et al. Zinc and gastrointestinal disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(4):496-513 PubMed ↗

Safety & who should check first

Tolerable Upper Intake Level is 40 mg/day for adults. Long-term high-dose intake (>50 mg/day) can induce secondary copper deficiency; balanced supplementation with copper is recommended for extended use.