- Zinc salt + picolinic acid - Zinc picolinate - High bioavailability presentation.
- 21.5% elemental zinc content - 25mg of elemental zinc per vegetable capsule.
- Transparent labeling, no confusion: We declare the elemental content and the full salt content.
- Zinc picolinate is a high absorption and effective form of zinc (Barrie et al., 1987).
- With chelated copper bisglycinate to balance the high zinc intake.
- Clean Label formula - 0% use of aesthetic or unnecessary additives.
Zinc Picolinate - A Superior Form
Zinc Picolinate (25mg zinc) from EssentialSeries is a dietary supplement in vegetable capsules, developed from zinc picolinic salt, achieved by combining picolinic acid anion with zinc in an approximate 79:21 ratio.
Zinc picolinate, like other zinc salts such as bisglycinate, is used as a dietary supplement in diets with low zinc intake, or in cases of increased requirements for any reason, to support daily zinc intake and prevent the development of zinc deficiencies, which is nutritionally essential and important for our overall health.
Zinc picolinate is a suitable dietary supplement for you if you are looking to increase your daily zinc intake conveniently and effectively.
Learn More About Zinc Picolinate
Zinc + Picolinic Acid - What is it?
Picolinic acid is a pyridine monocarboxylic acid where the carboxyl group is at the 2-position. It is an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. It plays a role as a human metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of picolinate.
Zinc, on the other hand, is one of the most common elements in the earth's crust. It is found in the air, soil, and water and is present in many foods. Nutritionally, zinc is a trace element, meaning the body only needs small amounts, and yet it is necessary for nearly 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions.
Zinc picolinate is the conjugated presentation of picolinate + zinc, as a bioavailable form for the body, as we can release the zinc it contains and absorb it efficiently, while in the picolinate + zinc combination, we take advantage of the stability benefits of the mineral salt.
Elemental Zinc Content in the Salt
Zinc picolinate contains 21% of its composition as elemental zinc, which is the nutrient we ultimately seek to consume from a nutritional perspective.
This is why many zinc salts marketed create consumer uncertainty. We explain why we are 100% transparent!
Transparent Labeling, How to Interpret the Information?
It is normal for certain nutrition-related questions to cause doubts, something that happens to everyone.
How much zinc picolinate should I take daily? or What amount of zinc does a zinc picolinate capsule provide?
Many companies apparently sell very high amounts of zinc, 100mg per capsule, or more, how is that possible? The problem lies in the product labeling, which is confusing.
Zinc picolinate contains 21% zinc in its composition, what does that mean? It means that companies offering tens of milligrams of zinc are actually offering that amount of zinc salt, to which, in the case of picolinic acid, you need to calculate 21% to get the real zinc content.
We do not want to confuse anyone, we aim to be 100% transparent and avoid any possible confusion between the zinc element content and zinc picolinate as a salt; that is why the information we provide is clear:
Each capsule of our dietary supplement provides 25mg of elemental zinc, zinc as the nutrient we want to use; and comes from 116.2mg of zinc picolinate, as the complete mineral salt, the source of the elemental zinc consumed.
Bioavailability of Zinc Picolinate - Efficient Absorption
Zinc picolinate is a zinc salt with adequate bioavailability.
It is recognized as a bioavailable source of zinc, which the human body can utilize to benefit from the consumption of this important essential nutrient, and some studies like the one conducted by Barrie and colleagues in 1987 show that zinc picolinate is a zinc salt with superior bioavailability compared to other presentations such as citrate or gluconate.
Practically speaking, its bioavailability is similar, considered highly bioavailable, so zinc picolinate is an excellent option to provide a concentrated form with excellent absorption of zinc.
Why Do We Add Copper?
Zinc is an element called an 'inducer' of a type of protein called metallothionein, which forms complexes in the intestine with copper limiting its absorption. In this sense, copper is an antagonist of zinc and serves as an inhibitor of these proteins.
It is commonly recommended to combine high-dose zinc supplementation with a significant copper intake to meet the requirements of this trace element and prevent possible deficiencies associated with zinc-only supplementation in the long term.
HSN Zinc Picolinate has been formulated with an additional copper intake to provide a complete combo for your nutrition.
Zinc Picolinate vs. Other Forms of Zinc
Zinc needs to bind to other compounds to form salts that improve its overall stability and bioavailability, zinc picolinate is an effective zinc salt to provide elemental zinc to the diet.
Its elemental zinc content is 21%, while other salts like citrate have 34% or gluconate 14%. As long as the elemental zinc value is standardized to a specific amount, in this case, 25mg per capsule, its elemental contribution is not relevant.
This is why there are no differences in the effectiveness of the different zinc salts, as long as they are bioavailable, as are all the options we offer at HSN. Choose your favorite:
Can I Combine It with Other Vitamins and Minerals?
Yes, you can combine it with any vitamin, mineral, or vitamin and/or mineral complex as long as it does not provide additional amounts of zinc.
Zinc picolinate already provides a high daily dose of zinc, compatible with a normal diet that provides usual amounts of zinc, but not with other concentrated sources of zinc, based on combined, daily, and long-term consumption.
Bibliography
- Miller, B. D. D., & Welch, R. M. (2013). Food system strategies for preventing micronutrient malnutrition. Food Policy, 42(2), 115–128.
- Ośko, J., Pierlejewska, W., & Grembecka, M. (2023). Comparison of the Potential Relative Bioaccessibility of Zinc Supplements—In Vitro Studies. Nutrients, 15(12).
- Barrie, S. A., Wright, J. V., Pizzorno, J. E., Kutter, E., & Barron, P. C. (1987). Comparative absorption of zinc picolinate, zinc citrate and zinc gluconate in humans. Agents and Actions, 21(1–2), 223–228.
- Li, J., Cao, D., Huang, Y., Chen, B., Chen, Z., Wang, R., … Liu, L. (2022). Zinc Intakes and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 798078.