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Best Vegan Zinc Supplements
Review and Buyers Guide
Edited by: Isabel Stewart , Last updated: November 29, 2020
One of the most essential nutrients needed to master a plant-based diet and one that all vegans and vegetarians should pay attention to since it’s vital for optimal health and required for the activity of over 300 enzymes in our body.
The health benefits of zinc are numerous, from preventing inflammation, through to giving your immune system a positive boost to help fight off common colds.
The bioavailability of zinc from plant-based foods is typically less than meat alternatives.
Fortunately for us, most zinc issues can be overcome with correct food preparation and a highly absorbable plant-based zinc supplement to make up for any diet inefficiencies.
But knowing which ones are worth your hard-earned money and which ones aren’t even worth your time can be annoying just thinking about it.
In this article, we’ll explain:
- Why zinc matters to vegans
- breakdown precisely what to look for when choosing a quality vegan zinc supplement
- and provide the best zinc supplements that can help keep a plant-based diet nutritionally balanced for the long run.
Best vegan zinc supplements at a glance:
- Editors Choice: Benevolent liquid Zinc
- Best high strength vegan zinc supplement: Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Zinc
- Best vegan zinc immunity support: BioSchwartz Immunity boost supplement
- Best value zinc supplement: Good State – Ionic Liquid Zinc
- Best vegan zinc for fitness enthusiasts: Thorne Research Zinc Picolinate
- Best Vegan Zinc Supplements
- Best vegan zinc supplements at a glance:
- Top 5 Vegan Zinc Supplements (In-Depth Reviews)
- 1. Benevolent liquid Zinc – Editor's Choice
- 2. Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Zinc – Best high strength vegan zinc
- 3. BioSchwartz Immunity boost supplement – Best vegan Zinc for immune system support
- 4. Good State – Ionic Liquid Zinc- Best Value zinc supplement
- 5. Thorne Research Zinc Picolinate – Best Vegan Zinc for fitness enthusiasts
- Vegan Zinc Supplement Buyers Guide
- Frequently asked questions
- Want to learn more?
Top 5 Vegan Zinc Supplements (In-Depth Reviews)
1. Benevolent liquid Zinc – Editor’s Choice
FEATURES:
Number of servings: 24
Serving size: 15 mg
Free from:Alcohol, Gluten, Non-GMO
Extra nutrients: Elderberry, Echinacea, Umckalaobo Root, Augustifolia Root, Stevia Leaf extract
REVIEW SCORE:
94/100
Benevolent liquid provides a 15mg zinc per serving per day, helping you reach the RDA without consuming excessive amounts. The primary form of zinc used is Zinc picolinate, which research has shown is the best form for high absorption. Some brands choose to use zinc oxide as a base, but this form is not absorbed as efficiently. Benevolent liquids’ decision to use picolinate means it will outperform any zinc oxide alternative providing you with better value for money overall.
Notable extras:
Organic elderberry fruit: Good for improving antioxidant status and is known to have anti-inflammatory effects
umckaloabo root: Known to be good for helping to fight infection and bacteria
organic echinacea: supports healthy immune function
It comes in an elderberry and blackberry flavor, which we found quite pleasant, and users overall were pleased with the taste.
Overall, with a highly absorbable serving that safely hits your RDA, and the added benefit of being able to blend it with your favorite smoothies, makes Benevolent liquids zinc our number one vegan liquid zinc supplement.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
2. Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Zinc – Best high strength vegan zinc
FEATURES:
Number of servings: 30
Serving size: 30 mg
Free from: Gluten, Non-GMO, Vegan Friendly
Extra nutrients:Vitamin C, Raw Probiotic & Enzymes Blend, Mineral Blend, Raw Fruit & Vegetable Blend
REVIEW SCORE:
93/100
The Garden of life vitamin code raw provides the highest zinc serving per day at 30mg. The high strength serving makes this a brilliant choice for vegans who struggle to get enough in their diet. At 30mg per serving, it’s significantly higher than the RDA of 10g but still falls under the upper intake limit of 40mg per day. For the majority of vegans who only need a normal serving size, benevolent liquids zinc is a great alternative.
Notable extras:
- vitamin c (60mg): Provides 100% of your RDA. Useful for supporting your immune system, great for skin and heart health plus can aid in reducing inflammation.
The garden of life zinc supplement uses a mix of 3 beneficial blends which are great for boosting a wide range of minerals and vitamins alongside zinc.
- Organic fruit and veg blend: Consisting of 17 organic foods from apple and beets to kale and cucumber. Great for boosting overall vitamin intake as well as eye, skin, and prostate health.
- Trace mineral blend: Made from algae, significantly increasing healthy mineral intake
- Probiotic and enzyme blend: great for enhancing the digestive system and nutrient absorption
Overall, vitamin code raw stands out from the other supplements due to its unique blend of essential nutrients that are fundamental on a vegan diet. The three unique plant-based health blends, coupled with a sufficient zinc intake to safely hit your zinc needs, make Vitamin code raw zinc our number one high strength zinc supplement for vegans.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
3. BioSchwartz Immunity boost supplement – Best vegan Zinc for immune system support
FEATURES:
Number of servings: 30
Serving size: 15mg
Free from: Manufactured without GMOS soy, gluten, milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, or shellfish. Free from preservatives, artificial ingredients, fillers, chemicals or color additives.
REVIEW SCORE:
96/100
BioSchwarts’ product is promoted as an overall immunity booster that may help relieve stress and support a healthy respiratory system.. The formula contains a healthy mix of minerals and vitamins alongside zinc that are known to enhance the efficiency and strength of your immune system. Each serving of BioSchwartz Immunity booster provides 15mg of zinc, 1000mg of vitamin C, and 9000mcg of vitamin A helping you boost your plant-based zinc needs with beneficial nutrient cofactors.
We were pleased to see a dosage that didn’t massively exceed the RDA like other companies tend to do, and the range this fits in makes it great for both men and women. The main form of zinc in this supplement is zinc citrate, which has better absorbability than zinc oxide and matches the absorbability of zinc gluconate.
Notable extras
- Vitamin C: Good for supporting your immune system, skin, and hair health, reduce inflammation
- Echinacea extract: Good for healthy immune system functionality
- Elderberry extract: Good for improving antioxidant status and is known to have anti-inflammatory effects
Overall, the BioSchwarts immunity booster hits the perfect balance between serving size, clean ingredients, absorbability and beneficial supported nutrients making this our top plant-based supplement choice for a vegan zinc immunity boost.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
4. Good State – Ionic Liquid Zinc– Best Value zinc supplement
FEATURES:
Number of servings: 100
Serving size: 15mg
Free from: Gluten, Artificial Preservative Colors & Flavors, Non-GMO
REVIEW SCORE:
94/100
The Good State liquid brand provides 15mg of zinc sulfate per serving, which easily hit the RDA, allowing you to reach your daily target by simply adding the drops to water.
The taste may not be for everyone, but luckily the liquid form allows you to discreetly add it to your favorite shake or smoothie without a noticeable change in flavor. The versatility of liquid zinc makes Good State’s supplement an excellent choice for vegans who prefer not to take tablets.
Good State’s supplement comes in the form of zinc sulfate, which sits in the middle for absorbability. Not quite as good as zinc picolinate but better than zinc oxide. Research also suggests zinc sulfate is good for skin issues like acne.
Good state liquid has the most straightforward ingredients list with only zinc sulfate and ultra-pure water. This is great for those who only want to focus on increasing zinc while getting everything else that they need from a healthy balanced diet.
What really makes Good State stand out is the value for money. You get 100 servings per bottle, with each serving being efficient enough to hit your recommended daily amount. This overall means good state provides the lowest cost per serving, making this our best value for money vegan zinc supplement.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
5. Thorne Research Zinc Picolinate – Best Vegan Zinc for fitness enthusiasts
FEATURES:
Number of servings: 60
Serving size: 15mg
Free from: Gluten, Eggs, Trees, Nuts, Peanuts, Dairy, Yeast, Soy, Fish, Shellfish
REVIEW SCORE:
94/100
Thorne Research provides a healthy dose of zinc at 15mg per serving. This moderate serving size safely achieves the RDA, unlike some alternative brands that offer an extremely high dosage without an explicit reason.
One of the great things about Thorne’s supplement is the zinc used, which is zinc picolinate. Studies have shown that this is the most well-absorbed form of zinc available, which means that your money will stretch further when consuming this form over others with lower absorbability.
Notable info:
- NSF certified for sport
- gluten, dairy, soy, nut, and BPA free
Thorne researches product provides precisely what any health-conscious vegan would need in a zinc supplement without any unnecessary fluff ingredients. Thorne covers your recommended daily amount in the most highly absorbable form while also being certified for sport by the NSF. The combination of respected sport certification and exceptional zinc absorbability makes this the best zinc supplement for the fitness focussed vegan.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
Vegan Zinc Supplement Buyers Guide
Which form of zinc is best absorbed?
The general takeaway is that the forms of zinc that are the most effective are the ones that are soluble in water. The insoluble forms zinc carbonate and zinc oxide are the hardest for us to absorb. Zinc picolinate and zinc bisglycinate tend to have the highest absorption rate based on the research, closely followed by zinc gluconate, acetate, and citrate, which have medium levels of absorption.
What do we look for in a quality vegan zinc supplement
A great way for any vegan to overcome any potential deficiencies is to use high-quality plant-based zinc supplements alongside a balanced diet.
There are some key things that we look for when reviewing and deciding how good a vegan zinc supplement actually is, and we only picked the products that scored highly in the core criteria.
How much zinc do you get per serving, and does it meet the RDA?
For all our top picks, we ensured the zinc amount per serving hit the recommended daily levels of 8-11mg, at a minimum.
We also followed the advice given by the national academies of science, engineering, and medicine, stating, “vegans and vegetarians should consume 1.5-2x the normal recommended amount.
For optimal health, we made sure that none of our recommended supplements exceeded the upper intake limit of 40mg.
You will tend to find many supplements providing a much higher dosage than the RDA with some ranging from 50-100mg which can potentially cause zinc toxicity if not managed right
If you decide to pick a supplement that exceeds the upper intake limit, please consult your doctor first
What form of zinc is contained in the supplement?
The main forms we want to see in high-quality zinc supplements are zinc picolinate and zinc bisglycinate due to their high absorbability
Other decent alternatives that may be cheaper but still well absorbed are zinc gluconate, acetate, and citrate
The primary forms we tried to avoid were zinc oxide and zinc carbonate since they are insoluble and have lower absorption.
Yeast, Corn, Soy, and Gluten-free + unwanted additives
For those with a sensitive digestive system or allergies, it’s important to avoid yeast corn gluten and sometimes soy.
The best vegan zinc supplements will have the least additives as possible.
What we are looking for is clean ingredients with a small ingredients list. Some companies may add extra ingredients to “fill” out their formula, but for anyone looking to keep their body as healthy as possible with little to no digestive issues, a minimal ingredient list is the way to go.
Some exceptions to this rule are if the company has created an organic fruit and vegetable blend with cofactors that complement the zinc.
Cofactors that aid in zinc health.
Amino acids
- Protein can help with overall zinc absorption so supplements that have added amino acids may have an overall higher level of zinc absorbed, therefore, providing higher value.
Vitamin C
- Vitamin C and Zinc have both been shown to have properties that aid with the zinc absorption so a supplement that uses both in combination may have a better effect at boosting immune system health
Vegan friendly?
Always lookout for a vegan label on the product to ensure that the supplements come from plant sources and do not contain any animal products. The main things vegans need to watch out for in this regard are Gelatin in the casing.
Value
When researching a key thing we analyze is how many servings you get per bottle then compare this with the price of the product. The number of servings divided by the price will allow you to determine which products provide the best value for money.
The second thing to pay attention to is whether the company offers a return or guarantee with the purchase. You can always feel more confident in your purchase if they provide a way for you to return your products if you’re not satisfied.
Frequently asked questions
Want to learn more?
For a more in-depth look into zinc in the vegan diet check out our ultimate vegan zinc guide, and the best vegan sources of zinc giving you all the knowledge, food tips, and research you need to help master zinc on a plant-based diet.