Zinc BisglycinateBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Zinc bisglycinate (zinc chelated to two glycine molecules) is a supplemental form of zinc chosen for absorption and tolerability. Research on Zinc Bisglycinate focuses on immune function, tissue recovery, and cognition and mood. It is typically taken with a meal.
Researched by DoseRoutine R&D TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSELast updated
2 human randomized trials published.
Quick answer
Zinc bisglycinate (zinc chelated to two glycine molecules) is a supplemental form of zinc chosen for absorption and tolerability. Chelation lets it bypass some of the competition and phytate binding that limits ionic salts like zinc oxide, and comparison studies generally show higher plasma zinc responses and less nausea than oxide or sulfate. The adult RDA is 8–11 mg of elemental zinc daily, and the tolerable upper intake level is 40 mg from all sources combined.
- Form
- Zinc chelated to two glycine molecules (bisglycinate)
- Why it is used
- Higher absorption and less stomach upset than zinc oxide
- Adult RDA
- 8 mg/day for women, 11 mg/day for men (elemental zinc)
- Upper limit
- 40 mg/day elemental zinc from all sources (US UL)
- Best taken
- With food if nausea occurs; away from high-phytate meals
- Key interactions
- Copper, iron, calcium, tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics
Compiled by DoseRoutine from public sources including NIH/MedlinePlus, the FDA label, Mayo Clinic and PubChem. Educational information, not medical advice.
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
- Reported amounts
- Human trials of zinc glycinate (zinc bisglycinate) used doses of 15 mg elemental zinc per day in children and 60 mg elemental zinc per day in the adult-women comparison study; the narrative review covers a broader range of studied chemical forms[1][2][3]
- Cycle length
- 6 weeks in the adult plasma-zinc comparison; 3 months in the pediatric cold-prevention trial[1][2][3]
Reported for Zinc Bisglycinate in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the Zinc Bisglycinate entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]Comparative Absorption and Bioavailability of Various Chemical Forms of Zinc in Humans: A Narrative ReviewDevarshi PP, Mao Q, Grant RW, Hazels Mitmesser S · Nutrients · 2024 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 39770891
- [2]Moderately High Dose Zinc Gluconate or Zinc Glycinate: Effects on Plasma Zinc and Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase Activities in Young Adult WomenDiSilvestro RA, Koch E, Rakes L · Biological Trace Element Research · 2015 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 25877802
- [3]A randomized controlled trial of chelated zinc for prevention of the common cold in Thai school childrenRerksuppaphol S, Rerksuppaphol L · Paediatrics and International Child Health · 2013 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 23930726
How to track Zinc Bisglycinate doses
Tracking Zinc Bisglycinate well takes four fields and a habit. Here is what to record so the log is still useful in three months.
- 1
Add the dose and unit
Log Zinc Bisglycinate with its dose in mg so totals stay comparable over time — including days when you split the dose or skip it.
- 2
Set the time of day and food rule
Typical timing is with_meal. Take it with food, and record it that way so absorption stays consistent. Reminders fire at that time and can export to your calendar.
- 3
Check it against the rest of the stack
Run Zinc Bisglycinate through the interaction checker against everything else in the routine — supplements, peptides, hormones and prescriptions — before it becomes a daily habit.
- 4
Log adherence, not intentions
Mark each dose taken, skipped or delayed as it happens. Weeks of honest logs are what make an adherence rate or a trend line meaningful; retrospective guessing is not.
- 5
Review against outcomes
Review Zinc Bisglycinate alongside your logged metrics and any relevant blood work every few weeks before changing the dose, so the change is a response to data rather than to a good or bad day.
What to log each time
- Dose in mg
- Time of day and whether it was taken with food
- Taken / skipped / delayed
- Any side effects or notable changes
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Zinc Bisglycinate dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Zinc Bisglycinate studied for?
What is Zinc Bisglycinate?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What does the research say about Zinc Bisglycinate?
Tap a section to expand.
Source for this section: Sources for How does Zinc Bisglycinate work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Zinc Bisglycinate?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What interacts with Zinc Bisglycinate?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levothyroxine | Caution | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Divalent cations chelate levothyroxine in the gut and reduce absorption by up to 30%.Source pending | Take levothyroxine on empty stomach; separate mineral supplements by at least 4 hours.Suggested separation: 4 h |
Frequently asked questions about Zinc Bisglycinate
Which studies looked at Zinc Bisglycinate?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Efficacy of zinc supplementation in the management of acute diarrhoea: a randomised controlled trial(opens PubMed in a new tab)Paediatr Int Child Health · 2020 · PMID 31578136 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31578136/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 151910(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/151910
Verify at
Publisher search links for Zinc Bisglycinate. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- Cochrane Library(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Cochrane · publisher search
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- MedlinePlus(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DailyMed labeling archive(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Zinc Bisglycinate?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Zinc bisglycinate (zinc chelated to two glycine molecules) is a supplemental form of zinc chosen for absorption and tolerability. Research on Zinc Bisglycinate focuses on immune function, tissue recovery, and cognition and mood. It is typically taken with a meal.
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Zinc Bisglycinate — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/zinc-bisglycinate
What compounds are similar to Zinc Bisglycinate?
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