Supplement Label Index

Zinc Gluconate vs. Zinc Amino Acid Chelate

Among 8,549 on-market zinc products with an identifiable primary form, 15.1% use Zinc Gluconate (1,289 products) and 8.1% use Zinc Amino Acid Chelate (695).

Zinc GluconateZinc Amino Acid Chelate
Quality tierTier 2Tier 2
Zinc by weight14.3%
Share of market15.1%8.1%
On-market products1,289695
Median declared dose7.5 elemental mg
middle half: 3–15
12.5 elemental mg
middle half: 7–15
Most common brandsDC, Wonder Laboratories, Nature's WayDouglas Laboratories, NATURELO Premium Supplements, NOW

Doses are declared per serving in elemental mg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).

Why Zinc Gluconate is tier 2

Absorption 60.9%, statistically comparable to citrate, both significantly better than oxide.

Source: Wegmuller R et al. 2014, PMID 24259556

Why Zinc Amino Acid Chelate is tier 2

No specific human isotope-absorption study for the generic category (distinct from bisglycinate specifically).

Source: uncertain -- needs review

Tiers summarize published comparative bioavailability or outcome evidence for each form (see methodology). This page describes the market; it is not a recommendation to take either form. Talk to a clinician about what's right for you.

Other zinc comparisons