Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc
For the health condition: Antibiotics (alternatives to)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Zinc has been studied for its role in supporting the immune system and potentially acting as an adjunct to antibiotics, but not as a direct alternative to antibiotics. The mineral is essential for normal immune function, and deficiency in zinc can impair the body's ability to fight infections. Several clinical trials have shown that zinc supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of certain infections, particularly in children with diarrhea or pneumonia, where it is recommended by the World Health Organization as part of standard treatment. However, zinc itself does not possess strong direct antibacterial properties comparable to antibiotics; rather, it may enhance the body's immune response and help prevent secondary infections. Some laboratory studies suggest that zinc ions can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in vitro, but these concentrations are not typically achievable through dietary supplementation in humans. Overall, while zinc supplementation can support recovery from infection and potentially enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics in specific contexts, it should not be regarded as a standalone alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. The evidence supporting its use as an adjunct therapy is moderate (hence the evidence rating of 3), with strongest support in pediatric populations and certain regions where zinc deficiency is common.

More about zinc
More about Antibiotics (alternatives to)

Other health conditions supported by zinc

Acne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Abrasions

Products containing zinc

Designs For Health Acnutrol™ capsules
Vitabase Active Man's Formula
Vitabase Active Woman's Multi
Metagenics AdvaClear
Metagenics AdvaClear
Thorne Advanced Nutrients Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations AntiOxidant Formula
Designs For Health ArthroSoothe™
Metagenics Axis Endo™ Mango
Douglas Laboratories Basic Minerals ™
Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day Multivitamin
Thorne Basic Prenatal Multivitamin
Designs For Health BioFizz® Immune
Vitabase Blood Sugar Formula
Metagenics Bone Builder Active
Metagenics Bone Builder Chewable Chocolate
Douglas Laboratories C-D-Zinc
Pure Encapsulations CAL+ with Ipriflavone
Pure Encapsulations CAL+ with Ipriflavone
Thorne Catalyte
Metagenics ChondroCare®
Designs For Health Chromium Synergy™
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change Daily Essentials
Integrative Therapeutics Clinical Nutrients HP
Metagenics Collagenics®
Designs For Health Complete Mineral Complex
Pure Encapsulations Daily Immune
Designs For Health Detox Antiox™
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Designs For Health Detoxification Support Packets
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™ with Copper
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™ with Copper & Iron
Pure Encapsulations DopaPlus
Integrative Therapeutics EHB
Designs For Health ElectroPure Hydration™
Designs For Health EndoTrim™
Pure Encapsulations Energize Plus™ Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations EyeProtect Basics
Metagenics Fem Prenatal®
Designs For Health GastroMend-HP™
Designs For Health GastroMend-HP™
Designs For Health GI Revive®
Designs For Health GI Revive®
Metagenics GI Sustain™ Powder
Pure Encapsulations GlucoFunction
Pure Encapsulations GlucoFunction
Integrative Therapeutics Glycemic Manager
Douglas Laboratories Hair Growth+
Douglas Laboratories Hair, Skin and Nails Plus
Vitabase Hair, Skin & Nails Formula
Pure Encapsulations Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra
Integrative Therapeutics Heartburn Advantage
Metagenics HerSynergy®
Pure Encapsulations HM Complex
Pure Encapsulations HM Complex
Douglas Laboratories Hydrolyzed Collagen+
Metagenics ImmuCore
Metagenics Immune Active
Metagenics Immune Defense Pack
Designs For Health Immuno-Zn™ Lozenge
Integrative Therapeutics K-PAX MitoNutrients
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Chocolate
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Vanilla
Klean Athlete Klean Multivitamin ™
Vitabase Life's Essentials Plus
Douglas Laboratories Liquid Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations Liquid Zinc 15 mg
Pure Encapsulations LiquiNutrients
Thorne MediClear Plus
Thorne Men's Multi 50+
Designs For Health Metabolic Synergy™
Designs For Health Metabolic Synergy™
Metagenics MetaGlycemX™
Metagenics MetaGlycemX
Metagenics MetaKids Multi Soft Chew Grape
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Metagenics MethylCare
Pure Encapsulations Mineral 650
Pure Encapsulations Mineral 650 without Cu &Fe
Pure Encapsulations Multi t/d
Pure Encapsulations Multi t/d
Thorne Multi-Vitamin Elite NSF
Thorne Multi-Vitamin Elite NSF
Metagenics Multigenics®
Metagenics Multigenics Chewable Orange
Metagenics Multigenics Intensive Care
Metagenics Multigenics Intensive Care without Iron
Metagenics Multigenics without Iron
Integrative Therapeutics Multiplex-1 No-Iron
Pure Encapsulations NeuroMood Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations NeuroPure
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® A without Copper & Iron
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® with NAC
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® with Vitamin K
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Copper, Iron & Iodine
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Iron
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950® without Iron
Integrative Therapeutics Nutrivitamin No-Iron
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Designs For Health OcuForce™
Douglas Laboratories Opti-Zinc 30
Pure Encapsulations OsteoBalance
Pure Encapsulations OsteoBalance
Designs For Health Osteoben®
Designs For Health OsteoForce™
Designs For Health OsteoForce™
Designs For Health OsteoForce™ Supreme
Integrative Therapeutics Osteoprime Ultra
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™ Detox Program
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™Chocolate Detox Kit
Designs For Health PaleoMeal®
Designs For Health PaleoMeal®
Pure Encapsulations Peptic-Care ZC Zinc-L-Carnosine
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Dextrose Free
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Kit
Metagenics PhytoMulti™ Multivitamin
Metagenics PhytoMulti With Iron
Metagenics PhytoMulti Without Iron
Metagenics PhytoMultivitamin
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse Plus™ 570g
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal Plus
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal
Metagenics PlusOne® Daily Prenatal Packs
Pure Encapsulations Polyphenol Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations Polyphenol Nutrients
Douglas Laboratories Prenatal
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Designs For Health Prenatal Pro™
Designs For Health Primal Multi™
Vitabase Prostate Complex (Formerly Prostate Complete)
Vitabase Prostate Support
Designs For Health Prostate Supreme™
Designs For Health Prostate Supreme™
Integrative Therapeutics ProThrivers Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureDefense
Pure Encapsulations PureDefense with NAC
Pure Encapsulations PureDefense with NAC
Pure Encapsulations PureGenomics® Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureGenomics® UltraMultivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureLean® Protein
Pure Encapsulations PurePals
Pure Encapsulations PurePals with Iron
Pure Encapsulations PureResponse™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations SeroPlus
Pure Encapsulations SP Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations SP Ultimate
Thorne Stress Balance Phytisone
Vitabase Super Antioxidant Formula
Integrative Therapeutics Testosterone Formula
Metagenics Testralin®
Pure Encapsulations Th1 Support
Thorne Thyrocsin
Pure Encapsulations Thyroid Support Complex
Designs For Health Thyroid Synergy™
Metagenics Thyrosol
Thorne Trace Minerals
Pure Encapsulations Trace Minerals
Designs For Health Twice Daily Essential Packets
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Designs For Health Twice Daily Multi™
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control® Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® 2 Daily
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive 50+ -EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ®-EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories ULTRA PREVENTIVE® III W/COPPER
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Grape Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Orange Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive One Daily
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive® X
Metagenics Ultra Prostagen Concentrated
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Protein Green
Pure Encapsulations Ultra Pure Pack
Metagenics UltraClear Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus® Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Chai
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations UltraDetox 10-Day Pure Pack
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish® Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360°® Chocolate/Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Original Spice
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein® Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein French Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein Plain
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360°® Pea/Rice Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360° Pea/Rice Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal® Daily Support Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Daily Support Mixed Berry
Metagenics UltraMeal Rice Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraZin Zinc
Douglas Laboratories Uro-Pro ®
Vitabase Vision Support
Pure Encapsulations VisionPro Nutrients
Designs For Health Vitamin B-6 Liquid
Designs For Health Weight Loss Support Packets
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Active Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials® Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Healthy Balance Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Men's Vitality Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Prime Daily Packs
Thorne Women's Multi 50+
Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients
Designs For Health Women's Twice Daily Essential Packets
Pure Encapsulations Zinc 15
Vitabase Zinc
Pure Encapsulations Zinc 30
Pure Encapsulations Zinc 30
Metagenics Zinc A.G.
Metagenics Zinc A.G.™
Thorne Zinc Bisglycinate 15mg
Thorne Zinc Bisglycinate 30 mg
Integrative Therapeutics Zinc-Carnosine
Integrative Therapeutics Zinc Chelate 30 mg
Pure Encapsulations Zinc Chewables
Pure Encapsulations Zinc Citrate
Pure Encapsulations Zinc Citrate
Douglas Laboratories ZINC LOZENGES
Douglas Laboratories Zinc Picolinate
Thorne Zinc Picolinate 15 mg
Thorne Zinc Picolinate 30 mg
Thorne Zinc Picolinate 30 mg NSF
Designs For Health Zinc Supreme™
Metagenics Zinlori 75®