Thorne Zinc Picolinate review: a simple 15 mg zinc capsule from a trusted clinical brand

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Click here to buy

Zinc is one of those minerals you don't think about until a doctor or a friend mentions it. Then you go shopping and find two hundred options. Here's one I keep seeing recommended, and for good reason.

Thorne Zinc Picolinate is about as minimal as a supplement gets. One capsule. One mineral. 15 mg.

Why zinc matters

Your body uses zinc in a huge number of everyday jobs. It's involved in immune function, skin repair, taste and smell, and the production of hormones, including testosterone. You can't store much of it, so you need a steady supply from food or supplements.

Oysters, red meat, pumpkin seeds and beans are good sources. But plenty of people, vegetarians especially, come up a little short.

Thorne lists a few areas it designed this product to support:

• General wellness and immune health

• Healthy skin, connective tissue and eyes

• Reproductive health and normal testosterone production

• A balanced response to oxidative stress

What "picolinate" means here

Zinc on its own doesn't sit in a capsule. It's always bound to something, and that partner affects how well you absorb it. Picolinate is zinc bonded to picolinic acid, a form Thorne calls well researched and highly absorbable.

I like that Thorne went with a moderate 15 mg. A lot of zinc products push 50 mg, which is more than most people need day to day. The adult daily value is 11 mg, so this lands right in a comfortable range.

What else is in the capsule

Very little. Microcrystalline cellulose, a cellulose capsule, leucine and silicon dioxide. Those are standard capsule helpers. No colors, no flavors.

A quick everyday example: if you notice that small cuts seem slow to heal, or your diet is mostly plants and grains, zinc is often one of the first nutrients people look at. A blood test can tell you more, and it's an easy thing to ask about at your next checkup.

The Thorne reputation

Thorne has a following with doctors and athletes. The company says it's trusted by more than 100 professional sports teams, and this product is third-party tested and certified to confirm that what's in the bottle matches the label.

Thorne also tends to keep its formulas plain on purpose. You won't find a proprietary blend or a long list of extras that dilute the main ingredient. For a mineral supplement, that's exactly what I want. If you're trying to figure out whether zinc helps you, it's much easier to tell when zinc is the only thing you've added.

That kind of checking matters with minerals, where you want the dose to be exactly what it says. It's a big part of why Thorne Zinc Picolinate holds 4.8 stars from over 6,000 Amazon shoppers.

Taking it

One capsule a day. It's a small capsule, so it's easy to swallow even for people who usually struggle with pills. Some people find zinc a little rough on an empty stomach, so if you feel queasy, take it with a meal. That usually fixes it.

A 60 capsule bottle was listed at $15.00 when I checked, which gives you two months. There's also a larger 30 mg version if your doctor suggests a higher dose, though most people will be happy right here.

A couple of sensible tips. Taking zinc for many months at a time can lower your copper levels, so if you plan to stay on it long term, ask your doctor whether a copper check makes sense. And zinc can interfere with some antibiotics, like tetracyclines and quinolones, so space them a few hours apart and talk to your pharmacist. If you're pregnant or nursing, check with your provider first.

Worth a spot on your shelf

If you've been told to add zinc, or you just know your diet runs light on it, this is a calm, no-fuss way to do it. Good form, sensible dose, clean label. Have a look at Thorne Zinc Picolinate and see if it fits.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here to buy