Usual Adult Dose for Dietary Supplement

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)-expressed as elemental zinc:
19 years and older:
Male: 11 mg (Upper intake limit: 34 mg)
Female: 9 mg (Upper intake limit: 34 mg)
Pregnancy: 11 mg (Upper intake limit: 40 mg)
Lactation: 12 mg (Upper intake limit: 40 mg)

Zinc sulfate injection: IV:
Metabolically stable adults receiving TPN: 2.5 to 4 mg zinc/day
Acute catabolic states on TPN: Additional 2 mg zinc per day is recommended.
Stable adult with fluid loss from the small bowel: Additional 12.2 mg zinc/liter of small bowel fluid lost, or an additional 17.1 mg zinc/kg of stool or ileostomy output is recommended.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Dietary Supplement

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)-expressed as elemental zinc:
0 to 6 months:
Male: 2 mg (Upper intake limit: 4 mg)
Female: 2 mg (Upper intake limit: 4 mg)
7 to 12 months:
Male: 3 mg (Upper intake limit: 5 mg)
Female: 3 mg (Upper intake limit: 5 mg)

1 to 3 years:
Male: 3 mg (Upper intake limit: 7 mg)
Female: 3 mg (Upper intake limit: 7 mg)

4 to 8 years:
Male: 5 mg (Upper intake limit: 12 mg)
Female: 5 mg (Upper intake limit: 12 mg)

9 to 13 years:
Male: 8 mg (Upper intake limit: 23 mg)
Female: 8 mg (Upper intake limit: 23 mg)

14 to 18 years:
Male: 11 mg (Upper intake limit: 34 mg)
Female: 9 mg (Upper intake limit: 34 mg)
Pregnancy: 12 mg (Upper intake limit: 40 mg)
Lactation: 13 mg (Upper intake limit: 40 mg)

Zinc sulfate injection: IV:
Full term infants and children up to 5 years of age: 100 mcg zinc/kg/day is recommended.
Premature infants (birth weight less than 1500 g) up to 3 kg in body weight: 300 mcg zinc/kg/day is recommended.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Zinc sulfate may be taken with food if stomach upset occurs.

Quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics should be taken 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking zinc.

Zinc can reduce the absorption and action of penicillamine. Zinc supplements should be taken at least 2 hours before or after taking penicillamine.

Thiazide diuretics increase urinary zinc excretion by as much as 60%. Prolonged use of thiazide diuretics could deplete zinc tissue levels, so healthcare providers should monitor zinc status in patients taking these medications.

Frequent monitoring of zinc blood levels is recommended for TPN patients receiving more than the usual maintenance dosage level of zinc.

Frequently asked questions

• What are the best zinc-rich foods to eat?