What is the difference between Zinc Bisglycinate and Zinc Citrate?

Zinc bisglycinate has high absorption and moderate cost; zinc citrate has high absorption and low cost. Choose zinc bisglycinate when zinc salts cause nausea; choose zinc citrate when you want gluconate-level absorption with a smaller tablet.

Form Comparison

Zinc Bisglycinate vs Zinc Citrate

How zinc bisglycinate and zinc citrate differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Both are well absorbed. Citrate is cheaper, compact at 31% zinc, and has better published absorption data; bisglycinate tends to be gentler on an empty stomach and less affected by phytate-rich meals. Choose citrate by default and bisglycinate if zinc salts cause nausea.

Side by Side

	Zinc Bisglycinate	Zinc Citrate
Elemental content	Varies by product	31% elemental zinc
Absorption	High	High
How it is absorbed	Zinc chelated to glycine. Small human studies suggest absorption at least comparable to gluconate, with less sensitivity to phytate.	Ionic zinc from a soluble organic salt. Absorbed as well as gluconate and better than oxide in Wegmuller 2014.
Typical dose	15-30 mg elemental zinc daily	15-30 mg elemental zinc daily
Common uses	general supplementation, GI sensitivity	general supplementation, toothpaste and oral care
Side effects	Often better tolerated on an empty stomach than salts.	Nausea on an empty stomach.
Cost	Moderate	Low
Also called	zinc glycinate, zinc bisglycinate chelate	None
Labels in index	199	423

When to Choose Zinc Bisglycinate

Choose zinc bisglycinate when zinc salts cause nausea. Elemental content varies by manufacturer; use the panel value.

Zinc Bisglycinate

Choose zinc bisglycinate when zinc salts cause nausea.

What to look for: Zinc Bisglycinate named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.

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When to Choose Zinc Citrate

Choose zinc citrate when you want gluconate-level absorption with a smaller tablet. Higher elemental content and less metallic taste than gluconate.

Zinc Citrate

Absorbed as well as gluconate in a direct comparison, with twice the zinc per milligram of compound and less metallic taste.

What to look for: 15-25 mg elemental zinc per serving. Add 1-2 mg copper for long-term use above 25 mg.

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Products on Titrate

In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 199 labels named as zinc products list zinc bisglycinate and 423 list zinc citrate.

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Zinc does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

References

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

Barrie SA, et al. Comparative absorption of zinc picolinate, zinc citrate and zinc gluconate in humans. Agents Actions. 1987;21(1-2):223-228.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119(10):1417-1436.

Willis MS, et al. Zinc-induced copper deficiency: a report of three cases initially recognized on bone marrow examination. Am J Clin Pathol. 2005;123(1):125-131.

Nations SP, et al. Denture cream: an unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease. Neurology. 2008;71(9):639-643.

Wegmüller R, et al. Zinc absorption by young adults from supplemental zinc citrate is comparable with that from zinc gluconate and higher than from zinc oxide. J Nutr. 2014;144(2):132-136.

Hemilä H. Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage. JRSM Open. 2017;8(5):2054270417694291.