What is the difference between Zinc Gluconate and Zinc Sulfate?

Both have high absorption and low cost. Choose zinc gluconate when you want a well-studied, cheap, well-absorbed salt; choose zinc sulfate when a clinician prescribes it for documented deficiency.

Form Comparison

Zinc Gluconate vs Zinc Sulfate

How zinc gluconate and zinc sulfate differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Both are soluble salts that release ionic zinc and absorb well. Sulfate is the form in much of the clinical deficiency literature and in WHO zinc treatment for childhood diarrhea, but it causes more nausea and metallic taste. Choose sulfate when a clinician prescribes it for documented deficiency, and gluconate for self-directed supplementation or lozenges.

Side by Side

	Zinc Gluconate	Zinc Sulfate
Elemental content	14.3% elemental zinc	23% elemental zinc
Absorption	High	High
How it is absorbed	Soluble salt releasing ionic zinc, absorbed in the small intestine via ZIP4 transporters. Fractional absorption matched zinc citrate and exceeded oxide in Wegmuller 2014.	Soluble inorganic salt releasing ionic zinc.
Typical dose	15-30 mg elemental zinc daily	220 mg compound (about 50 mg elemental zinc) in prescription use
Common uses	general supplementation, cold lozenges	clinical zinc deficiency, WHO oral zinc for childhood diarrhea
Side effects	Nausea on an empty stomach.	More nausea and metallic taste than organic salts.
Cost	Low	Low
Also called	None	None
Labels in index	476	141

When to Choose Zinc Gluconate

Choose zinc gluconate when you want a well-studied, cheap, well-absorbed salt. One of the two salts used in cold lozenge trials.

Zinc Gluconate

Choose zinc gluconate when you want a well-studied, cheap, well-absorbed salt.

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

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

When to Choose Zinc Sulfate

Choose zinc sulfate when a clinician prescribes it for documented deficiency. The form used in much of the clinical deficiency literature.

Zinc Sulfate

Choose zinc sulfate when a clinician prescribes it for documented deficiency.

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

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

Products on Titrate

In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 476 labels named as zinc products list zinc gluconate and 141 list zinc sulfate.

Open supplement search

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.