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ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS › OTHER MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS › Zinc
zinc gluconate
A12CB02
Forms & Strengths
- Oral tablets: 10 mg, 15 mg, 50 mg elemental zinc
- Oral lozenges: 5 mg, 10 mg, 23 mg elemental zinc
- Oral syrup: 15 mg/5 mL
Adult Dosing
- Zinc deficiency: 15 to 50 mg elemental zinc daily orally
- Common cold (lozenges): 10 to 23 mg every 2 hours while awake, starting at symptom onset
Pediatric Dosing
- Zinc deficiency (infants/children): 1 mg/kg/day orally in divided doses
- Acute diarrhea (WHO guideline for children >6 months): 20 mg elemental zinc daily orally for 10-14 days (10 mg for infants <6 months)
Indications
- Treatment and prevention of zinc deficiency
- Adjunctive treatment of acute childhood diarrhea
- Reduction of common cold symptom duration and severity (lozenge formulation)
Mechanism of Action
- Acts as an essential cofactor for numerous enzymatic reactions including DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, and carbonic anhydrase
- Supports immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, and cellular division
- Lozenges may exert a direct local antiviral effect in the pharyngeal mucosa
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to zinc gluconate or any formulation components
- Acute renal failure where excretion is severely impaired
Adverse Reactions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Epigastric pain and dyspepsia
- Diarrhea
- Copper deficiency with chronic high-dose use (leading to sideroblastic anemia and neutropenia)
- Bad taste in the mouth (associated with lozenges)
Drug Interactions
- Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics: decreased antibiotic absorption due to chelation
- Penicillamine: reduced absorption and efficacy of penicillamine
- Iron supplements: concurrent high-dose iron can decrease zinc absorption
- Thiazide diuretics: increased urinary excretion of zinc
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use