Zinc (ZN) | LabsVault

What is Zinc?

Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in over 300 enzyme reactions. It’s crucial for immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and proper growth and development. Zinc also supports taste and smell sensation.

Why is it Tested?

Doctors order zinc levels to evaluate immune dysfunction, slow wound healing, hair loss, or taste and smell disorders. It’s also checked in patients with malabsorption conditions, chronic diarrhea, or those following restrictive diets that may limit zinc intake.

Normal Ranges

Reference ranges vary by lab. General adult guidelines:

Adults: 60–120 μg/dL

Serum zinc has limitations as it represents only about 0.1% of total body zinc. Levels can be affected by stress, infection, or recent food intake, making interpretation sometimes challenging.

Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.

What do Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Low Zinc

Deficiency may indicate:

Inadequate dietary intake (vegetarian diets, processed foods)
Malabsorption disorders (Crohn’s disease, celiac disease)
Chronic kidney or liver disease
Excessive alcohol consumption
Certain medications (diuretics, antibiotics)

High Zinc

Elevated levels may result from:

Excessive supplementation
Contaminated food or water
Industrial exposure
Recent intake of zinc-containing products

How to Track Over Time

Zinc levels can fluctuate with illness, stress, and dietary changes. Consistent timing relative to meals and supplementation helps track meaningful trends. Zinc deficiency often develops gradually, so serial monitoring is more informative than single measurements.

Zinc