Part of
Nutritional health
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis throughout the body.
Zinc
Normal range
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
Zinc
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis throughout the body.
Zinc
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
Zinc
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis throughout the body.
Zinc
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
Zinc
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis throughout the body.
Zinc
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
9 – 20 umol/L
9 – 20 umol/L
Normal range
Zinc
Dr. Thiviya Sivakanthan
MBBS
The Trace Mineral for Immunity & Healing
The Trace Mineral for Immunity & Healing
The Trace Mineral for Immunity & Healing
Zinc is an essential trace element that your body needs in small amounts for vital functions including immune system health, wound healing, tissue repair, and proper growth and development. Your body cannot produce or store zinc, so you need regular intake from foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Blood zinc testing measures the amount of zinc circulating in your bloodstream, helping doctors detect both zinc deficiency and rare zinc overload conditions that can affect your health.
Zinc is one of your body's essential elements—involved in hundreds of enzyme reactions that keep your immune system strong, help wounds heal, support your sense of taste and smell, and maintain healthy growth. Most people get enough zinc through a balanced diet, but certain medical conditions, dietary patterns, or excessive supplementation can disrupt this balance.
Zinc is an essential trace element that your body needs in small amounts for vital functions including immune system health, wound healing, tissue repair, and proper growth and development. Your body cannot produce or store zinc, so you need regular intake from foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Blood zinc testing measures the amount of zinc circulating in your bloodstream, helping doctors detect both zinc deficiency and rare zinc overload conditions that can affect your health.
Zinc is one of your body's essential elements—involved in hundreds of enzyme reactions that keep your immune system strong, help wounds heal, support your sense of taste and smell, and maintain healthy growth. Most people get enough zinc through a balanced diet, but certain medical conditions, dietary patterns, or excessive supplementation can disrupt this balance.
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
Discover how both low and high zinc levels can affect your health, from deficiency-related immune problems and skin conditions to complications from excessive supplementation.
Read more
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
Learn about the various factors that can affect zinc levels, including diet, malabsorption conditions, medications, and rare genetic disorders.
Read more
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
Understand the approaches to managing zinc imbalances through dietary adjustments, treating underlying conditions, and appropriate supplementation.
Read more
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Decode your zinc test results and learn what different levels mean for your health, including when further investigation might be needed.
Read more
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
Normal zinc levels for adults typically range from 9-20 μmol/L. When your zinc levels are within this healthy range, it indicates that your body has adequate zinc to support normal immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, and cell division.
Low zinc levels indicate zinc deficiency, which can develop gradually and cause various health problems. Common symptoms include impaired immune function leading to frequent infections, poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rashes, loss of appetite, and altered sense of taste or smell.
In severe cases, zinc deficiency can lead to a condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica, characterised by the classic triad of skin inflammation around the body, diarrhoea, and hair loss. This can occur either as a rare inherited disorder affecting zinc absorption or as an acquired condition from severe dietary deficiency or malabsorption.
The skin changes in zinc deficiency can be quite distinctive, with red, scaling patches appearing around the mouth, nose, eyes, and nappy area in infants, as well as on the hands and feet. These skin lesions can become infected if left untreated, making early recognition and treatment important.
High zinc levels are uncommon but can occur with excessive supplementation. Very high zinc levels can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and headaches. Long-term excessive zinc intake can interfere with copper absorption, potentially leading to copper deficiency and anaemia.
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
Normal zinc levels for adults typically range from 9-20 μmol/L. When your zinc levels are within this healthy range, it indicates that your body has adequate zinc to support normal immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, and cell division.
Low zinc levels indicate zinc deficiency, which can develop gradually and cause various health problems. Common symptoms include impaired immune function leading to frequent infections, poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rashes, loss of appetite, and altered sense of taste or smell.
In severe cases, zinc deficiency can lead to a condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica, characterised by the classic triad of skin inflammation around the body, diarrhoea, and hair loss. This can occur either as a rare inherited disorder affecting zinc absorption or as an acquired condition from severe dietary deficiency or malabsorption.
The skin changes in zinc deficiency can be quite distinctive, with red, scaling patches appearing around the mouth, nose, eyes, and nappy area in infants, as well as on the hands and feet. These skin lesions can become infected if left untreated, making early recognition and treatment important.
High zinc levels are uncommon but can occur with excessive supplementation. Very high zinc levels can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and headaches. Long-term excessive zinc intake can interfere with copper absorption, potentially leading to copper deficiency and anaemia.
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
Normal zinc levels for adults typically range from 9-20 μmol/L. When your zinc levels are within this healthy range, it indicates that your body has adequate zinc to support normal immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, and cell division.
Low zinc levels indicate zinc deficiency, which can develop gradually and cause various health problems. Common symptoms include impaired immune function leading to frequent infections, poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rashes, loss of appetite, and altered sense of taste or smell.
In severe cases, zinc deficiency can lead to a condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica, characterised by the classic triad of skin inflammation around the body, diarrhoea, and hair loss. This can occur either as a rare inherited disorder affecting zinc absorption or as an acquired condition from severe dietary deficiency or malabsorption.
The skin changes in zinc deficiency can be quite distinctive, with red, scaling patches appearing around the mouth, nose, eyes, and nappy area in infants, as well as on the hands and feet. These skin lesions can become infected if left untreated, making early recognition and treatment important.
High zinc levels are uncommon but can occur with excessive supplementation. Very high zinc levels can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and headaches. Long-term excessive zinc intake can interfere with copper absorption, potentially leading to copper deficiency and anaemia.
When Zinc Levels Fall Out of Balance
Normal zinc levels for adults typically range from 9-20 μmol/L. When your zinc levels are within this healthy range, it indicates that your body has adequate zinc to support normal immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, and cell division.
Low zinc levels indicate zinc deficiency, which can develop gradually and cause various health problems. Common symptoms include impaired immune function leading to frequent infections, poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rashes, loss of appetite, and altered sense of taste or smell.
In severe cases, zinc deficiency can lead to a condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica, characterised by the classic triad of skin inflammation around the body, diarrhoea, and hair loss. This can occur either as a rare inherited disorder affecting zinc absorption or as an acquired condition from severe dietary deficiency or malabsorption.
The skin changes in zinc deficiency can be quite distinctive, with red, scaling patches appearing around the mouth, nose, eyes, and nappy area in infants, as well as on the hands and feet. These skin lesions can become infected if left untreated, making early recognition and treatment important.
High zinc levels are uncommon but can occur with excessive supplementation. Very high zinc levels can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and headaches. Long-term excessive zinc intake can interfere with copper absorption, potentially leading to copper deficiency and anaemia.
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
Several factors can significantly affect your blood zinc levels, with some causing deficiency and others potentially leading to excess.
Dietary intake provides the primary source of zinc. Good food sources include red meat, poultry, shellfish (especially oysters), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dairy products.
Malabsorption conditions significantly affect zinc levels. Conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), chronic diarrhoea, or previous gastrointestinal surgery can all impair zinc absorption.
Genetic factors play a role in rare zinc metabolism disorders. Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare condition, is caused by mutations in the gene responsible for zinc absorption in the intestines, leading to severe zinc deficiency.
Inflammation can significantly affect zinc measurements. Acute inflammatory responses cause rapid decreases in zinc concentration. This means zinc results should be interpreted alongside inflammation markers to distinguish between true deficiency and inflammation-related changes.
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
Several factors can significantly affect your blood zinc levels, with some causing deficiency and others potentially leading to excess.
Dietary intake provides the primary source of zinc. Good food sources include red meat, poultry, shellfish (especially oysters), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dairy products.
Malabsorption conditions significantly affect zinc levels. Conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), chronic diarrhoea, or previous gastrointestinal surgery can all impair zinc absorption.
Genetic factors play a role in rare zinc metabolism disorders. Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare condition, is caused by mutations in the gene responsible for zinc absorption in the intestines, leading to severe zinc deficiency.
Inflammation can significantly affect zinc measurements. Acute inflammatory responses cause rapid decreases in zinc concentration. This means zinc results should be interpreted alongside inflammation markers to distinguish between true deficiency and inflammation-related changes.
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
Several factors can significantly affect your blood zinc levels, with some causing deficiency and others potentially leading to excess.
Dietary intake provides the primary source of zinc. Good food sources include red meat, poultry, shellfish (especially oysters), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dairy products.
Malabsorption conditions significantly affect zinc levels. Conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), chronic diarrhoea, or previous gastrointestinal surgery can all impair zinc absorption.
Genetic factors play a role in rare zinc metabolism disorders. Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare condition, is caused by mutations in the gene responsible for zinc absorption in the intestines, leading to severe zinc deficiency.
Inflammation can significantly affect zinc measurements. Acute inflammatory responses cause rapid decreases in zinc concentration. This means zinc results should be interpreted alongside inflammation markers to distinguish between true deficiency and inflammation-related changes.
What Influences Your Zinc Levels
Several factors can significantly affect your blood zinc levels, with some causing deficiency and others potentially leading to excess.
Dietary intake provides the primary source of zinc. Good food sources include red meat, poultry, shellfish (especially oysters), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dairy products.
Malabsorption conditions significantly affect zinc levels. Conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), chronic diarrhoea, or previous gastrointestinal surgery can all impair zinc absorption.
Genetic factors play a role in rare zinc metabolism disorders. Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare condition, is caused by mutations in the gene responsible for zinc absorption in the intestines, leading to severe zinc deficiency.
Inflammation can significantly affect zinc measurements. Acute inflammatory responses cause rapid decreases in zinc concentration. This means zinc results should be interpreted alongside inflammation markers to distinguish between true deficiency and inflammation-related changes.
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
Managing zinc levels depends on whether you have deficiency or excess, and addressing the underlying cause is crucial.
For zinc deficiency, the first step is identifying why levels are low. If malabsorption is the cause, treating the underlying gastrointestinal condition becomes important. Your doctor might recommend zinc supplementation, typically starting with oral zinc supplements at doses appropriate for your situation.
Dietary improvements can help support healthy zinc levels. Including zinc-rich foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in your diet provides natural sources of this essential mineral. For vegetarians and vegans, focusing on legumes, nuts, seeds, and fortified foods whilst being mindful of preparation methods (like soaking beans to reduce phytates) can help improve zinc absorption.
For the rare inherited condition acrodermatitis enteropathica, lifelong zinc supplementation is essential.
If you're taking zinc supplements, it's important not to exceed recommended doses. The recommended daily dose is 9.5mg a day for men and 7mg a day for women.
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
Managing zinc levels depends on whether you have deficiency or excess, and addressing the underlying cause is crucial.
For zinc deficiency, the first step is identifying why levels are low. If malabsorption is the cause, treating the underlying gastrointestinal condition becomes important. Your doctor might recommend zinc supplementation, typically starting with oral zinc supplements at doses appropriate for your situation.
Dietary improvements can help support healthy zinc levels. Including zinc-rich foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in your diet provides natural sources of this essential mineral. For vegetarians and vegans, focusing on legumes, nuts, seeds, and fortified foods whilst being mindful of preparation methods (like soaking beans to reduce phytates) can help improve zinc absorption.
For the rare inherited condition acrodermatitis enteropathica, lifelong zinc supplementation is essential.
If you're taking zinc supplements, it's important not to exceed recommended doses. The recommended daily dose is 9.5mg a day for men and 7mg a day for women.
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
Managing zinc levels depends on whether you have deficiency or excess, and addressing the underlying cause is crucial.
For zinc deficiency, the first step is identifying why levels are low. If malabsorption is the cause, treating the underlying gastrointestinal condition becomes important. Your doctor might recommend zinc supplementation, typically starting with oral zinc supplements at doses appropriate for your situation.
Dietary improvements can help support healthy zinc levels. Including zinc-rich foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in your diet provides natural sources of this essential mineral. For vegetarians and vegans, focusing on legumes, nuts, seeds, and fortified foods whilst being mindful of preparation methods (like soaking beans to reduce phytates) can help improve zinc absorption.
For the rare inherited condition acrodermatitis enteropathica, lifelong zinc supplementation is essential.
If you're taking zinc supplements, it's important not to exceed recommended doses. The recommended daily dose is 9.5mg a day for men and 7mg a day for women.
How to Support Healthy Zinc Levels
Managing zinc levels depends on whether you have deficiency or excess, and addressing the underlying cause is crucial.
For zinc deficiency, the first step is identifying why levels are low. If malabsorption is the cause, treating the underlying gastrointestinal condition becomes important. Your doctor might recommend zinc supplementation, typically starting with oral zinc supplements at doses appropriate for your situation.
Dietary improvements can help support healthy zinc levels. Including zinc-rich foods like meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in your diet provides natural sources of this essential mineral. For vegetarians and vegans, focusing on legumes, nuts, seeds, and fortified foods whilst being mindful of preparation methods (like soaking beans to reduce phytates) can help improve zinc absorption.
For the rare inherited condition acrodermatitis enteropathica, lifelong zinc supplementation is essential.
If you're taking zinc supplements, it's important not to exceed recommended doses. The recommended daily dose is 9.5mg a day for men and 7mg a day for women.
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Normal Zinc levels: 9-20 μmol/L
Low zinc levels may suggest zinc deficiency. Your doctor will likely assess your diet, medication use, any gastrointestinal conditions that might affect absorption, and check for signs of inflammation that could affect results.
High zinc levels may indicate excessive supplementation. Elevated levels warrant reviewing your supplement use and considering whether you need to reduce your zinc intake to prevent complications
It's important to note that zinc testing can be affected by inflammation and other factors. Your doctor may need to interpret your zinc results alongside other tests, including inflammatory markers like CRP and albumin, to get an accurate picture of your true zinc status.
Your doctor may order additional tests alongside zinc measurement, including copper levels (since zinc and copper interact), liver function tests, or tests for malabsorption conditions if zinc deficiency is suspected. The combination of results provides a more complete picture of your nutritional status and helps guide diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Normal Zinc levels: 9-20 μmol/L
Low zinc levels may suggest zinc deficiency. Your doctor will likely assess your diet, medication use, any gastrointestinal conditions that might affect absorption, and check for signs of inflammation that could affect results.
High zinc levels may indicate excessive supplementation. Elevated levels warrant reviewing your supplement use and considering whether you need to reduce your zinc intake to prevent complications
It's important to note that zinc testing can be affected by inflammation and other factors. Your doctor may need to interpret your zinc results alongside other tests, including inflammatory markers like CRP and albumin, to get an accurate picture of your true zinc status.
Your doctor may order additional tests alongside zinc measurement, including copper levels (since zinc and copper interact), liver function tests, or tests for malabsorption conditions if zinc deficiency is suspected. The combination of results provides a more complete picture of your nutritional status and helps guide diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Normal Zinc levels: 9-20 μmol/L
Low zinc levels may suggest zinc deficiency. Your doctor will likely assess your diet, medication use, any gastrointestinal conditions that might affect absorption, and check for signs of inflammation that could affect results.
High zinc levels may indicate excessive supplementation. Elevated levels warrant reviewing your supplement use and considering whether you need to reduce your zinc intake to prevent complications
It's important to note that zinc testing can be affected by inflammation and other factors. Your doctor may need to interpret your zinc results alongside other tests, including inflammatory markers like CRP and albumin, to get an accurate picture of your true zinc status.
Your doctor may order additional tests alongside zinc measurement, including copper levels (since zinc and copper interact), liver function tests, or tests for malabsorption conditions if zinc deficiency is suspected. The combination of results provides a more complete picture of your nutritional status and helps guide diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding Your Zinc Results
Normal Zinc levels: 9-20 μmol/L
Low zinc levels may suggest zinc deficiency. Your doctor will likely assess your diet, medication use, any gastrointestinal conditions that might affect absorption, and check for signs of inflammation that could affect results.
High zinc levels may indicate excessive supplementation. Elevated levels warrant reviewing your supplement use and considering whether you need to reduce your zinc intake to prevent complications
It's important to note that zinc testing can be affected by inflammation and other factors. Your doctor may need to interpret your zinc results alongside other tests, including inflammatory markers like CRP and albumin, to get an accurate picture of your true zinc status.
Your doctor may order additional tests alongside zinc measurement, including copper levels (since zinc and copper interact), liver function tests, or tests for malabsorption conditions if zinc deficiency is suspected. The combination of results provides a more complete picture of your nutritional status and helps guide diagnosis and treatment.
The Takeaway
Zinc testing provides valuable information about this essential trace element, helping identify both deficiency states that can affect immunity, wound healing, and growth, and rare situations of zinc excess from over-supplementation.
Maintaining healthy zinc levels is usually straightforward through a balanced diet that includes zinc-rich foods. If your zinc levels are significantly abnormal, working with your healthcare team to identify and address the underlying cause is essential.
The Takeaway
Zinc testing provides valuable information about this essential trace element, helping identify both deficiency states that can affect immunity, wound healing, and growth, and rare situations of zinc excess from over-supplementation.
Maintaining healthy zinc levels is usually straightforward through a balanced diet that includes zinc-rich foods. If your zinc levels are significantly abnormal, working with your healthcare team to identify and address the underlying cause is essential.
The Takeaway
Zinc testing provides valuable information about this essential trace element, helping identify both deficiency states that can affect immunity, wound healing, and growth, and rare situations of zinc excess from over-supplementation.
Maintaining healthy zinc levels is usually straightforward through a balanced diet that includes zinc-rich foods. If your zinc levels are significantly abnormal, working with your healthcare team to identify and address the underlying cause is essential.
The Takeaway
Zinc testing provides valuable information about this essential trace element, helping identify both deficiency states that can affect immunity, wound healing, and growth, and rare situations of zinc excess from over-supplementation.
Maintaining healthy zinc levels is usually straightforward through a balanced diet that includes zinc-rich foods. If your zinc levels are significantly abnormal, working with your healthcare team to identify and address the underlying cause is essential.
References
North Bristol NHS Trust. (2024). Zinc Test Information.
NHS Genomics Education Programme. (2024). Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Knowledge Hub.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2025). Zinc Test Information.
Newcastle Hospitals Laboratories. (2024). Zinc, Zn Test Information.
Maxfield L, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. StatPearls Publishing. 2024.
NHS. Vitamins and Minerals. 2020.
References
North Bristol NHS Trust. (2024). Zinc Test Information.
NHS Genomics Education Programme. (2024). Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Knowledge Hub.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2025). Zinc Test Information.
Newcastle Hospitals Laboratories. (2024). Zinc, Zn Test Information.
Maxfield L, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. StatPearls Publishing. 2024.
NHS. Vitamins and Minerals. 2020.
References
North Bristol NHS Trust. (2024). Zinc Test Information.
NHS Genomics Education Programme. (2024). Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Knowledge Hub.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2025). Zinc Test Information.
Newcastle Hospitals Laboratories. (2024). Zinc, Zn Test Information.
Maxfield L, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. StatPearls Publishing. 2024.
NHS. Vitamins and Minerals. 2020.
References
North Bristol NHS Trust. (2024). Zinc Test Information.
NHS Genomics Education Programme. (2024). Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Knowledge Hub.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2025). Zinc Test Information.
Newcastle Hospitals Laboratories. (2024). Zinc, Zn Test Information.
Maxfield L, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. StatPearls Publishing. 2024.
NHS. Vitamins and Minerals. 2020.
Research articles
Research articles
Research articles
Control your preventive health with Emerald
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Emerald Labs Ltd