What can you say about zinc in your ads and on your site?

The library supports 5 wordings for zinc; the strongest is “Supports normal immune function” (strong, 0.7-50 mg elemental zinc a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Shortens colds, or protects against colds”.

Also called: Zn

Reviewed 14 October 2026

Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.

Supported wordings

What you can say.

Strong evidenceWording 1

Claims Facts

“Supports normal immune function.”

Daily dose	0.7-50 mg elemental zinc a day
Support	Listed by Health Canada and authorized in the EU after EFSA review; ODS describes zinc’s role in immune function.
Dose details	Health Canada: 0.7-50 mg a day for adults 19 and older (0.7-25 mg from picolinate; 0.7-34 mg at age 18). ODS sets the adult upper limit at 40 mg a day. The EU claim applies to products that are at least a ‘source’ of zinc.
Dose warning	Above 40 mg a day of zinc is over the ODS upper limit for adults, and 50 mg or more over weeks can lower copper absorption. Health Canada’s range runs to 50 mg; the claim’s support stands.
Form	Any zinc form on Health Canada’s list, counted as elemental zinc
Sources	Health Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims NIH ODS fact sheet: Zinc (health professional)

Strong evidenceWording 2

Claims Facts

“Helps maintain healthy skin, hair, nails and bones.”

Daily dose	0.7-50 mg elemental zinc a day
Support	Health Canada lists healthy bones, hair, nails and skin, and the EU authorizes maintenance of normal skin, hair, nails and bones.
Dose details	Health Canada: 0.7-50 mg a day for adults 19 and older; ODS adult upper limit 40 mg a day.
Dose warning	Above 40 mg a day of zinc is over the ODS upper limit for adults, and 50 mg or more over weeks can lower copper absorption. Health Canada’s range runs to 50 mg; the claim’s support stands.
Form	Any zinc form on Health Canada’s list, counted as elemental zinc
Sources	Health Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Strong evidenceWording 3

Claims Facts

“Plays a part in normal energy metabolism.”

Daily dose	0.7-50 mg elemental zinc a day
Support	Health Canada lists a role in energy metabolism, and the EU authorizes a role in normal macronutrient metabolism.
Dose details	Health Canada: 0.7-50 mg a day for adults 19 and older; ODS adult upper limit 40 mg a day.
Dose warning	Above 40 mg a day of zinc is over the ODS upper limit for adults, and 50 mg or more over weeks can lower copper absorption. Health Canada’s range runs to 50 mg; the claim’s support stands.
Form	Any zinc form on Health Canada’s list, counted as elemental zinc
Sources	Health Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 4

Claims Facts

“Helps maintain normal testosterone levels in the blood.”

Daily dose	1.5-40 mg elemental zinc a day
Support	Authorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose details	EU: the product must be at least a ‘source’ of zinc, which is 15% of the 10 mg EU nutrient reference value, or 1.5 mg (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII). 40 mg a day is the ODS adult upper limit.
Form	Zinc, counted as elemental zinc
Source	Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 5

Claims Facts

“Supports normal cognitive function.”

Daily dose	1.5-40 mg elemental zinc a day
Support	Authorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose details	EU: the product must be at least a ‘source’ of zinc, which is 15% of the 10 mg EU nutrient reference value, or 1.5 mg (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII). 40 mg a day is the ODS adult upper limit.
Form	Zinc, counted as elemental zinc
Source	Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

How strong the evidence is

Strong evidence: At least two listed sources support it independently at a comparable dose and form, and none disagrees.
Moderate evidence: One listed source supports it as an evidence-based use at that dose, and no listed source disagrees.
Limited evidence: The only support is traditional use, the sources disagree, or the source itself calls the evidence weak.

Wordings to avoid

What to leave out.

Claims Facts

Ingredient: Zinc

Wording to avoid	Reason
“Shortens colds, or protects against colds”Names a disease. ODS reports a 2024 Cochrane review finding zinc may cut cold duration by about 2 days once a cold has started, and makes little or no difference in avoiding colds; ODS also notes zinc is sold in over-the-counter cold remedies, which are drugs.	Disease
“Treats acne”Names a skin disease.	Disease
“Treats low testosterone or erectile dysfunction”Names medical conditions; the supported wording is maintaining normal testosterone levels.	Disease
“Fights viruses, or protects against COVID-19”Names infectious disease.	Disease

Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.

Sources

Where this comes from.

All ingredient guides

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