Zinc
MineralsZinc is an essential trace element that hundreds of enzymes need to work.
Also known as: Zn, serum zinc, plasma zinc
It supports your immune defenses, wound healing, skin and hair, and your sense of taste and smell. Your body cannot store zinc in any meaningful amount, so it depends on a steady supply from foods such as meat, shellfish, dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds. A vegetarian or vegan diet, digestive conditions that affect absorption, regular alcohol use and long periods of intense training can all lower your level. Because inflammation and a low albumin level also push blood zinc down, your result is read together with your hs-CRP and albumin values.
Why this matters
Low zinc can cause a weakened immune system, slow wound healing, hair loss, skin issues, reduced sense of taste or smell, and fatigue. Chronically high levels can interfere with copper absorption. Maintaining balanced zinc supports immunity, skin health, and metabolism.
How this connects to other biomarkers
- Check hs-CRP and Albumin before interpreting a low result: about 70% of circulating zinc is bound to albumin, and inflammation triggers a negative acute-phase response that pulls zinc out of the blood into tissue. Low Zinc with elevated hs-CRP and/or low Albumin is likely a false deficiency from inflammation or poor protein status, not true zinc depletion — recheck once inflammation resolves before treating it as a supplementation target.
- Low Zinc with low Alkaline Phosphatase (zinc is needed for the ALP enzyme to function) and impaired wound healing or sense of taste suggests true zinc deficiency.
- Zinc deficiency is common in chronic gut disease (Crohn's, IBD, malabsorption — with high hs-CRP) and chronic alcohol use.
- High Zinc from over-supplementation can lower copper levels, contributing to anemia (low Hemoglobin) and neurological symptoms.
How often should I test Zinc?
There is no fixed schedule for testing zinc in healthy adults. A first measurement is most useful if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, have a digestive condition, drink alcohol regularly or train intensively. If you start a supplement because your level is low, retest after about 3 months.
At baseline / for screening: Once as a baseline, especially with a plant-based diet, a digestive condition, regular alcohol use or intense training.
When monitoring an intervention or change: About 3 months after starting or changing a zinc supplement. With long-term zinc supplements, once a year together with copper, since high doses can lower copper.
Note: Blood zinc dips after meals and with inflammation, infection or a low albumin level, so a morning draw after an 8 to 12 hour fast gives the most reliable value. Skip zinc supplements on the day of your blood draw.
Sources
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