Zinc for Stomach Acid Production
Zinc is required for gastric acid secretion machinery, relevant only in deficiency.
Overview
Verdict
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 15-30mg/day if deficient
- Expected timeframe
- 8-12 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Zinc gluconate, sulfate or picolinate with food - zinc is itself a common cause of nausea when taken on an empty stomach
- duration
- Not applicable - no trial has measured gastric acid output with zinc supplementation
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient. Zinc is a structural cofactor for carbonic anhydrase, the enzyme that supplies protons for gastric parietal cell acid secretion, which gives the claim a mechanistic starting point, and severe zinc deficiency impairs many enzyme systems. There is a further twist: zinc actually inhibits gastric acid secretion in some experimental work by blocking the H+/K+ ATPase proton pump, the same target as proton pump inhibitors. No human trial has measured gastric acid output before and after zinc supplementation, and the direction of effect is unclear.
- titration
- Not applicable. The tolerable upper intake level is 40 mg/day
- starting dose
- Not established. Requirements are 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men
Evidence
What the studies say
No studies are yet linked to both Zinc and Stomach Acid Production.
Safety
Caveats
Relevant only where zinc status is genuinely low.
Less likely to help if
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.
Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.