Nutriting nuZinc

What is Nutriting nuZinc?

Nutriting nuZinc is a zinc supplement in vegetable capsules, providing 15 mg of elemental zinc per capsule, i.e. 150% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 90 capsules, which covers exactly three months at one serving a day.

The form used is zinc bisglycinate TRAACS®, a raw material from the American manufacturer Albion. The principle is the same as for any bisglycinate: the zinc is bound to two glycine molecules, forming a structure that is electrically neutral and stable in the digestive tract. The practical consequence, the one that genuinely counts: this zinc goes down far better than an oxide or a gluconate in people with a sensitive stomach.

What really sets this product apart is how short its ingredients list is: four lines in all, including the capsule shell. No colouring, no titanium dioxide, no pointless bulking agent. The rest of the French range is in our Nutriting section.

What does one nuZinc capsule contain?

The manufacturer publishes no energy values for this product, and the question makes little sense for a capsule of this size: the calorie contribution is nil over the course of a day. Nor does it disclose the exact quantity of magnesium carbonate or olive oil, which are processing aids rather than actives.

15 mg is the French ceiling for a food supplement, not an average dose. ANSES sets that value as the daily intake not to be exceeded in supplements, and EFSA puts the safety limit from all sources combined at 25 mg a day. In other words, this bottle already takes up all the available room. The consequence is direct and worth spelling out in full: if you are also taking a multivitamin or a ZMA containing zinc, you are going over the ceiling without realising it. We look at these thresholds in detail in our article on zinc bisglycinate dosage.

At this dose the authorised claims are numerous, and it is worth quoting them as they stand because they say precisely what the product can do: zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal protein synthesis, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails, to normal cognitive function, to normal fertility and reproduction, and to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. All of these wordings speak of maintenance and normal function: they concern someone whose intake is insufficient, not an improvement beyond normal.

A word on a figure that gets passed around. The previous description on this page announced absorption “up to 43% better than zinc gluconate”, based on a comparative study by the producer of the raw material. We have removed that figure: it comes from the supplier itself, it cannot be verified independently, and it turns up word for word on products from different brands. What can honestly be said about bisglycinate is that it is well absorbed and markedly better tolerated. That is already a good reason to choose it.

Ingredients list

Magnesium carbonate (anti-caking agent), vegetable capsule (shell: pullulan), zinc bisglycinate (Albion®), organic olive oil. Gluten-free, lactose-free, soya-free, no declared allergen. No titanium dioxide, no colouring, no animal gelatine, no nanoparticles, no GMOs, not irradiated. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Made in France.

How do you take nuZinc?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water, 200 ml is enough. Timing: away from meals, ideally in the morning or mid-afternoon, at least an hour away from a full meal. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of at least two to three months, repeatable all year round.

The “away from meals” instruction has a precise reason. The phytates in wholegrain cereals and pulses, along with the calcium in dairy products, bind zinc in the gut and reduce its absorption. A capsule taken with a bowl of wholegrain oats delivers markedly less than a capsule taken with a glass of water. If an empty stomach does not agree with you, shift it to an hour after a light meal rather than dropping the serving altogether.

Two supplements call for genuine spacing: iron and copper. They use the same intestinal transporters as zinc and get in each other's way. If you are taking iron, put it in the morning and the zinc in the afternoon, or the other way round. Magnesium is less of a problem, but two hours apart saves you having to think about it.

A three-month course is not an arbitrary length: rebuilding zinc status takes weeks, and a month is generally not enough to observe anything at all. The 90-capsule bottle is sized for exactly that.

Who is nuZinc for, and who is it not for?

The manufacturer clearly identifies the profiles concerned, and they match what we see over the counter: vegetarians and vegans, whose diet supplies zinc that is less well absorbed because of phytates; athletes, who lose it through sweat and use more of it; older people; and those with chronic digestive disorders.

The capsule is made from pullulan, a material obtained by fermentation of tapioca: the product is therefore suitable for vegetarians and vegans, which is not the case for most conventional capsule supplements. It is also gluten-free, lactose-free, soya-free and free of declared allergens, which makes it one of the simplest formulas on the shelf for anyone with allergies.

It is for adults only. In case of pregnancy, breastfeeding or medical treatment, the advice of a healthcare professional is needed before starting — zinc interferes in particular with the absorption of certain antibiotics, which need to be spaced several hours apart.

What not to expect from it: it is not a hormonal stimulant, and it will not raise the testosterone of someone whose status is normal. Nor is it a product whose effect you feel. You will not feel anything, and that is expected: zinc corrects an intake, it does not produce a sensation. Finally, if you suspect a genuine deficiency, a blood test prescribed by your doctor is worth more than prolonged supplementation in the dark.

nuZinc or a multivitamin?

That is the real trade-off, and it depends on what you already know about your diet.

A multivitamin covers a broad range: B, C, D and E vitamins, plus a series of trace elements including, almost always, zinc. It is the better choice if you have nothing else, if your diet is erratic on several fronts, and if you want a single bottle to open in the morning. Its drawback is that it doses each element modestly in order to fit everything in, and makes any individual adjustment impossible.

nuZinc follows the opposite logic: a single mineral, at the exact amount you want, at the time you choose. It is the better choice if you know why you are taking zinc — a vegan diet, heavy training, the winter season — and if you want to keep control of the daily total. It pairs without difficulty with a vitamin C, which does not compete with it.

The classic trap is taking both without doing the arithmetic: 15 mg on one side, often 10 mg on the other, and there you are at 25 mg a day, every day. That is not dramatic in the short term, but over several months it degrades copper status. If you do stack them, alternate every other day.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bottle last?

Three months exactly, at one capsule a day, the bottle holding 90 capsules. That is also the course length recommended by the manufacturer, which makes the format coherent: one bottle equals one course, with nothing left over and nothing missing.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach?

Preferably away from meals, yes. The phytates in wholegrain cereals and the calcium in dairy products both reduce zinc absorption. If an empty stomach bothers you, taking it at a distance from a light meal is still far preferable to taking it in the middle of a full meal.

Is this zinc suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made from pullulan, obtained by fermentation of tapioca, and no ingredient in the formula is of animal origin. It is a point that sets this product apart from the many supplements in gelatine capsules, and it is all the more relevant given that vegans are among the profiles most concerned by zinc.

What is the difference between TRAACS® and an ordinary bisglycinate?

TRAACS® is a raw-material brand, not a different molecule. It denotes a bisglycinate produced to a given specification, with control of the chelation ratio. The chemistry is the same as that of any other properly manufactured bisglycinate; what you are buying is the supplier's traceability.

Can it be taken all year round?

The manufacturer says it can. That said, at 15 mg a day without a break, it is reasonable to take stock after six months, and a blood test becomes more useful than an automatic renewal. Zinc is not stored by the body, but a prolonged excess ends up disturbing copper.

Does it need to be spaced from iron?

Yes, and it is the only interaction that really matters. Iron, copper and zinc use the same intestinal absorption pathways and compete directly. If you take both, separate them by at least four hours, or put one in the morning and the other in late afternoon.

Does zinc strengthen immunity?

The authorised wording is that zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system. The nuance is a real one: it helps a system to function normally when intake is insufficient, it does not make it perform better in someone whose status is already fine. That is the only thing a seller can honestly write.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuZinc?

It can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the bottle we bring out when someone is after a short formula, free of additives, and readable in three seconds on the back of the pack. On a mineral, that is often the best criterion there is. The rest of the shelf can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.