Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate

What is Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate?

Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate is a zinc supplement in chelated form, in a vegetable capsule. One capsule provides 25 mg of zinc bisglycinate, i.e. 250% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which comes to two months at one a day.

Bisglycinate is zinc bound to two molecules of glycine, the smallest of the amino acids. That bond is not cosmetic: it changes the way the mineral crosses the intestinal wall, taking the amino acid transport routes rather than the mineral ones. This is what explains its reputation for being easy on digestion.

In practical terms, it is the form that goes down best on an empty stomach. A zinc sulphate or oxide taken on an empty stomach frequently causes nausea; bisglycinate far less so. On a product meant to be taken every morning, that detail often decides whether the bottle is finished or abandoned. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our zinc section.

What does one Zinc Bisglycinate capsule contain?

250% of the reference value is a high dose, and it deserves to be stated plainly rather than sold as a benefit. The upper safe limit set at European level for zinc in adults is 25 mg per day, from all sources combined — food included. This capsule sits exactly on it. Two practical consequences: one capsule a day and never two, and above all do not stack this product with a multivitamin, a ZMA or any other supplement containing zinc. Intakes add up, and with this mineral an excess is not harmless. We look at these thresholds in detail in our article on zinc bisglycinate dosage.

Why the caution? Because zinc competes with copper for intestinal absorption. A high, prolonged intake may therefore, over time, affect copper status. That is why the manufacturer provides for courses rather than permanent use, and it is a point few product pages mention.

Zinc, on the other hand, is one of the minerals best served by authorised claims, and there are a great many of them. Among the most relevant here: zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, 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 and to normal macronutrient metabolism. These are the official wordings of the European framework.

Be careful how you read the line “maintenance of normal testosterone levels”: maintaining is not increasing. Zinc prevents a fall caused by an insufficient intake; it does not raise a level that is already normal in someone who is not short of it. It is a nuance the bodybuilding aisle is happy to erase, and it changes everything.

A figure to check on the packaging: the label states “25 mg of zinc bisglycinate” with 250% of the reference value, which corresponds to 25 mg of elemental zinc. The wording leaves some ambiguity as to whether the 25 mg refers to the zinc itself or to the whole complex. We report the declared value without interpreting it.

Ingredients list

Zinc bisglycinate (zinc chelated with glycine), vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), anti-caking agent (vegetable magnesium stearate).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Zinc Bisglycinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day, never more. Duration: a course of 2 to 3 months, followed by a month off.

Taking it on an empty stomach is possible here, and that is the main appeal of this form. Zinc is better absorbed away from meals, but most forms then cause nausea; bisglycinate is far better tolerated. If you still feel some discomfort, take the capsule with a light breakfast: you will lose a little absorption, which is preferable to giving up on the dose altogether.

Leave two hours between this and an iron or calcium supplement. These three minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters and get in each other's way. The same goes for a meal very rich in fibre or phytates — wholemeal bread, pulses — which markedly reduces zinc absorption. Taking it in the morning on an empty stomach settles all of this at a stroke.

The two- to three-month course followed by a month off is not a commercial constraint: it follows directly from the dose. At 25 mg a day, permanent year-round use is not appropriate. The 60-capsule bottle covers exactly two months, that is, one complete short course.

Zinc combines without overlap with vitamin D or vitamin C, two nutrients that do not compete with it. Before buying, on the other hand, check that your multivitamin or your ZMA does not already provide some.

Who is Zinc Bisglycinate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult whose diet provides little zinc: vegetarian and vegan diets first and foremost, since the best food sources are oysters, red meat and offal. The phytates in wholegrain cereals and pulses also reduce the absorption of plant-derived zinc, which widens the gap further.

It is not for you if you already take zinc elsewhere. That is the main warning on this page: between a multivitamin, a ZMA and an immunity complex, it is easy to stack three sources without noticing and to go well beyond the safe limit. Do the sums before adding this bottle to your routine.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice, nor for children. If you are on medication, ask a healthcare professional for advice: zinc interacts in particular with certain antibiotics.

What not to expect from it. It does not build muscle and it does not raise the testosterone of a man whose level is normal. It does not prevent colds — no claim of that kind exists. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: a mineral produces no sensation. If you are wondering about a deficiency, a blood test prescribed by a doctor will answer more reliably than a bottle bought at random.

Bisglycinate or another form of zinc?

The zinc aisle offers at least four different forms, and the gap between them is real.

Zinc oxide is the cheapest and the most widespread in entry-level formulas. It contains a lot of zinc per gram, but it is poorly absorbed and often poorly tolerated on an empty stomach. Sulphate and gluconate do better, with digestive tolerance varying from person to person.

Bisglycinate stands out on two counts: absorption and tolerance. Chelated with an amino acid, it takes a different route in from the classic mineral salts and is taken on an empty stomach without difficulty by most people. That is what justifies its higher price, and it is a premium worth paying on a product taken every morning for two months.

When is another form the better choice? If zinc is not your main objective but one element among several, a multivitamin or a ZMA will be more than enough and will cost you less, with a distinctly more moderate dose — which, given the safe limit, is no bad thing. Our magnesium section, as it happens, applies the same chelated-form logic to another mineral.

Frequently asked questions

How much zinc per capsule?

25 mg, that is, 250% of the nutrient reference value. It is a high dose: the upper safe limit set at European level in adults is 25 mg per day, from all sources combined. One capsule a day, never two, and no stacking with another product containing zinc.

Why bisglycinate rather than another zinc?

Because it is chelated with glycine and takes the amino acid transport routes rather than the mineral ones. The result: better absorption and, above all, tolerance on an empty stomach far superior to that of oxide or sulphate, which frequently cause nausea.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach?

Yes, that is what the manufacturer intends, and this form allows it without discomfort for most people. Zinc is better absorbed away from meals, and in particular away from foods rich in fibre and phytates. If it causes any discomfort, taking it with a light breakfast is still preferable to giving up.

Can it be combined with iron or calcium?

Not at the same time. These three minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters: the manufacturer asks for two hours between them. In practice, zinc in the morning on an empty stomach and iron or calcium with the evening meal settles the question without your having to think about it.

Does zinc increase testosterone?

No. The authorised claim says that it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Maintaining means preventing a fall caused by an insufficient intake, not raising a level that is already normal. It is a distinction the bodybuilding aisle often erases, and it is an essential one.

How long can you take it for?

The manufacturer provides for courses of two to three months followed by a month off. At this dose, permanent use is not appropriate: a high, prolonged zinc intake can affect copper status, since the two minerals compete for absorption.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The shell is a vegetable capsule made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and the anti-caking agent is a magnesium stearate of plant origin. This is in fact the group most concerned by this product, as the best food sources of zinc are of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask about this product is always the same: are you already taking a multivitamin or a ZMA? At 25 mg per capsule, the answer completely changes the advice, and many customers leave with a more modest dose. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.