Zinc carnosine
Summary
Zinc carnosine (polaprezinc) is a zinc and carnosine chelate. In a 10-person crossover trial, 75 mg a day stopped the rise in gut permeability caused by an anti-inflammatory painkiller (grade D). A pooled analysis of four trials found it raised blood zinc. Each 75 mg dose supplies about 17 mg of zinc.
Key facts
- A 1:1 chelate of zinc and L-carnosine, used as a licensed medicine (polaprezinc) in Japan[2]
- 37.5 mg twice daily blocked the threefold rise in gut permeability from 5 days of indomethacin in 10 healthy volunteers[1]
- An individual-patient meta-analysis of four placebo-controlled trials found 75–300 mg a day raised serum zinc, with more gut side effects at higher doses[2]
- 75 mg of zinc carnosine provides about 17 mg of elemental zinc; the adult upper limit for zinc is 40 mg a day from all sources[3]
- 1 graded human outcome on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedIn cell and rodent studies, zinc carnosine stimulated epithelial cell migration and proliferation and reduced stomach and small-intestine injury.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painkiller-induced gut permeability | Improved | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 10 · 2007 Healthy volunteers given indomethacin 50 mg three times daily Form: Zinc carnosine · Dose: 75 mg/day (37.5 mg twice daily) · Duration: 5 days per arm Gut permeability tripled with indomethacin plus placebo but did not rise significantly with zinc carnosine. | 16777920 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 75 mg of zinc carnosine a day for 5 days (gut permeability) to 75–300 mg a day in zinc-replacement trials (durations not given in the pooled abstract).[1][2]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, penicillamineNIH fact sheetZinc can interact with these medicines (ODS lists them as zinc interactions).[3]
Who should be careful
- People already taking zinc
- Total zinc above 40 mg a day for long periods can lower copper status and immune function; 2 capsules of the product below give 17 mg.[3]
- Sensitive digestion
- Gut side effects increased with dose in pooled trials.[2]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The zinc upper limit (40 mg a day) also applies in pregnancy; zinc carnosine itself has no pregnancy data in our sources.[3]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Zinc carnosine
Products from brands we partner with that contain Zinc carnosine. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkZinc L-Carnosine2 capsules: 75 mg zinc L-carnosine (17 mg zinc, 58 mg L-carnosine); 60 servings. The same 75 mg a day used in the gut-permeability trial.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Is zinc carnosine the same as polaprezinc?
Yes; polaprezinc is the drug name used in Japan for the zinc L-carnosine chelate.[2]
Does zinc carnosine protect the gut?
One 10-person crossover trial found it blocked the rise in gut permeability caused by indomethacin. Larger trials in healthy people are lacking.[1]
How much zinc does it contain?
About 17 mg of zinc per 75 mg. Count it toward the 40 mg a day upper limit for zinc from all supplements and food.[3]
Sources
- [1]Zinc carnosine, a health food supplement that stabilises small bowel integrity and stimulates gut repair processes.. Gut, 2007. crossover-RCT
- [2]Efficacy and Safety of Polaprezinc (Zinc Compound) on Zinc Deficiency: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Using Individual Patient Data.. Nutrients, 2020. meta-analysis
- [3]Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2026. fact-sheet
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).