Zinc Acetate
Zinc acetate is a form of the mineral zinc used for zinc deficiency and for minor skin sores; the shop's listing is Zinconia 50mg tablets.
What zinc does in the body
Zinc is a trace element — a mineral the body needs in small amounts and cannot make for itself. It has a part in the immune system, in cell division and growth, in wound healing and in breaking down carbohydrate, and the senses of smell and taste depend on it. Among the trace elements found in the body, zinc is second only to iron in how much of it there is. Zinc acetate is one of the salt forms of the mineral used in supplements, along with zinc gluconate and zinc sulfate.
Low zinc is easy to miss. Frequent infections, hair loss, poor appetite, food tasting or smelling different, skin sores and wounds that heal slowly are the usual clues.
What the tablets are used for
The shop's Zinconia 50mg tablets are listed for zinc deficiency, minor sores and skin irritation, and they sit in the skin care range. Zinc acetate is also the form of zinc used in a prescription medicine for Wilson's disease, a rare inherited condition where copper builds up in the body; there it works by limiting how much copper is taken in from food.
Taking zinc acetate
Zinconia comes as a 50mg tablet, the only strength the shop shows for this ingredient. Swallow it with water. Meals and drinks other than water cut down how much zinc the body takes up, so the tablet works best at least an hour before or after food.
Side effects
A bitter or metallic taste is the one people mention most, and a tablet can leave you feeling slightly sick. Much larger doses are a different story: diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting can start within three to ten hours and settle once the zinc stops. Taken in excess over a long period, zinc can leave the body short of copper, iron and magnesium. A rash, swelling of the face or difficulty breathing after a dose needs urgent treatment.
Zinc and other medicines
Zinc lowers how much of a tetracycline antibiotic or penicillamine reaches the bloodstream when they are taken at the same time, so the doses are best spaced out across the day. Iron tablets and zinc can also get in each other's way.
Sources
- Zinc in diet: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus
- Label: GALZIN- zinc acetate capsule - DailyMed - NIH — DailyMed
Where can I order Zinc Acetate for delivery in Hong Kong?
Zinc Acetate can be ordered online from PockDose for delivery to Hong Kong. The range is Zinconia tablets in 50mg. Delivery is by tracked courier and takes 5 to 9 business days, with online tracking included.
How are Zinc Acetate prices shown?
Zinconia is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Zinc Acetate?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order zinc acetate. See the ordering FAQ for details.
Can I take zinc acetate with food?
Zinc goes in better on an empty stomach — meals and drinks other than water cut down how much of the mineral reaches the blood. Swallow the tablet with water and leave about an hour either side of eating.
How much zinc does an adult need each day?
Only a small amount, a few milligrams, and food covers it for most people. Meat, nuts, whole grains and legumes are the main sources; fruit and vegetables contribute little, because the zinc in plant foods is harder for the body to take up.
Does zinc acetate help with colds?
Reviews of zinc supplements suggest it can. Taken for at least five months, zinc may lower the chance of catching a cold; started within 24 hours of the first symptoms, it may shorten a cold and make the symptoms milder.
Does zinc acetate help skin sores heal?
Zinc is needed for wound healing and for keeping skin tissue in good repair, so a shortfall often shows up as sores and wounds that close slowly. The Zinconia tablet tops the mineral up from the inside; it is not a cream and is not applied to the sore.