Zinc carnosine
Evidence: GoodUseful mainly for people with gastritis, gastric ulcers, or NSAID-related gut irritation.
Quick decision guide
May help most
People with gastritis, gastric ulcers, or NSAID-related gut irritation
Common dosing range
75 mg/day (delivering ~16 mg elemental zinc), usually split
When to expect effects
Weeks
Watch out for
Provides meaningful elemental zinc; chronic high intake can deplete copper
What is it
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Evidence | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gastric ulcer and gastritis | Good Evidence | Improved healing and symptom relief vs placebo/adjunct | Adults with gastritis or gastric ulcer, including alongside H. pylori therapy | Weeks |
| nsaid- and chemo-related gut mucosal injury | Limited Evidence | Modest protection in small studies | People with NSAID-induced gut injury or treatment-related mucositis | Weeks |
Evidence for 2 uses
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
gastric ulcer and gastritis
Disease adjunctPolaprezinc has been used clinically in Japan for gastritis and peptic ulcer, and controlled studies suggest it speeds mucosal healing and improves symptoms, including as an add-on to H. pylori eradication regimens. Evidence is reasonable but concentrated in Japanese trials and not as extensively replicated internationally.
Bottom line: A reasonable adjunct for gastritis and gastric ulcers, best alongside standard treatment.
nsaid- and chemo-related gut mucosal injury
Disease adjunctSmall trials suggest zinc carnosine can reduce NSAID-induced small-intestinal injury and may lessen oral or gut mucositis during cancer therapy. These studies are limited in size and number, so the effect is suggestive rather than established.
Bottom line: Preliminary support for protecting against NSAID and treatment-related mucosal damage.
How to take it
- Typical dose
- 75 mg/day, the dose used in most clinical studies
- Timing
- Often taken before or between meals for mucosal contact, though it is also taken with meals to ease tolerability
- With food
- Either; taken away from food it may bind mucosa better, with food it is gentler
- Split dosing
- Commonly split into two doses (e.g. 37.5 mg twice daily)
- How long to try
- Trial 4–8 weeks for symptom response
What to track
- Upper-abdominal pain or burning
- Nausea
- Heartburn frequency
Safety
Common side effects
Nausea, Constipation, Mild taste disturbance
Who should avoid it
- People already taking high-dose zinc
- Those with copper deficiency
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Insufficient safety data; stay within normal zinc limits and consult a clinician before use.
Interactions
Sustained zinc intake can reduce copper absorption and cause deficiency
Zinc can bind these antibiotics and reduce their absorption
Zinc reduces penicillamine absorption and activity
Choosing a product
Look for
- States zinc carnosine / polaprezinc content and elemental zinc per dose
- Third-party tested
Be skeptical of
- “Cures ulcers”
- “Heals leaky gut”
- Claims it replaces H. pylori treatment
References by claim
Track Zinc carnosine with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.