Can You Take Zinc On Empty Stomach?

Your body can't make zinc. Therefore, you must get enough through the foods you eat or a supplement. Before you take it, though, you should know how the best practices.

To Take on an Empty Stomach or Not to Take on an Empty Stomach

According to the Mayo Clinic, you'll receive the most benefit from a zinc supplement when you take it around mealtime. Specifically, this authoritative health organization advises people to take it at least one hour before or two hours after a meal.

Listen to Your Body

If you take your zinc supplement on an empty stomach and notice you have digestive upset at least some of the time after, try changing when you take it to after a meal. See if that helps alleviate the problem. Talk to your doctor if it doesn't help.

Upset Stomach Is a Side Effect

An upset stomach is a common side effect of taking zinc in general. When you take the supplement with food, you slow down how rapidly your body digests the zinc. As a result, you may reduce the unpleasant symptom of digestive upset.