What is Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate (Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate · Mineral Supplement)?
Zinc sulphate monohydrate is the inorganic (ionic) sulphate salt of zinc and is highly soluble in water. It is the most established, most economical, and most frequently used reference zinc source in clinical studies for zinc supplements and fortification. It is one of the forms that provides the highest ratio of elemental zinc by salt weight.
- Molecular formula: ZnSO4 · H2O
- CAS number: 7446-20-2
- Form: Crystal, Granule, or Powder
- Quality: Food / Pharmaceutical Grade
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate (ZnSO4·H2O, MoA 179.47) contains ~36% elemental zinc; heptahydrate contains ~22.7%.
What is Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate · Mineral Supplement Used For? Why is it Used?
Zinc sulphate is the most clinically studied reference zinc source due to its high elemental zinc content by salt weight, complete solubility, and low cost. It is a reliable choice for the economical and effective correction of zinc deficiency and for food fortification; disadvantages such as gastric tolerance/taste can be minimized by taking it with meals.
Main areas of use: Mineral Supplements, Plant Nutrition, Animal Feed, Electrolysis, Dye, Pigment Production.
Usage in Dietary Supplements
- Inorganic reference form: It is the comparison standard in bioavailability studies; it is completely soluble in water and low cost. Due to its ionic structure, gastric irritation and metallic taste are more pronounced compared to chelated forms.
- Bioavailability: Its absorption is similar to that of gluconate; however, in the presence of phytates, actual absorption and retention have been found to be lower than chelated forms.
- High elemental content: Since monohydrate provides ~36% elemental zinc, less salt is required for the target dose (220 mg zinc sulphate heptahydrate provides ~50 mg elemental Zn).
- Administration recommendation: It is recommended to be taken with meals to reduce gastric irritation; claims should always be made based on elemental zinc.
Usage in the Food Industry
- Approved zinc source: It is an approved zinc source in the appendix of the TR Regulation and EU legislation.
- Food fortification: Due to its high solubility and low cost, it is widely used for fortifying flour, cereals, and beverages with zinc, as well as in oral rehydration/therapeutic products.
- Industrial versatility: It is a zinc salt with a wide supply chain, used not only in food but also in agriculture (zinc fertilizer/feed additive) and technical applications.
Effects on Health
Zinc is a mineral that plays a role in many fundamental functions in the body. The main functions authorized/evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA):
- Immune system: Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system (EFSA).
- DNA synthesis and cell division: Zinc contributes to normal DNA synthesis and cell division (EFSA).
- Protection from oxidative stress: Zinc contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress (EFSA).
- Acid-base and macronutrient metabolism: Zinc contributes to normal acid-base and macronutrient metabolism (EFSA).
- Bone, hair, nails, skin, and vision: Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, hair, nails, skin, and vision (EFSA).
- Fertility and testosterone: Zinc contributes to normal fertility and normal testosterone levels in the blood (EFSA).
Usage Limits in Dietary Supplements
- Nutrient Reference Value (NRV): Zinc NRV is 10 mg (1169/2011).
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (EFSA): EFSA sets the zinc UL at 25 mg/day (total elemental zinc).
- Turkish legislation (TETGK): Zinc sulphate is an approved zinc source in the TR Regulation; the exact daily maximum zinc limit must be verified from the official appendix (not fabricated).
Excessive zinc inhibits copper (and iron) absorption; long-term high doses can lead to copper deficiency, with a total UL of 25 mg/day.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Purity | 99.0 - 100.5% |
| Appearance | Colorless, transparent crystals or white, granular crystal powder |
| Moisture | ≤5.0 % |
| Solubility | Soluble in Water |
Scientific Studies
The following independent researches relate to the bioavailability, usage, and effects of this mineral (evidence levels are indicated):
- PubMed 16684142 — A labeled rat study comparing the bioavailability of zinc glycinate and zinc sulphate in the presence of dietary phytates.
- PubMed 22566526 — A systematic review and meta-analysis of zinc in the treatment of the common cold.
- PubMed 3630857 — A study comparing the absorption of zinc forms in humans.
Technical Documents and Supply — Asuka Kimya
You can contact Asuka Kimya for SDS, TDS, CoA and supply conditions for Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate.
References
- efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- ods.od.nih.gov
- eur-lex.europa.eu
- ieis.org.tr
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The usage and health information on this page has been compiled from official legislation/institution sources (EFSA, NIH ODS, Turkish Food Codex, EUR-Lex) and independent scientific publications (PubMed). The product is a food supplement/food raw material and is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease.