Insight into your zinclevel.
Zinc is a mineral with a role in immune defence, wound healing, the skin, and taste. A serum zinc measurement gives insight into the zinc level in your blood.
Also known as: Zn
Interpreted by BIG-registered doctors
How Bloodworks works
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Blood draw
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Receive your report
Securely, within a few working days from our physicians
Background
What is zinc?
Zinc is an essential trace element, which means the body cannot produce it itself and you obtain it through your diet. Zinc is a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes and therefore plays a role in a wide range of processes: the functioning of the immune system, wound healing, the build-up of the skin, cell division, protein synthesis, and the senses of smell and taste. Good sources include meat, shellfish, dairy, nuts, seeds, legumes, and wholegrain cereal products.
The measurement we perform is serum zinc, the zinc in your blood. That is a snapshot. Serum zinc can fall during inflammation or infection, even when the body's zinc stores are adequate. For that reason, the value is preferably interpreted alongside an inflammatory marker such as CRP. A recent meal and the time of the blood draw can also influence the value. Our doctor takes this context into account in the interpretation, because a single measurement is not a diagnosis.
In brief
Trace element
Essential, obtained through the diet
Immune defence
A role in the functioning of the immune system
Wound healing
Involved in cell division and tissue repair
Snapshot
Serum zinc can fall during inflammation
Common reasons to test
When can insight into your Zinc be valuable?
Below are some situations in which measuring Zinc can provide insight.
Insight into your status
A test gives a snapshot of your serum zinc level.
With questions about immune defence
Zinc plays a role in the immune system. With recurring infections, the level can form part of a broader picture.
With slow wound healing or skin complaints
Zinc is involved in cell division and tissue repair. With persistent skin complaints, a test can provide insight.
With altered smell or taste
Zinc plays a role in smell and taste. A reduced sense of taste is sometimes associated with zinc status.
With a plant-based or one-sided diet
Zinc from plant sources is less well absorbed. Those eating a vegetarian or vegan diet generally need to pay more attention to zinc.
Tracking the effect of supplementation
If you take zinc supplements, you can test whether this has influenced your serum level.
What your result means
How do we read your Zinc level?
Zinc is measured in micromoles per litre (µmol/L). The laboratory supplies the reference ranges. Serum zinc is a snapshot and can fall during inflammation, which is why the value is preferably viewed together with an inflammatory marker such as CRP.
A low value
Low serum zinc may indicate insufficient intake or reduced absorption, for example with bowel conditions, after bariatric surgery, or with a strongly plant-based diet. An ongoing inflammation or infection can also temporarily lower serum zinc without there being a deficiency. That is why our doctor looks at the whole picture rather than at this single number.
A normal value
Serum zinc within the laboratory's reference ranges gives a reassuring picture for this marker. Bear in mind that the vast majority of zinc in the body is located in the cells and tissues. The blood gives an indication of this, but not a complete picture. A single measurement is not a diagnosis.
An elevated value
Elevated serum zinc is uncommon and is usually related to the use of zinc supplements. Long-term high intake of zinc can interfere with the absorption of copper. Our doctor explains your value and what would be sensible regarding your supplements.
How we interpret your result
Our doctors interpret your zinc level against the laboratory's reference ranges and your personal context, your diet, supplement use, any inflammatory markers, and your complaints.
Related tests
Often combined with Zinc.
A single marker gives one perspective. For a broader picture you can combine Zinc with a theme package or related markers.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you want to know
Do I need to fast for a zinc test?
Fasting is not strictly necessary, but a recent meal can influence serum zinc. A blood draw in the morning, before breakfast, gives the most comparable result. If you combine the test with glucose or cholesterol, for example, the fasting instructions do apply to those tests.
Why is zinc assessed together with CRP?
Serum zinc can fall during inflammation or infection, even if your zinc stores are adequate. CRP is an inflammatory marker. By looking at both, our doctor can better judge whether a low zinc value fits a deficiency or an ongoing inflammation.
Does serum zinc tell me everything about my zinc status?
No. Most of the zinc in the body is in the cells and tissues, not in the blood. Serum zinc gives an indication and is the standard measurement, but it remains a snapshot.
Which foods contain a lot of zinc?
Good sources of zinc include meat, shellfish (such as oysters), cheese and other dairy, nuts, seeds, legumes, and wholegrain cereal products.
Am I at greater risk of a zinc deficiency on a plant-based diet?
Zinc from plant sources is less well absorbed, partly due to phytates in grains and legumes. Those eating a vegetarian or vegan diet therefore generally need to pay more attention to zinc intake.
Can I get too much zinc?
Through food this is not an issue. Long-term high-dose supplementation can, however, interfere with the absorption of copper. If you take zinc supplements, please mention this during the intake.
How often should I measure zinc?
A single measurement is sufficient for initial insight. If your value was low previously, or you take supplements, re-testing after a few months is common.
What do I do with my result?
You will receive a PDF report with your value and an explanation from our doctor. What you do with it, such as discussing it with your GP or adjusting your diet, remains entirely your choice.
Ready for insight into your zinc level?
For €79 you receive your zinc level including personal explanation from a doctor, typically within a few working days. No referral required.
Order Zinc for €74 →Want to test multiple markers at once?
Combine Zinc with other markers via Bloodworks Select. Blood draw costs are waived from €225.
74,-
All-in, blood draw included