Zinc
A trace mineral important for immune function, wound healing, and many enzymes. Measured when deficiency is suspected.
Typical reference range
| Range | Unit |
|---|---|
| 11–18 | umol/l |
What Zinc measures
Zinc is an essential trace mineral your body needs in small amounts but cannot make or store in large reserves. It supports immune function, wound healing, and your sense of taste and smell, and it acts as a helper for hundreds of enzymes involved in everyday cell activity. A blood zinc test gives a snapshot of the amount circulating at the moment it is drawn.
Blood levels are an imperfect reflection of your body's overall zinc status. They can dip when there is inflammation in the body, and they vary with recent meals and the time of day. For these reasons, a zinc result is read with those limitations in mind, alongside your symptoms and other tests, rather than treated as a precise measure on its own.
What a high Zinc can mean
A high zinc is uncommon. When it appears, it usually relates to zinc supplements or, less often, to occupational or environmental exposure rather than to anything the body is doing on its own.
The main consideration with sustained high intake is its effect on other minerals. Taking in a lot of zinc over time can interfere with copper absorption, which is why a high zinc is sometimes interpreted alongside a copper measurement to see the fuller picture.
- Most raised values trace back to supplement use, so intake is usually reviewed first.
- The value is read in context, not treated as a diagnosis on its own.
- Any decision about adjusting supplements belongs with a clinician who knows your history.
What a low Zinc can mean
A low zinc can arise for several reasons, and the result is interpreted with that range of possibilities in mind. Common contributors include:
- Lower dietary intake of zinc-rich foods
- Malabsorption, for example with some gut conditions
- Higher losses from the body
- The effect of inflammation, which can lower the measured level even when body stores are adequate
Where zinc is genuinely lacking, possible signs of deficiency can include poor wound healing, changes in taste, and effects on immune function. Because inflammation and recent meals can pull the number down, a low value does not by itself confirm deficiency. A clinician interprets it together with your symptoms and the wider clinical picture before drawing conclusions.
Track your Zinc over time in Quanome — it reads your lab reports (PDF or photo) on your device, charts each marker against its range, and an AI coach explains what your trends mean alongside your Apple Health and DNA.