Before urging use of supplements, there should be more research on intake requirements, she said. Janet King of the US Department of Agriculture said some studies indicate the physiologic requirement for zinc is about 1.4 mg a day in adult males and 1.0 mg a day in females. This is the basic, minimum requirement, the amount needed to be absorbed to replace lost zinc, plus that needed for tissue growth and synthesis. Zinc requirements are higher in developing fetuses, and infants, and potentially in the elderly. Studies have indicated that zinc absorption is greatest when taken as a supplement with water, said Hambidge.
Breast milk is the next best source, with half the available zinc being absorbed.
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