Definition:

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Mineraux®Zinc citrate Health Benefits:

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements required by the human body. It plays a vital role in promoting growth and development, regulating cell replication and differentiation, repairing tissue cells, regulating immune function, and maintaining and enhancing immunity, intelligence, and fertility. Marginal zinc deficiency often goes unnoticed, resulting in symptoms such as decreased appetite, difficulty healing wounds, loss of taste, dermatitis, and decreased immunity. Severe zinc deficiency often manifests as developmental delay, sexual dysfunction, and acrodermatitis enteropathica in children. Zinc is involved in regulating cell signaling pathways in immune cells, influencing the development of immune organs, the physiological state and function of immune cells, and the secretion of cytokines. It is an essential element of the immune system and crucial for maintaining its integrity and stability. Zinc can promote immune regeneration and recovery after bone marrow transplantation. Zinc is widely available, but its content in foods varies greatly. Red meat and shellfish are good sources of zinc, with oysters containing over 100mg of zinc per 100g of food. The zinc content in livestock and poultry meat, liver and eggs is 2-5 mg. Except for the germ of cereals, plant foods are low in zinc. Zinc can also be supplemented through dietary supplements.

Mineraux®Zinc citrate is a safe and highly effective source of organic zinc, classified as a food nutrient fortifier and additive. It is widely used in food and health products, including infant formula, to supplement the essential trace element zinc in the human body. Advantages include excellent solubility, a high absorption rate and a mild taste.

Particularities of Mineraux®Zinc citrate:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● GB 1903.49, USP, Food grade, In-house

▶Promotes growth and development

Mineraux®Zinc citrate Applications:

Zinc plays a key role in the synthesis of growth hormones, protein metabolism and cell division. This makes it essential for the development of bones and muscles in infants, children and adolescents. Zinc also promotes fibroblast proliferation, accelerating wound healing, such as for skin abrasions and mucosal repair. Mineraux®Zinc citrate has a mild, non-irritating taste, making it suitable for infants (when added to infant formula and complementary foods) and children (in the form of chewable tablets and solid beverages). This avoids the metallic astringency of inorganic zinc, which can cause resistance to intake. Zinc citrate does not bind with phytic acid, which is commonly found in grains and legumes, ensuring optimal zinc utilisation and reducing the risk of growth retardation caused by zinc deficiency.

■ Core features

Mineraux®Zinc citrate exists in three forms: anhydrous, dihydrate and trihydrate. Zinc citrate (anhydrous and dihydrate) contains over 31.3% zinc, whereas zinc citrate (trihydrate) contains between 99.0% and 103.0%. Of these forms, zinc citrate trihydrate is soluble in water. Zinc absorption relies on zinc transporters in the human intestine. However, zinc citrate exists as chelated zinc, where zinc ions form stable complexes with citric acid molecules. This enables absorption independent of gastric acidity in the gut. Inorganic zinc, such as zinc sulphate, has highly mobile zinc ions that can irritate the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract, causing a metallic taste, astringency, bloating or diarrhoea. In contrast, the chelated structure of zinc citrate encapsulates zinc ions, resulting in a neutral taste. It can be added to beverages, infant formula and candy without affecting the flavour of food, making it a suitable zinc source for infant foods and functional beverages. The chelated structure of zinc citrate remains stable at high temperatures (e.g. during baking or sterilisation at 121°C), in acidic conditions (pH 3-6) and in alkaline environments (pH 7-8). This stability makes it suitable for high-temperature processing in food manufacturing, such as biscuit baking or can sterilisation. Unlike zinc sulfate, which inhibits iron absorption when supplemented concurrently, zinc citrate does not cause antagonistic reactions when mixed with vitamins and minerals. This makes it suitable for use in compound nutritional foods.

Mineraux®Zinc citrate is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  Mineraux®Zinc citrate anhydrous

Thanks to its core advantages of high water solubility, mild taste, processing stability and high absorption rate, Mineraux®Zinc citrate is widely used in the food, health food and special dietary supplement sectors.

Zinc citrate is primarily used in infant formula to safely provide zinc supplements and support development. It is used in powdered infant formula, infant cereals and complementary foods such as rice cereal and fruit or meat purées. It is tasteless and has no metallic aftertaste, which preserves the natural flavour of milk powder and complementary foods, thereby preventing infant refusal. Its absorption does not rely on stomach acid, which accommodates the physiological characteristic of reduced gastric acid secretion in infants.

In children's and adolescents' foods, zinc citrate is used to improve appetite and support growth. Product applications include children's growth milk powder, nutritional cereals, chewable tablets (pressed candy), and zinc-fortified biscuits. When synergistically added with vitamin D and calcium, zinc citrate does not cause antagonistic reactions (unlike zinc sulfate, which readily binds with calcium and impairs absorption), thereby supporting bone development and immune function enhancement.

Mineraux®Zinc citrate is used in functional foods for adults as a daily supplement to cater for a variety of needs. Products that contain it include solid beverages such as protein powders and energy drinks, health foods such as capsules and tablets, and baked goods such as whole wheat bread and breakfast biscuits. Zinc citrate dissolves rapidly in sports drinks and protein powders without forming sediment. It is gentle on the gastrointestinal tract, making it suitable for elderly individuals with low stomach acid secretion or weak gastric motility. It helps to avoid discomfort such as bloating and diarrhoea.

Mineraux®Zinc citrate is used in specialized medical nutrition formulas for precision nutrition and recovery support. Application products include comprehensive nutritional formulas (suitable for postoperative and chronic disease patients) and specialized formulas for gastrointestinal disorders (such as enteral nutrition preparations). Zinc citrate exhibits strong stability, resisting decomposition in acidic or alkaline environments, and is compatible with the pH range of enteral nutrition preparations. Its high absorption rate rapidly replenishes zinc lost due to illness or surgery, promoting wound healing and restoring immune function.

Mineraux®Zinc citrate applications span all demographics (infants to seniors), all food forms (liquid/solid/semi-solid), and all processing scenarios (baking/fermentation/sterilization). Its core value lies in safety compliance, palatability, high absorption efficiency, and process adaptability.

■ Production technology characteristics

The production process of Mineraux®Zinc citrate prioritises achieving high purity and low impurity levels while ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Strict control of raw material purity, reaction conditions and post-treatment steps is required to prevent residual contaminants such as heavy metals (lead, arsenic and cadmium) and microorganisms. The mainstream industrial approach is currently the neutralisation method (the most mature and cost-effective), while the double decomposition method is occasionally used for high-end applications requiring even greater purity. The neutralisation method uses food-grade zinc oxide (or zinc hydroxide) and food-grade citric acid as raw materials. Through acid-base neutralisation, zinc citrate is formed and then crystallised, separated and dried to produce the final product. This process is simple, controllable, and suitable for large-scale production. The double decomposition method uses food-grade zinc sulphate and sodium citrate as the raw materials. Through an ion exchange reaction, it produces a zinc citrate precipitate. This method is suitable for applications requiring extremely high purity, such as infant formula, but it is more expensive than the neutralisation method.

Zinc is an essential nutrient for the proliferation and activation of immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. A zinc deficiency can lead to a reduction in immune cell counts and impaired phagocytic function, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections such as colds and influenza. Even in cases of insufficient gastric acid secretion, such as in the elderly or post-gastrectomy patients, Mineraux®Zinc citrate is efficiently absorbed, providing immune cells with sustained energy. Zinc citrate is particularly effective at preventing respiratory infections in autumn and winter, and at maintaining the immune barrier in individuals with weakened immunity, such as those in postoperative recovery or with chronic illnesses.

▶ Enhances immune function

Zinc is a component of digestive enzymes, such as carboxypeptidase and amylase, which promote the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and proteins. Zinc also repairs the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier and reduces inflammatory responses; zinc deficiency can easily lead to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and oral ulcers.

Unlike inorganic zinc, which may cause bloating and diarrhoea, Mineraux®Zinc citrate is non-irritating to the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is suitable for children with zinc-deficient anorexia, elderly people, and individuals with weak gastric motility, as it prevents zinc absorption issues caused by insufficient stomach acid and indirectly improves nutritional absorption efficiency.

▶ Digestive system health

Chemistry name: Zinc 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate (3:2)

CAS No.:546-46-3

EINECS No.: 208-901-2

Chemical formula: C12H14O16Zn3

Molecular mass: 574.34 g/mol

Physical and Chemical Properties:

☑  Mineraux®Zinc citrate dihydrate

☑  Mineraux®Zinc citrate trihydrate

As a highly effective and gentle organic zinc supplement, Mineraux®Zinc citrate delivers health benefits by safely replenishing zinc, an essential trace element for the human body, thereby supporting multiple physiological functions. Unlike inorganic zinc (such as zinc sulphate), its high absorption rate and low irritation properties mean its physiological effects can be utilised more efficiently, making it suitable for a broader range of individuals (such as those with low stomach acid, and infants and young children)

Zinc plays a role in collagen synthesis and sebum metabolism. This helps to maintain the integrity of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, and reduces abnormal sebum secretion, such as that which causes acne. Zinc also has anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Mineraux®Zinc citrate can be obtained through dietary sources (e.g. added to yoghurt or biscuits) or applied topically in food-grade formulations suitable for oral mucosal care, thus avoiding the gastrointestinal discomfort that can be associated with taking inorganic zinc orally. Zinc citrate is well-suited to long-term use for maintaining skin health, such as improving adolescent acne and protecting against dry skin in the elderly.

▶ Skin health