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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Raloxifene (Evista) vs Zinc: Zinc has the stronger overall evidence (8.5 vs 5.3/10); they're alternatives for bone health — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Zinc wins 3 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Likely helps
21 of 26 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both Raloxifene (Evista) and Zinc have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
Approved (postmenopausal women) / off-label (male) — clinician-directed. For osteoporosis treatment/prevention and breast-cancer risk reduction the standard, validated dose is 60 mg once daily (the MORE, CORE, RUTH and STAR trials all used 60 mg/day; MORE also tested 120 mg/day with no clear added fracture benefit and more side effects). For off-label male gynecomastia the small published pediatric series used roughly 60 mg/day; there is no FDA-approved male dose and the male evidence is thin and retrospective.
any
Raloxifene hydrochloride 60 mg tablets (approved for postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast-cancer risk reduction)
15-30mg daily
With meals
Zinc picolinate or zinc citrate
Months to years
Years
Throughout use
Throughout use
2-4 weeks
2-4 weeks
4-8 weeks
Immediate
Reduction of vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with raloxifene: results from a 3-year randomized clinical trial. Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (MORE) Investigators.
JAMA (1999) · Rct · n=7705
MORE: multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of raloxifene 60 or 120 mg/day in 7,705 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, followed up to 36 months
The effect of raloxifene on risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: results from the MORE randomized trial. Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation.
JAMA (1999) · Rct · n=7705
Pre-specified breast-cancer analysis of the MORE RCT (7,705 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis), followed a median 40 months
Continuing outcomes relevant to Evista: breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal osteoporotic women in a randomized trial of raloxifene.
J Natl Cancer Inst (2004) · Rct · n=5213
CORE: extension of the randomized MORE trial giving 4 additional years of raloxifene 60 mg/day (n=3,510) vs continued placebo (n=1,703)
Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2024) · Meta analysis · n=739
Zinc supplementation significantly reduced pain severity compared to placebo (Hedges's g = -1.541; 95% CI: -2.268 to -0.814; p < 0.001), representing a clinically meaningful reduction in pain.
Effects of Daily Zinc Alone or in Combination with Other Nutrient Supplements on the Risk of Malaria Parasitaemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
Nutrients (2023) · Meta analysis · n=1339
The effect sizes, represented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were standardised by transforming them into log RRs and then pooling them using a fixed-effects or random-effects model depending on the heterogeneity across studies.
Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2022) · Meta analysis · n=806
Pooled analyses by the IBD subgroup showed a total population of 1677 with CD, for an overall mean zinc deficiency prevalence of 54% and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 0.51 to 0.56, versus 41% (95%CI 0.38-0.45) in the UC population (n = 806).
Based on meta-analyses showing reduced respiratory tract infections and improved immune markers (CD3/CD4). Effects primarily in deficient individuals. Take with food to reduce nausea risk.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Zinc has a higher evidence score (8.5/10 vs 5.3/10) and wins in 3 of 3 categories.
For bone health, Raloxifene (Evista) has a higher relevance score (76 vs 70).
No known interactions between Raloxifene (Evista) and Zinc have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.
AREDS2 works for diagnosed AMD; lutein/screen-strain claims are weaker. Who actually benefits.
The popular one (saw palmetto) mostly fails in rigorous trials; beta-sitosterol is the better bet.
Selenium helps; iodine can WORSEN Hashimoto’s. The honest take on "thyroid support".
CoQ10, zinc, selenium, carnitine modestly help sperm parameters — but live-birth evidence is weak.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.