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Zc8.5
Zinc Carnosine Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
33 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Zinc Carnosine appears to help in 11 of 13 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1998–2025 with a typical study size of 79 participants.
Based on 33 studies · 5 meta-analyses · 27 RCTs · 3,673 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
11helped1unclear1didn't help· 20 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Gut barrier & GIImproved gut lining integrity and reduced stomach discomfort within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
Likely helps28 studies
Wound & ulcer healing
Likely helps27 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Safety profile
Probably helps6 studies
InflammationHealed gut lining and reduced inflammation · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 27 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
92%
across studies
People studied
3,673
typical study: 79 people
Strongest designs
32
5 pooled, 27 randomised
Showed benefit
85%
11/13 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
4
3+ months
2
Populations Studied
Patients with H. pylori infection2
Patients with pressure ulcers2
Patients with gastric ulcers and H. pylori infection1
Patients with age-related diseases1
Steady research
7 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2023
199820112025
1Gastric ulcer healing and H. pylori eradicationMeta-Analysisn=1,247 · large study2020
This meta-analysis strengthens evidence for zinc-carnosine's gastroprotective effects beyond individual studies.
Wang J et al. · Digestive Diseases and Sciences (2020)
2H. pylori eradication rateMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=396 · medium study2022
However, the evidence is still scarce, and larger trials are needed to confirm or refute our findings.
Mahmoud A et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Huge harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
We used the odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous outcomes presented with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).
Pooled OR found a statistical difference favoring the PZN arm in the intention to treat and per protocol H. pylori eradication rates (OR: 2.01 with 95% CI [1.27, 3.21], p = 0.003) and (OR: 2.65 with 95% CI [1.55, 4.54], p = 0.0004), respectively.
We found no statistical difference between the two groups regarding the total adverse events (OR: 1.06 with 95% CI [0.55, 2.06], p = 0.85).
Clinical studies were conducted to manage chemotherapy induced toxicities and there are no clinical studies available for its anti-cancer use, and the current evidence does not support its use in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Sureshkumar K et al. · Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition) (2023)
Clinical studies were conducted to manage chemotherapy induced toxicities and there are no clinical studies available for its anti-cancer use, and the current evidence does not support its use in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
The dose of 300 mg may be useful among patients with baseline serum zinc concentration of less than 70 µg/dL, and 150 mg for 70 µg/dL or more.
Furihata K et al. · Nutrients (2020)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The dose-combined overall polaprezinc increased the change from baseline by a mean of 9.08 µg/dL (95% confidence interval: 5.46, 12.70; heterogeneity: I2 = 0.61%) compared to the placebo.
A significant dose-response relationship was confirmed (p < 0.001).
Baseline serum zinc concentration was considered an effect modifier in polaprezinc 300 mg.
8Gastric ulcer healing rateRCTCited 2×n=224 · medium study2022
These findings suggest that the efficacy and safety of polaprezinc were similar to those of rebamipide in the treatment of GU.
Shen W et al. · Medical engineering & physics (2022)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
For the primary efficacy endpoint, the effective rates confirmed by gastroscopy, after treatment for the test and control groups were 81.48% and 74.31% (P = 0.1557), respectively.
After 4 and 8 weeks of treatments, both treatment groups had comparable improvements rates in gastrointestinal symptoms (test vs. control: 44.44% vs. 39.45% [P = 0.4559] and 81.48% vs. 77.06% [P = 0.4223]).
These findings suggest that the efficacy and safety of polaprezinc were similar to those of rebamipide in the treatment of GU.
9H. pylori eradication rateRCTCited 22×n=303 · medium study2017
It appears that standard dose polaprezinc combined with triple therapy can significantly improve the H. pylori eradication rate, without an increase in toxicity.
Tan B et al. · PloS one (2017)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the rate of H. pylori eradication was significantly higher for Arms A (77.0%) and B (75.9%) compared to Arm C (58.6%) (P < 0.01), whereas there was no difference between Arms A and B (P = 0.90).
Per-protocol (PP) analysis showed that the rate of H. pylori eradication was significantly higher for Arms A (81.1%) and B (83.3%) compared to Arm C (61.4%) (P < 0.01), whereas there was no significant difference between Arms A and B (P = 0.62).
The adverse event rate for Arm B (5.1%) was higher than for Arms A (2.8%) (P = 0.04) and C (1.9%) (P = 0.02).
10Bioequivalence of polaprezinc formulationsRCTn=24 · very small study2025
Clinical and Translational Science
Xiao M et al. · Clinical and translational science (2025)
The geometric mean ratios (GMR) in primary PK endpoints between the test and reference products with 90% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.
All 90% CIs of GMRs in Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ between the two products were within 80.0%-125.0%.
The generic and original polaprezinc granules were bioequivalent by pharmacokinetic comparisons in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions.
11Taste disorder improvementRCTCited 8×n=219 · medium study2013
The present study also indicated that examining depressiveness based on the SDS scores and investigating disturbance of each taste quality using the filter-paper disk method are recommended for the diagnosis and determination of the treatment effect of a taste disorder.
Ikeda M et al. · Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai kaiho (2013)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
As a result, the zinc-treated arm experienced a statistically significant improvement against the placebo-treated arm in the perceptible threshold scores of the filter-paper disk method 8 weeks after the administration of the investigational drug.
However, the effective ratios based on the initial criteria were 55.6% in the treatment group and 43.2% in the placebo, where no statistical significance was recorded.
Whereas, in approximately 77%, or 168 patients with "normal" SDS scores and with completely impaired taste qualities, the ratio of effective cases reached 60.9% in the zinc-treated group, the ratio of the placebo-treated group reached 39.5%, resulting in a statistical significance.
The effect of a zinc-containing compound, Polaprezinc, was shown to clinically improve the disease conditions of idiopathic taste disorders with no serious side effects in a well controlled double-blinded clinical study.
Sakagami M et al. · Acta oto-laryngologica (2009)
The group of patients given 68 mg zinc showed a significant improvement in their gustatory sensitivity compared with the placebo group.
The effect of a zinc-containing compound, Polaprezinc, was shown to clinically improve the disease conditions of idiopathic taste disorders with no serious side effects in a well controlled double-blinded clinical study.
13Grade ≥2 oral mucositis incidenceRCTCited 8×n=91 · small study2021
These findings suggest that PZ lozenge is effective for prophylaxis against Grade ≥2 oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy in patients undergoing HSCT without any influence on the HSCT outcome.
Kitagawa J et al. · International journal of cancer (2021)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The incidence of Grade ≥2 but not Grade ≥3 oral mucositis was significantly reduced in the prevention group compared to the control group (44.7% in control group vs 22.0% in the prevention group, P = .025).
There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of other adverse events or the rate of engraftment (95.6% vs 97.2%, P = .693) between the two groups.
A total of 91 patients were enrolled, and 88 patients (47 in the control group and 41 in the prevention group) were eligible for data analysis.
Zinc supplementation reduces ERI in patients undergoing HD and may be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with renal anemia and low serum zinc levels.
Kobayashi H et al. · Nutrients (2015)
Serum zinc levels were significantly increased and serum copper levels were significantly decreased in the polaprezinc group after three months; this persisted throughout the study period.
Although there was no significant change in the serum iron or transferrin saturation levels in the polaprezinc group during the study period, serum ferritin levels significantly decreased following polaprezinc treatment.
Further, in the polaprezinc group, ESA dosage and ERI were significantly decreased at 10 months and nine months, respectively, as compared with the baseline value.
The polaprezinc plus PPI treatment showed noninferiority to rebamipide plus PPI treatment in the ulcer healing rate at 4 weeks after ESD.
Jung DH et al. · Journal of clinical gastroenterology (2021)
The short procedure time was an independent predictive factor for a high ulcer healing rate (odds ratio: 0.975; 95% confidence interval: 0.958-0.993; P=0.006).
The polaprezinc plus PPI treatment showed noninferiority to rebamipide plus PPI treatment in the ulcer healing rate at 4 weeks after ESD.
16Cardiac function post-myocardial infarctionRCTCited 7×n=50 · small study2019
The results of the present study suggest that polaprezinc has an anti-inflammatory effect and improves cardiac function after AMI.
Yoshikawa F et al. · Medicine (2019)
Likely real
The mean interleukin-6/maximal creatine phosphokinase level was significantly reduced in the polaprezinc group (0.024 [0.003-0.066] vs. 0.076 [0.015-0.212], respectively; P = .045).
In addition, echocardiography revealed that the ejection fraction of the nonpolaprezinc group was not significantly increased between day 3 and 9 months post-AMI (53 [49-60.8] vs. 59.5 [52-69.3], respectively; P = .015).
However, a significant increase was detected in the ejection fraction of the polaprezinc group at the 2 time points (54 [51-57] vs. 62 [55-71], respectively; P < .01).
17Genomic stability and antioxidant activityRCTCited 50×n=84 · small study2015
Zn supplementation may have a beneficial effect in an elderly population with low Zn levels by improving Zn status, antioxidant profile, and lowering DNA damage.
Sharif R et al. · Molecular nutrition & food research (2015)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Plasma Zn was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 5.69% in the Zn supplemented group after 12 weeks.
A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the micronucleus frequency (-24.18%) was observed for the Zn supplemented cohort relative to baseline compared to the placebo group.
Reductions of -7.09% for tail moment and -8.76% for tail intensity were observed for the Zn group (relative to baseline) (p < 0.05).
18Exercise-induced gut permeabilityRCTCited 62×n=8 · very small study2016
ZnC, taken alone or with colostrum, increased epithelial resistance and the TJ structure and may have value for athletes and in the prevention of heat stroke in military personnel.
Davison G et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2016)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Body temperature increased 2°C, and gut permeability (5-h urinary lactulose:rhamnose ratios) increased 3-fold after exercise (from 0.32 ± 0.016 baseline to 1.0 ± 0.017 at 14 d; P < 0.01).
ZnC or colostrum truncated the rise by 70% after 14 d of treatment.
The combination treatment gave an additional benefit, and truncated exercise induced increase at 2 d (30% reduction; P < 0.01).
These findings offer preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of polaprezinc in treating BED and BN and suggest the involvement of zinc deficiency in these conditions.
Sakae K et al. · Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (2020)
These findings offer preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of polaprezinc in treating BED and BN and suggest the involvement of zinc deficiency in these conditions.