The key difference between zinc and zinc picolinate is that the zinc is a chemical element whereas the zinc picolinate is the zinc salt of picolinic acid. Further, zinc picolinate is one of the major forms of zinc supplement.
Zinc is a chemical element having the chemical Zn and atomic number 30. In addition to the chemical characteristics of this element, there are many applications such as an anti-corrosion agent, in batteries, as an alloying material, etc. Most importantly, it is a component in many dietary supplements in different forms. Zinc picolinate is such a form that we use as a dietary supplement. Let us talk more details on the difference between zinc and zinc picolinate.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Zinc
3. What is Zinc Picolinate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Zinc vs Zinc Picolinate in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Zinc?
Zinc is a chemical element having the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Moreover, it is in the group 12 and period 4 in the periodic table of elements. Therefore, it is a d block element and is a metal.
The applications of this metal include as an anti-corrosion agent, as a component of batteries, as a component of many alloys, as a component in paints and many other industries, as a catalyst for the synthesis of some organic compounds, as a dietary supplement and as a component of topical preparations. Let us talk more about the application of zinc as a dietary supplement.
Figure 01: Zinc Supplements
Most of the vitamin and mineral supplements contain zinc in several forms such as zinc oxide, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, etc. More importantly, zinc is an antioxidant. However, it can serve as an antioxidant only indirectly because it is redox-inert. Usually, doctors recommend a zinc supplement for those who have a high risk of zinc deficiency. They give it as a preventive measure. In addition to that, zinc serves as an inexpensive and critical tool for treating diarrhoea in children. This is because diarrhoea reduces the zinc level of our body.
Moreover, zinc supplement is useful as a treatment for acrodermatitis enteropathica, which is a genetic disorder. Among all, this supplement (mainly zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges) is useful for the treatment of common cold. It can reduce the cold symptoms.
What is Zinc Picolinate?
Zinc picolinate is the zinc salt of picolinic acid. It is a small molecule having the chemical formula C12H8N2O4Zn. The IUPAC name is zinc;pyridine-2-carboxylate. This molecule has one zinc cation (Zn2+) associated with two picolinate ions (conjugated base of picolinic acid).
Moreover, the molar mass of this compound is 309.58 g/mol. It is a dietary supplement that we use to treat or prevent zinc deficiency. After the administration of this supplement, it increases the absorption of zinc.
What is the Difference Between Zinc and Zinc Picolinate?
Zinc is a chemical element having the symbol Zn. The atomic number of this element is 30. More importantly, Zinc is a metal having two outermost electrons that can be removed in order to form a stable cation(Zn2+). In addition to that, the applications of zinc include as an anti-corrosion agent, as a component of batteries, as a component of many alloys, as a component in paints and many other industries, as a catalyst for the synthesis of some organic compounds, as a dietary supplement and as a component of topical preparations.
On the other hand, Zinc picolinate is the zinc salt of picolinic acid. The molar mass of this compound is 309.58 g/mol. Moreover, the chemical formula of zinc picolinate is C12H8N2O4Zn. Hence it contains one zinc cation (Zn2+) associated with two picolinate ions. Zinc picolinate is a dietary supplement that we use to treat or prevent zinc deficiency. Below infographic presents the important difference between zinc and zinc picolinate in tabular form.
Summary – Zinc vs Zinc Picolinate
Zinc is a component in many dietary supplements. It occurs in different forms in these supplements; as zinc oxide, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, etc. The key difference between zinc and zinc picolinate is that the zinc is a chemical element whereas zinc picolinate is the zinc salt of picolinic acid. Further, zinc picolinate is one of the major forms of zinc supplement.
Reference:
1. “Zinc.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 July 2018. Available here
2. “ZINC Picolinate.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.’Zinc 50 mg’By Editor182 (talk) – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’VitaminSupplementPills’By Raysonho – Own work, (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia