Label Reading
What trace minerals are
Minerals are elements that come from the earth and water rather than from living things. Plants take them from soil, animals take them from plants and water, and people take them from foods. Nutrition references split them into major minerals, such as calcium, and trace minerals, which are needed only in very small quantities.
Zinc and iodine are both in the trace group. Neither is a vitamin. Vitamins are organic compounds made by living things, while minerals are simple elements. That difference shows up on labels, where minerals are often listed in a form combined with another substance.
Zinc was used as a metal long before anyone studied it as a nutrient. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, dates back thousands of years. Iodine was discovered in the early nineteenth century from seaweed ash, which already hints at its marine link.
Zinc: the basics
Zinc is a bluish-white metal, and in nutrition it is the element zinc found in foods as part of many different compounds. It is widespread in the food supply. Seafood and meat are the most concentrated sources, and several plant foods contribute too, though plant sources also contain compounds called phytates that bind some of the zinc.
Foods commonly listed as containing zinc include:
The zinc in a gummy usually appears as a fine powder that is blended in during production. Makers choose compounds that dissolve easily and have a mild taste, which is one reason you find gluconate and citrate forms so often on chewable products.
Some labels use the abbreviation Zn, which is the chemical symbol for the element. It means the same thing as the word zinc.
- Oysters, which are the standout source
- Beef, lamb and pork
- Crab and lobster
- Squash seeds, hemp seeds and cashews
- Chickpeas, lentils and beans
- Dairy foods and fortified breakfast cereals
How zinc is named on labels
Pure zinc metal is not used in supplements. Instead, makers combine zinc with another substance to form a compound, and the label names it. Common names include zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, zinc picolinate, zinc oxide and zinc sulfate. You may also find zinc amino acid chelate, where the mineral is bound to amino acids.
The panel usually states the amount of elemental zinc, meaning the mineral itself, in milligrams, and then names the compound in parentheses. This is why a line might read zinc (as zinc gluconate).
Plant foods deserve a fair mention in the zinc story. Whole grains, nuts and legumes all contain zinc, but they also contain phytates, natural compounds that bind some of it. Soaking, sprouting and fermenting are traditional preparations that reduce phytates, which is why bread made with a long fermentation is sometimes mentioned in food tables.
Iodine: the basics
Iodine is a mineral element found mostly in the sea. Ocean water, seaweed and marine life concentrate it, while the amount in soil varies a great deal from one region to another. That variation is why iodine in land-grown foods depends on where they were produced.
Foods commonly listed as containing iodine include:
- Seaweeds such as kelp, nori and kombu
- Cod, tuna and other seafood
- Dairy products and eggs
- Iodized table products, where iodine has been added
- Some breads made with iodine-containing ingredients
How iodine is named on labels
Iodine on a supplement panel is usually written as iodine followed by the compound in parentheses. The most common is potassium iodide, and potassium iodate is also used. When the source is a plant, you may find kelp or another seaweed named, sometimes with the iodine amount stated.
As with zinc, the amount is expressed as elemental iodine. Because iodine is needed in very small quantities, the unit is micrograms, written mcg, rather than milligrams.
A few details about iodine are specific to labels. Table products that carry iodine usually say iodized on the front. Kelp-based supplements can vary in iodine content from batch to batch, so makers often state the amount per serving to keep the number consistent.
Iodine has its own set of related words. Iodide is the form found in seawater and in most supplement ingredients, while iodate is a related form often used in fortifying foods. Iodine without any suffix usually refers to the element itself, and labels commonly list the amount as elemental iodine.
Reading mineral lines on a panel
Mineral lines follow the same pattern as vitamins: a name, an amount per serving and a percent of the daily value. Here is a short checklist:
- Read the name and the compound in parentheses.
- Check the unit, mg for zinc and mcg for iodine.
- Look at the percent daily value to compare products.
- Confirm the serving size, so the numbers match what you actually take.
Zinc and iodine in LumiVelle
Zinc and iodine are both named on the LumiVelle label, which also lists Korean gelatin, PDRN, resveratrol, vitamin C and vitamins A, D, E, B6 and B12, folate, biotin and pantothenic acid. LumiVelle is a daily gummy dietary supplement with 30 gummies per bottle, and its suggested use is one gummy daily, preferably with a meal, or as the label directs.
The forms and amounts of these two minerals are printed on the Supplement Facts panel on the bottle.
Quick questions
Are zinc and iodine vitamins?
No. They are minerals, which are elements from the earth and sea. Vitamins are organic compounds made by living things.
Why does a label say zinc as zinc gluconate?
The first word gives the amount of the mineral itself, while the words in parentheses name the compound it is combined with. This is how mineral lines are usually written.
Why does iodine content in foods vary?
Iodine is concentrated in the sea, and land soils differ widely in how much they hold. Foods from the ocean, such as seaweed and fish, are the best-known sources.
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