The Magic Bullet Supplement for Stomach Issues

Zinc Carnosine

Updated information in my highly reviewed book Fix Your Gut.

Quite a few people ask me if they could only afford one supplement to help with stomach
discomfort (ulcers,1 H. pylori infection,2 or gastritis3) what supplement would I suggest them to
use for their troubles? If I had to choose one digestive supplement that could handle those
multiple stomach issues and more it would be Zinc Carnosine. Zinc Carnosine is the chelation of
the mineral zinc and the amino acid carnosine.4

Zinc
Zinc is an important trace mineral that can decrease wound healing time 5 and is important for
maintaining the integrity of the immune system.6 Zinc is used by the immune system to help
develop and maintain function of neutrophils, macrophages, killer cells, and B / T cells.7 Zinc is
also a crucial component in the production of the antioxidant enzyme CuZnSOD.8 Copper and
zinc combine with the superoxide dismutase enzyme to produce CuZnSOD. CuZnSOD is a
chelated enzyme that has both strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities.9 Zinc in
studies has also been known to shorten the duration of childhood diarrhea infections. The
mechanism of action of shortening diarrhea infections is that the zinc increases immune system
functioning and facilitates toxin elimination.10
Finally, zinc is used in the body in the production of testosterone (limits the amount of DHEA in
males to be turned into estrogen)11, growth hormones, and insulin-like growth factor-1.12 Zinc is
very important for males to supplement in their daily lives. If you do not have stomach issues I

would recommend taking fifteen mg of Now L-Optizinc daily, to ensure proper testosterone
production.

Different Forms of Zinc

Recommended Forms of Zinc
Zinc L-MonoMethionine Zinc L-monomethionine is the form of zinc that I recommend the
most (yes, even more than zinc glycinate). Zinc L-monomethionine is a highly absorbed form of
zinc with multiple benefits. Zinc L-monomethionine is highly absorbed because it is bounded
with the l isomer of methionine. Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means your body
cannot produce this amino acid, and it must be supplemented through the diet. Methionine has
two isomers (an isomer are molecules with the same molecular formula, but different chemical
structures) D and L. The D isomer is synthetic and is created during supplement production. The
L isomer is natural and is what the body recognizes as methionine. Therefore, the L isomer has a
higher absorption. The extra methionine provided by the zinc supplement is used in the body to
make cysteine, carnitine, taurine, lecithin, SAM-e, and phosphatidylcholine.
Methionine, when converted into SAM-e eventually degrades into a byproduct known as
homocysteine (excess homocysteine has been linked to being a possible factor in developing
heart disease.) Homocysteine then is immediately inactivated and turned into either the amino
acid cysteine or methionine in the body before any damage can be done as long as adequate B12
and glycine are provided. Methionine is beneficial to the body in supplemental form as long as
you take a good B vitamin complex or take a supplement that contains the amino acid glycine. I
recommend the Optizinc brand of L-methionine supplements.
Zinc Glycinate Zinc Glycinate is a zinc supplement that is chelated with the amino acid
glycine. Glycine reduces anxiety in the body and promotes a feeling of well-being. Check your
supplement to see if your glycinate chelate in your supplement is made from the TRAACS
Albion process of manufacturing chelates (the supplement should have the TRAACS or Albion
logo.) Choose a glycinate product that uses TRAACS so you can get the best quality glycinate
available.

Zinc MonoMethionine Zinc monomethionine is the brother of Zinc L-methionine and also has
great absorption. Zinc monomethionine is not absorbed as well in the human body compared to
L-Methionine because it contains both of the D and L isomers. When using this supplement a B
vitamin complex supplement or glycine supplement may be needed as well to help with
absorption and monomethionine regulation. I recommend the Optizinc brand of monomethionine
supplements.
Zinc Picolinate Zinc picolinate is a zinc supplement that is chelated with picolinic acid.
Picolinic acid is a compound that is an isomer of niacin and is a carbolite of the amino acid
tryptophan. Zinc picolinate has superior absorption and picolinate absorption is superior to even
gluconate chelates.
ZMK A great form of zinc that also includes magnesium chelates from all of the Krebs cycle:
citrate, fumarate, malate, succinate, and alpha-keto-glutarate. ZMK is great for athletes and is
very good for recovery. A ZMK supplement should be taken before bed.
Zinc Gluconate A form of zinc that is chelated with gluconic acid which occurs from the
natural fermentation of glucose. Zinc gluconate has above average absorption in the body. Zinc
gluconate is the type of zinc that is found in products like throat lozenges and nasal spray that are
used to shorten the duration of the common cold. The zinc gluconate nasal sprays have been
linked to permanent loss of the sense of smell in some people and should be avoided.
Zinc Citrate Zinc citrate is zinc chelated with citric acid. Zinc citrate has an average rate of
absorption and can increase stomach acid levels. An animal study showed that the citric acid in
the zinc citrate supplement can offset some of the absorption problems if the zinc supplement is
taken with a meal high in phytic acid.
Zinc Orotate Like magnesium orotate, zinc orotate is one of the least known forms of
supplemental zinc. The extra orotate will help with muscle regeneration and repair. Women
should avoid itt if they are or are trying to become pregnant since it may be mutagenic (only
found as a possibility in rats in vivo; and rats are biologically different than humans, therefore it
might be safe after all.)

Garbage Forms of Zinc

Zinc Oxide Zinc oxide has a poor absorption rate in the human body. Zinc oxides poor
absorption properties is why it is used as a sunscreen and a skin protectant. I only recommend the
use of zinc oxide skin care products, but limit the products made with nano zinc oxide which can
be absorbed and nano zinc oxide safety has not been fully studied yet.
Zinc Aspartate The average absorption of zinc aspartate is not worth the extra aspartic acid.
Too much aspartic acid may be neurotoxic. This recommendation includes ZMA supplements.
Zinc Pyrithione Zinc pyrithione is mainly used in anti-dandruff shampoos. Its mechanism of
action for eliminating yeast is that it disrupts the yeasts membrane transport by blocking the
proton pump that energizes the transport chain. Zinc pyrithione can cause irritation and allergies,
and its use should be limited.

Carnosine
Carnosine is both an amino acid and antioxidant. Most carnosine in the diet comes from the
ingestion of red meat. Carnosine is believed to protect the organs from oxidative stress and
advanced glycation end products (AGEs).13AGEs are produced during the break-down of
glucose, fructose, and galactose by the body for assimilation. Excess AGEs that are produced in
the body have been linked to a wide range of diseases from diabetes,14 cardiovascular
disease,15to Alzheimers disease16 as well. Sadly, the amount of carnosine in most zinc
carnosine supplements is tiny and is broken down easily by the enzyme carnosinase, so the
effects of the supplemental carnosine would be minimal.17

Zinc Carnosine
Zinc binds quickly to stomach tissue if taken on an empty stomach. If you take a zinc supplement
on an empty stomach, it causes severe stomach pain and gastritis. It has been theorized that zinc
ions are highly soluble in stomach acid and have corrosive, antimicrobial, and immunestimulating properties that irritate the stomach tissue because of the direct absorption of the zinc
ions. If you chelate zinc with carnosine, the chelation slows down the absorption and elimination
of zinc from the stomach. Zinc is then able to repair the stomach and intestinal tissue directly

without irritating it. Zinc carnosine may be taken on an empty stomach as needed. Zinc carnosine
also protects the stomach lining from opportunistic H. pylori infection, and NSAIDs damage that
cause ulcers that come from long-term use of the medication.18

Supplemental Recommendations and Toxicity

High doses of zinc carnosine over a long period can cause zinc toxicity and lowered immune
system functioning. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
frequent colds, increased cholesterol levels, and chills.19 If I had to take a maximum dose of zinc
carnosine I would take no more than 450 mg of zinc carnosine (100 mg of elemental zinc) a day
total for two weeks. Most supplement instructions recommend taking zinc carnosine twice a day
for a total of 75 mg of zinc carnosine daily (15 mg of elemental zinc.)
If you supplement with any other type of zinc, I would recommend no more than 60 mg of
elemental zinc daily. If you supplement with 60 mg of zinc, I would suggest that as long as you
did not suffer from adrenal fatigue that you should supplement with two mg of Pure
Encapsulations Copper Glycinatedaily. Zinc and copper balance one another in the body and a
good supplementation ratio is for every 15 mg of zinc, one mg of copper is needed (15:1 ratio).
Excessive copper buildup and toxicity can make adrenal fatigue symptoms worse, so limit
copper intake during zinc supplementation until adrenals have healed. Zinc carnosine is one of
my top three favorite digestive health supplements; everyone should keep a bottle in their
medicine cabinet so they can take it when needed.

Supplement Recommendations
Recommended Zinc Carnosine Supplement (It is also what I take daily): Peptic-Care ZC / Other
Recommendations: Doctors Best PepZin GI, Enzymedica Acid Soothe
Recommended Form of Zinc L-Methionine: NOW Opti L-Zinc
Recommended Form of Zinc Glycinate: Numedica Zinc Glycinate / Other
Recommendation: Now Foods Zinc Glycinate

Recommended Form of Zinc MonoMethionine: Life Extension Opti Zinc / Other

Recommendation: Zinc Balance
Recommended Form of Zinc Picolinate: Zinc Picolinate
Recommended Form of Zinc Citrate: Pure Encapsulations Zinc Citrate / Other
Recommendations: Thorne Research Zinc Citrate
Recommended Form of Zinc Gluconate: Pure Formulas Liquid Zinc Gluconate
Recommended Form of Zinc Orotate: Advanced Research Labs Zinc Orotate

1. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_report_stomach_01.htm

2. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_report_stomach_01.htm

3. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/jan2008_report_agingStomachs_01.htm)
4. Halpern, Georges, Zinc Carnosine Natures Safe and Effective Remedy For Ulcers, Square

One Publishers, May 1, 2005.

5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2275309

6. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc

7. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc

8. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/

9. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/jan2007_report_sod_01.htm

10. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc
11. http://www.nowloss.com/ways-to-increase-testosterone-levels-naturally-without-using-

steroids.htm

12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10801966
13. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2011/jan2011_Carnosine-Exceeding-Scientific-

Expectations_01.htm

14. http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/21/4/186.full

15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18473756

16. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165017396000161
17. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2011/jan2011_Carnosine-Exceeding-Scientific-

Expectations_01.htm
18. Halpern, Georges, Zinc Carnosine Natures Safe and Effective Remedy For Ulcers, Square

One Publishers, May 1, 2005.

19. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional
By John Brisson on July 19, 2014 / Digestive Health, Supplement Recommendations, Zinc / 50
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