Dietary Supplement Foundational Immune Support NSF Certified Sport Gluten Free A highly absorbed form of zinc, which supports immune function, reproductive health, and the prostate. Zinc Picolinate features better absorbability than many other zinc supplements. Supplementation can be important for many persons, including athletes who lose zinc in sweat during intense exercise. Thorne's Zinc Picolinate 30 mg (60 capsules) are NSF Certified for Sport. Zinc is essential for growth, immune function, testosterone metabolism, and numerous other functions in the body. Zinc is involved in more than 200 enzymatic reactions and plays a key role in genetic expression, cell division, and growth. Clinical studies demonstrate zinc supplementation can increase general wellness, and that it has a beneficial impact on connective tissue, as well as reproductive and eye health. However, not all zinc supplements are absorbed efficiently by the body. Picolinic acid is a natural mineral chelator produced from the amino acid tryptophan in the liver and kidneys, and then transported to the pancreas. During digestion, the picolinic acid is secreted from the pancreas into the small intestine, where it binds to minerals, such as zinc, to facilitate the mineral's absorption. Individuals susceptible to zinc deficiency include the elderly, the immuno-compromised, those on parenteral nutrition, burn victims, and athletes. Adequate Zinc levels are needed to support the body's normal production of testosterone, a hormone essential for promoting lean muscle mass. Because an athlete needs to know that his or her supplements are trustworthy and compliant, every batch of an NSF Certified for Sport product is tested for compliance with label claims and to ensure the absence of more than 200 substances banned by many major athletic organizations, including stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2 agents, and masking agents.