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Is zinc safe while breastfeeding?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

NIH gives 12 mg of zinc a day while breastfeeding for women 19 and older and an upper limit of 40 mg. NIH says evidence is conflicting on whether zinc supplements raise breast milk zinc, and in one trial of 15 mg a day in 71 nursing women they did not.1,2

Key facts

  • NIH gives 12 mg of zinc a day while breastfeeding for women 19 and older and 13 mg for teens, 4 mg more than before.1,3
  • The upper limit is 40 mg a day for adults and 34 mg for teens from all sources, and it applies while breastfeeding.1,3
  • NIH says evidence is conflicting on whether zinc supplements during breastfeeding raise the zinc in breast milk.1
  • In a randomized trial of 71 nursing women, 15 mg of zinc a day did not change milk zinc, which fell over 7 months in all women.2
  • Breast milk zinc peaks in the first month and falls about 75% by the ninth month, so milk alone does not meet an infant's zinc needs after 6 months.1

What NIH says about zinc while nursing

NIH says the zinc requirement rises by 4 mg a day during lactation, and it lists breastfeeding women among the groups more likely to take in too little. It does not describe a breastfeeding-specific harm from zinc, and its upper limit is the same as for other adults.1

The recommended amount is 11 mg a day during pregnancy and 12 mg while breastfeeding, or 12 mg and 13 mg for teens.1

The upper limit for adults is 40 mg of zinc a day from all sources: food, drinks, supplements and medicines, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is 34 mg for teens aged 14 to 18 and lower for children. It is set to protect copper status and does not apply to people given zinc as medical treatment by a doctor.1,3

Zinc in breast milk peaks in the first month after birth and falls by about 75% by the ninth month.1

Does a zinc supplement change breast milk zinc?

NIH says some but not all studies show that zinc-rich food raises the zinc in breast milk, and that evidence is also conflicting on whether supplementation does.1

A double-blind randomized trial gave 71 women a daily 15 mg zinc supplement or placebo from about two weeks after delivery. Their total zinc intake averaged 25.7 mg a day with the supplement against 13.0 mg without. Blood zinc was higher with the supplement, but milk zinc was not affected, and it fell over the 7 months of the study in both groups. The authors said the usual diet kept milk zinc normal in this group, and that trials in less well-nourished women were needed.2

The trial measured zinc levels. It did not set out to look for harm to mothers or infants, so it cannot show that a supplement is free of risk.2

What is not known about zinc supplements while nursing

The sources checked do not report harm to nursing infants from the mother's zinc supplement, and they do not rule it out. NIH's cautions about zinc are about the mother's own intake: 50 mg or more a day over weeks can inhibit copper absorption, and denture cream used far beyond the label has led to low copper.1

Taking 50 mg of zinc a day or more for weeks can block copper absorption and lower copper status, reduce immune function and lower HDL cholesterol.1,3

For older babies, NIH says breast milk alone does not provide enough zinc after 6 months, and that infants aged 7 to 12 months should eat age-appropriate foods or formula that contains zinc. That is advice about the baby's food, not about a supplement for the mother.1

Who should ask a doctor about zinc while breastfeeding

  • Breastfeeding women who take more zinc than a multivitamin holds, who should ask their doctor or pharmacist to check it against the 40 mg upper limit.1,3
  • Women who eat no meat, since NIH says vegetarians usually take in less zinc.1
  • Mothers of babies over 6 months, who should ask the baby's doctor about zinc in the baby's foods.1
  • Women using zinc oxide or pyrithione zinc products, who should ask a pharmacist, because the sources checked do not address skin and hair products in nursing.

Questions people ask

Is zinc ok while breastfeeding?

NIH gives 12 mg a day while breastfeeding and an upper limit of 40 mg. It describes no breastfeeding-specific harm. Ask your doctor about a supplement.1,3

Is a zinc supplement safe while nursing?

A randomized trial of 15 mg a day in 71 nursing women did not look for harm, and NIH describes the evidence on supplements and breast milk as conflicting. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.1,2

Is pyrithione zinc safe while breastfeeding?

The sources checked cover zinc taken by mouth, not pyrithione zinc shampoos, which is not a finding either way. Ask your pharmacist.1

Is zinc oxide safe while breastfeeding?

No source checked addressed zinc oxide skin products in nursing mothers. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the product you use.1

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Sources

  1. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated January 6, 2026. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. Krebs NF, Reidinger CJ, Hartley S, Robertson AD, Hambidge KM. Zinc supplementation during lactation: effects on maternal status and milk zinc concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;61(5):1030-6. A double-blind randomized trial in 71 lactating women. Opened 2026-10-11.
  3. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated October 4, 2022. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.