Zinc Picolinate

Zinc picolinate is the coordination complex formed between one zinc ion and two molecules of picolinic acid, pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (C12H8N2O4Zn, CAS 17949-65-4, MW 309.59). It is a white to off-white fine powder, only slightly soluble in water, soluble in dilute mineral acid, and it decomposes at 225–227 °C rather than melting cleanly. At 21.1% elemental zinc it sits between the gluconate and the sulphate on loading, which lets a brand meet a 15 mg or 25 mg zinc declaration from a compact, excipient-light tablet or a size 3 capsule. Because the two picolinate ligands occupy the metal's coordination sphere, the compound behaves as a discrete complex rather than a freely dissociating salt. In practice it is noticeably less astringent than zinc sulphate and less prone to interacting with other actives in a dry premix, which is why it appears in multivitamin-mineral tablets, men's and sports formulas, beauty-and-hair nutrition blends and private-label capsule lines — particularly for North American and Australian markets, where the picolinate form is well recognised on labels. Zinc itself contributes to normal protein synthesis, normal macronutrient metabolism and the normal function of the immune system, and the picolinate simply serves as the carrier. No pharmacopoeial monograph exists for zinc picolinate in USP, Ph. Eur. or BP, so the material is manufactured and released against a documented house specification: identity by FT-IR against a reference spectrum, elemental zinc by complexometric titration or ICP-OES benchmarked to the theoretical 21.1%, loss on drying, residue on ignition, particle size, residual solvents, heavy metals to ICH Q3D and USP <2232> expectations, and full microbiology. It is a permitted source of zinc for food supplements in the EU under Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC, though it does not appear on the shorter list permitted for adding minerals to ordinary foods under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 — a point worth checking against the destination market. Standard supply is an 80 mesh powder; micronised grades are milled to order. Certificates of analysis, MSDS and Halal, Kosher, non-GMO, vegan, BSE/TSE-free and allergen statements accompany every shipment.