PepZin GI Zinc-L-Carnosine 75mg | 120 Capsules | Doctor's Best

PepZin GI Zinc-L-Carnosine by Doctor's Best

This capsule revolves around a single substance: zinc-L-carnosine. This is a compound of the mineral zinc with L-carnosine, a small molecule consisting of two amino acids. Doctor's Best uses the patented PepZin GI® form from the Japanese company Hamari Chemicals. Two capsules together provide 75mg of zinc-L-carnosine. One bottle contains 120 plant-based capsules, enough for two months.

What zinc-L-carnosine exactly is

The name actually says what is in it. Zinc is a mineral that you get from food, for example from meat, cheese, nuts and whole grains. L-carnosine is a dipeptide, a mini-protein of two amino acids: beta-alanine and histidine. You find it naturally mainly in meat. In zinc-L-carnosine, these two substances are linked together into a solid, powdery compound. The difference with a separate zinc supplement lies in that linkage: zinc and carnosine together form a complex that behaves as a whole, instead of two separate substances next to each other. Good to know: the powder is white to light yellow and dissolves poorly in water. That is normal for this type of metal-peptide complexes and says nothing about the quality. You don't notice that in the capsule, because you simply swallow it whole with a glass of water. The capsule itself is about two centimeters long.

How much zinc and carnosine you get

On the label you see three lines, and that can be confusing. Many people wonder if it is about three separate substances. In short: no. The 75mg zinc-L-carnosine is the total compound. Of that, approximately 16mg is zinc and 59mg is L-carnosine. Those two numbers add up to the 75mg of the complex. With 16mg of zinc per daily dose of two capsules, you are at 160% of the reference intake for zinc. Keep that in mind if you also use a multivitamin or another product with zinc. Then add the amounts together. For comparison: an average multivitamin often contains between 5 and 15mg of zinc per day. Because zinc is a mineral that your body does not make itself, your intake depends entirely on what you eat and possibly supplement. By adding both together, you keep a clear overview.

Where PepZin GI comes from

What many people do not know: zinc-L-carnosine originally comes from Japan. Hamari Chemicals, a chemical company from Osaka, supplies the substance under the brand name PepZin GI® as a raw material to supplement makers. Doctor's Best processes that raw material into a simple capsule. Besides the zinc-L-carnosine, there is only microcrystalline cellulose as a filler, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide as excipients. The capsule itself is made of hypromellose, a plant-based material. Therefore, this zinc-L-carnosine is vegan and according to the manufacturer free of gluten, soy and genetically modified ingredients.

The manufacturer advises to take the two capsules on an empty stomach, so for example half an hour before breakfast or a few hours after a meal. Doctor's Best is an American brand from California that has been making supplements since 1990. This bottle with 120 capsules and a clear dosage per serving fits into a simple daily routine of two capsules per day.