ZincDoes zinc help with period pain?
Updated 10 Nov 2026
Short answer
It may, in period pain that has no other cause (primary dysmenorrhea). A 2024 review of 6 trials with 739 women found less pain with zinc than with placebo.[1] Trials of 8 weeks or more found a larger effect, and doses as low as 7 mg a day helped.[1]
The trials gave 7 to 150 mg of zinc a day, mostly as zinc sulfate. In several trials, women took zinc for 3 to 7 days before or during each period.[1] Side effects did not differ significantly between zinc and placebo.[1]
Sources (1)
- Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hsu TJ, Hsieh RH, Huang CH, Chen CS, Lin WY, Huang YC, et al. Nutrients, 2024. PMID 39683510
More about zinc
What is zinc?Which foods contain zinc?What is zinc used for?What are the signs of zinc deficiency?Is zinc safe?Do zinc lozenges help with colds?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.