ClinCalc Pro
Menu
Calculators Drugs Pathways AI Dx Donate Get the App
Trace Element / Micronutrient Pregnancy: A

Zinc Sulphate (Burns Wound Healing)

Brand names: Zincomed, Z Span

Adult dose

Dose: 220–440 mg (elemental zinc 50–100 mg) two to three times daily
Route: oral
Frequency: two to three times daily
Max: 660 mg/day
Take with food to reduce GI upset; required for wound healing, immune function, and skin repair; burns cause significant zinc loss in wound exudate

Paediatric dose

Dose: 1 mg/kg
Route: oral
Frequency: once to twice daily
Max: 50 mg elemental zinc/day
Concentration: 220 mg capsules (50 mg elemental zinc); 5 mg/mL syrup mg/ml
Zinc deficiency in burns: 1 mg/kg/day elemental zinc supplement; infants: 1–3 mg elemental zinc/day as part of total parenteral/enteral nutrition

Dose adjustments

Renal

Avoid high doses in severe renal impairment

Hepatic

No dose adjustment required

Paediatric weight-based calculator

Zinc deficiency in burns: 1 mg/kg/day elemental zinc supplement; infants: 1–3 mg elemental zinc/day as part of total parenteral/enteral nutrition

Clinical pearls

  • Burns patients are severely zinc-depleted through wound exudate, increased metabolic demand, and poor intake
  • Zinc supplements improve wound healing rates and immune function in burns — standard part of burns nutrition protocol
  • Copper levels should be monitored if zinc >50 mg/day long-term — zinc displaces copper absorption

Contraindications

  • Hypercalcaemia (concurrent high-dose vitamin D)
  • Copper deficiency (zinc excess displaces copper)

Side effects

  • Nausea
  • GI upset (reduce with food)
  • Metallic taste
  • Copper deficiency (prolonged high-dose)

Interactions

  • Iron (reduces absorption — give 2h apart)
  • Tetracyclines (reduces absorption — give 2h apart)
  • Fluoroquinolones (chelation — give 2h apart)
  • Copper absorption (excess zinc depletes copper)

Monitoring

  • Serum zinc levels
  • Serum copper (if high-dose long-term)
  • Wound healing progress

Reference: BNFc; BNF 86; ESPEN burns nutrition guidelines; BBA micronutrient guidelines. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators