Explanation

Zinc (urine): what is measured?

The analysis measures the concentration of zinc in a single urine sample. Zinc is a trace element needed for many enzymes, building proteins, growth, wound healing and immunity. The body mainly excretes zinc through the stool; only a small part is lost through the urine. With some conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease, the loss through the urine can be greater.

What can it detect?

Greater loss of zinc through the urine, for example with diabetes or kidney disease
A high intake through zinc supplements
Exposure to zinc at work, for example with galvanizing

Result

What does the result mean?

Zinc (urine) too high

A raised value may fit the use of zinc supplements or a greater loss of zinc through the urine, for example with diabetes or kidney disease. Work with zinc, such as galvanizing, can also raise the value. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), anyone who takes high doses of zinc tablets for a long time can develop a copper deficiency. In a single sample, the value can also be high because the urine is concentrated.

Zinc (urine) too low

A low value in a single sample usually means that the urine is diluted or that little zinc is being excreted. With a zinc deficiency, the body excretes less zinc, but a low urine value is not reliable proof of a deficiency. A true deficiency is rare in the Netherlands.

After an abnormal result

With an abnormal result, the GP looks at supplements, diet and conditions that cause zinc loss, such as diabetes or kidney disease, and may have zinc measured in blood.

Reliability

How reliable is the test?

Zinc in urine says little about zinc stores. According to the Health Council of the Netherlands, the signs of a zinc deficiency are not specific and it is difficult to link a deficiency to symptoms. The urine value varies strongly with how much you drink and with what you have eaten. There are no agreed cutoff values for a single sample; excretion is usually measured in urine collected over 24 hours.

What can affect the result?

A single urine sample depends strongly on how much you have drunk; the result is easier to compare when it is expressed per gram of creatinine, which requires measuring creatinine in the same sample.
Zinc supplements raise the value.
The result of a single sample cannot be converted into excretion per 24 hours.
Contamination of the collection container can falsely raise the result.

Who it is for

Who is the test useful for?

Useful for

The measurement is of limited use. It can add something when a large zinc loss through the urine is suspected or with known exposure to zinc at work, usually alongside zinc in blood. Anyone who wants to know whether their zinc intake is sufficient gains little from this measurement.

How common is it?

How often a zinc deficiency occurs in the Netherlands is not well known; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), signs of a deficiency are, as far as is known, rare. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it is almost impossible to take in too much zinc through food.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum)

Drawbacks and risks

A low value in a diluted sample can wrongly be read as a zinc deficiency and lead to unnecessary use of supplements.
A slightly abnormal value without symptoms easily leads to worry.

Get tested

Zinc (urine): test panels

Zinc (urine) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.

Urine · 2 analyses
Zinc
Measures zinc in a single urine sample. Says little about your zinc stores; can add something when zinc loss through the urine is suspected.
€ 32,00

Evidence

Sources

This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.

More about risks and results

More explanations

Other tests: Vitamins, minerals and amino acids

All tests