Zinc and Iron
Each entry’s own grades, side by side. A grade says how strong the evidence is for one outcome — it does not rank one entry over the other.
Compound or practice
Zinc
An immune and hormone cofactor that shortens colds when dosed right — and drains copper when overdone.
Grade B3 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Compound or practice
Iron
Only supplement it against a ferritin number — transformative in deficiency, pro-oxidant and constipating in excess.
Grade A3 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Graded in both
Outcomes are matched by name. Two entries can describe the same outcome in different words, so one listed further down may still be graded in the other.
No outcome has the same name in both entries. They may still overlap under different wording — read the two lists below.
Graded only in Zinc
- Cold duration (lozenges at onset) Moderate effectEvidence grade B
- Correcting deficiency Moderate effectEvidence grade A
- Testosterone (replete men) Trivial effectEvidence grade D
Graded only in Iron
- Iron-deficiency anemia Large effectEvidence grade A
- Fatigue with low ferritin (non-anemic) Moderate effectEvidence grade B
- Restless legs syndrome Moderate effectEvidence grade B
What each entry says about the other
- Zinc’s entry · Mind the timing: Competes with iron for absorption — take at different meals.
- Zinc’s entry · Watch with: Competes with iron for absorption — take at different meals.
- Iron’s entry · Mind the timing: Competes for absorption — separate.
- Iron’s entry · Watch with: Competes for absorption — separate.
Both columns are read from the entries as they stand in this library. A comparison is not advice to take either one, and it is no substitute for a clinician who knows the person.