Zinc is one of the seven essential minerals alongside magnesium, iron, calcium, iodine, silica, and selenium.

While zinc has many important functions in the body, it is also a key nutrient for men’s health, as is magnesium!

You must regularly consume zinc through diet and supplementation to maintain optimal levels, as zinc is unfortunately not a nutrient that our body stores well, unlike many other micronutrients.

So, what role does magnesium play in the absorption and usage of zinc? Are they two nutrients that men should pair together in order to get the full benefit?

This article explores all, including the benefits of zinc and magnesium, why they should be taken together, and any other nutrients you should consider taking together!

What is Zinc?

Zinc is an essential mineral that is present in all some foods and is also available as a dietary supplement.

You may be mostly familiar with zinc as an immune-boosting supplement, such as in the form of zinc lozenges, which are thought to be beneficial for reducing the duration of a common cold.

Though, zinc plays a significant role in many other areas of health, including:

  • Immune function
  • Protein synthesis
  • Wound healing
  • DNA synthesis
  • Cell division

Zinc also supports normal growth and development during childhood and is required for proper functioning of our taste and smell senses.

As mentioned, we need a steady and regular intake of zinc as our body does not have the storage system for it, meaning we need to consistently consume zinc through diet and supplementation.

You can find zinc in a variety of foods, including oysters, beef, beans, cereals, and nuts.

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is also one of the seven essential minerals required for good health. Magnesium is responsible for many important processes in the body, including:

  • Regulation of muscle and nerve function
  • Regulation of blood sugar levels and blood pressure
  • Making protein, bone, and DNA
  • Absorption of key nutrients, such as vitamin D

You will also find magnesium in many foods, such as legumes, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and fortified foods.

What are the Health Benefits of Taking Zinc and Magnesium?

Magnesium

Supplementing with magnesium is thought to have several benefits, including:

  • Relieving muscle tension
  • Reducing tiredness and fatigue
  • Improving sleep quality
  • Aiding muscle recovery after exercise
  • Repairing skin
  • Strengthening bones
  • Contributing to metabolic function

Zinc

Our body needs zinc in order to grow, develop, and function optimally. Our body uses zinc for several functions, including:

  • Producing enzymes that catalyze chemical reactions
  • Processing the macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) found in food
  • Helping wound healing
  • Boosting immune system function
  • Supporting protein and DNA synthesis
  • Maintaining healthy bones
  • Playing a role in the growth and division of cells

Some individuals even supplement with zinc for supporting athletic performance and to help muscle cramps and tightness.

Zinc and Magnesium Together

All nutrients need to be in the right conditions and levels for our body to absorb them properly. While some minerals have mutual benefits, others may counteract each other’s level of absorption, commonly known as bioavailability.

Taken together and in the right doses, magnesium and zinc can work to each other’s advantage, which is why you often find supplements that include the two together.

Magnesium helps our body regulate zinc levels, which is why they should be taken together. In fact, a high intake of zinc can actually negatively impact our magnesium levels, so it’s key to take them in the recommended doses.

Zinc and Magnesium for Men

There are many benefits to zinc and magnesium for men’s health, specifically.

These include:

  • Boosting testosterone production and release
  • Improving sex drive and virility
  • Increasing free and total testosterone
  • Promoting growth hormone and muscle building

This is why you will find zinc and magnesium together in many men’s health supplements, such as Testo Lab Pro.

Not only do these nutrients help each other absorb and get used efficiently in the body, they also both provide benefits for testosterone production and overall men’s health.

How Should I Take Magnesium and Zinc?

The recommended dose of magnesium is 300 mg per day for men. While you can get most of your intake from diet alone, it may be a good idea to supplement to cover all bases and ensure you are filling any nutrient gaps.

For zinc, the recommended daily dose is 9.5 g for men per day. Again, while you can likely get the majority of your zinc intake from food alone, supplementation is sometimes necessary to cater for additional requirements and to bridge any potential nutrient gaps.

For men’s health specifically, Testo Lab Pro is one of the best supplements for naturally boosting testosterone production while providing you with the required amount of zinc and magnesium.

These nutrients build a strong foundation for the remainder of the testosterone-boosting formula, which also includes vitamin D, ashwagandha, mucuna pruriens, D-aspartic acid, and luteolin.

Zinc and Magnesium Deficiency

While zinc deficiencies are fairly rare, it’s still important to be aware of the potential symptoms, which include:

  • Weight loss
  • Wounds not healing properly
  • Reduced sense of taste and smell
  • Loss of appetite

Vegetarians and vegans may be at particular risk of deficiency due to the lack of meat and poultry, but also because this diet focuses more on grains and legumes which are thought to contain high levels of phytate, which reduces zinc absorption.

A magnesium deficiency may be more common than a zinc deficiency. Having low levels of magnesium may cause you to:

  • Sleep poorly
  • Feel more tired and fatigued
  • Experience heart palpitations

What About Taking Zinc with Other Nutrients?

While zinc and magnesium are a great pair to take together, zinc can actually interact with other minerals that can impair our body’s ability to absorb them. These minerals include copper and iron, which compete for absorption when taken with zinc.

Therefore, try to avoid taking zinc and copper and zinc and calcium together, as this could cause health issues such as calcium deficiency, weakened bones, and poor ability to absorb copper.

It’s a safer bet to take zinc with other nutrients together in a formulated supplement, such as Testo Lab Pro, or a multivitamin.

Take-Home Message

Zinc and magnesium are two of the most important nutrients for our body. While we can often get an adequate amount through diet alone, it can sometimes be necessary to supplement with these minerals, particularly if you have additional requirements.

It would be beneficial to take zinc and magnesium together, as magnesium helps our body regulate zinc levels. This would be even more beneficial for men’s health as these are two key players in testosterone production!

However, this is not the case for zinc and other nutrients, such as copper and calcium. Taking these supplements together may actually cause more harm than good.

Instead, it’s a good idea to take supplements as formulas, which would provide the correct amounts of nutrients for optimal absorption and minimal side effects.

A supplement such as Testo Lab Pro would provide just this, plus many other natural ingredients to support men’s health and hormone production!