Niacin and Zinc on the Vigorus Label: What the Numbers Mean

What do 20 mg niacin and 11 mg zinc mean on the Vigorus label?

They are the only two amounts printed on the Vigorus Supplement Facts panel. Each capsule holds 20 mg of niacin (125% DV) and 11 mg of zinc (100% DV).

Everything else on the panel sits inside a 570 mg proprietary blend with no single amounts. So niacin and zinc are the two parts of the formula you can measure exactly. That makes them the easiest to check against your diet and any other supplements you take.

What does % Daily Value tell you?

The % Daily Value (DV) compares the amount in one serving with a set daily reference. It helps you see at a glance whether a serving is a little or a lot.

At 125% DV, the niacin in one capsule is a quarter more than the reference amount. At 100% DV, the zinc matches it. Neither figure is a target to beat. Most men already get niacin and zinc from food, so a supplement adds on top of that.

The DV is not the same as an upper limit. The DV is about how much you need. The upper limit is about how much is too much. You need both to read a label well.

How much niacin do men need, and how much is too much?

Adult men need 16 mg of niacin equivalents (NE) a day. The upper limit for niacin from supplements and fortified foods is 35 mg a day (NIH ODS, niacin).

Niacin is in meat, poultry, fish, beans, nuts and fortified grains. Many men meet their needs from food alone. The 20 mg in Vigorus is under the 35 mg limit on its own.

What is niacin flush?

Flushing is the most familiar side effect of the nicotinic acid form of niacin. It shows up as red, warm, itchy or tingling skin, often on the face and chest. It is common at 30 mg or more. The Vigorus label lists "Niacin", and at 20 mg a single capsule sits below that level. Adding another niacin product can push you over it.

How much zinc do men need, and how much is too much?

Adult men need 11 mg of zinc a day, which is exactly what one Vigorus capsule holds. The upper limit is 40 mg a day from all sources, food included (NIH ODS, zinc).

Oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts and fortified cereals all supply zinc. Too much zinc can cause nausea and an upset stomach. Over the long term, high zinc can also lead to low copper. That is why the limit counts every source, not just pills.

What happens if you stack Vigorus with a multivitamin?

Stacking adds the amounts together, so you need to add up niacin and zinc from every product you take. A typical men's multivitamin can easily double what Vigorus supplies.

The rows above are examples, not real products. Your own labels will differ. The point is that one extra product can tip a total over a limit, even when each product looks fine alone.

1. 1

   Find the niacin and zinc lines

   Look on the Supplement Facts panel of each product you take. Niacin may be listed as vitamin B3 or niacinamide.

2. 2

   Write down the milligrams

   Note the amount per serving, and how many servings you take a day.

3. 3

   Add Vigorus

   Add 20 mg niacin and 11 mg zinc for one Vigorus capsule.

4. 4

   Compare with the limits

   Keep supplement niacin at or under 35 mg a day and total zinc at or under 40 mg a day, unless your doctor says otherwise.

5. 5

   Ask if you are over

   If a total runs past a limit, ask a doctor or pharmacist which product to drop or change.

Does zinc affect antibiotics?

Yes. Zinc can lower how much of some antibiotics your body absorbs, including quinolones and tetracyclines (NIH ODS, zinc).

The same care applies to a multivitamin with zinc. If you are unsure whether your antibiotic is one of these types, the pharmacist can tell you in a minute. The label also says to consult a physician before use if you take a medication.

Why does the label use niacin and zinc oxide?

The label does not say why these forms were chosen. It names "Niacin" for vitamin B3 and "Zinc Oxide" for zinc, and gives no other detail.

Zinc oxide is one of the most common forms in supplements. Niacin is the form of vitamin B3 most linked to flushing, which is why the amount matters. Niacinamide, another form, does not usually cause flushing, but Vigorus does not list it.

The Supplement Facts page quotes the full panel. The six ingredients post covers the blend. For a checklist you can use on any bottle, see reading a men's supplement label.

So is 20 mg niacin and 11 mg zinc a lot?

On their own, no. Both amounts sit under their upper limits, and zinc matches the daily need for men exactly. They only become a concern when stacked with other products.

• One capsule: 20 mg niacin, under the 35 mg supplement limit.
• One capsule: 11 mg zinc, under the 40 mg total limit.
• Add any multivitamin, B-complex or zinc tablet before you start.
• Space zinc from quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics.
• Take one capsule a day, as the label says, and no more.

The label is firm on the last point: "Do not exceed recommended dose." Taking two capsules would bring niacin to 40 mg, past the supplement limit. See the side effects page for the full safety picture.

Questions people ask about this

Sources for this page

1. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Niacin: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated March 2021. Source
2. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated October 2022. Source