Zinc (Citrate)
Zinc citrate
An essential mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, studied for its direct role in testosterone synthesis, LH signaling, and the conversion of hormones throughout the male endocrine system.
The Ingredient Explained
Zinc is one of the few minerals with a direct, well-established relationship to testosterone. It's required for the function of the enzymes that synthesize testosterone, for the release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary, and for the conversion of androgens throughout the endocrine system. Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in men, and it directly suppresses testosterone production. Foundation uses zinc citrate at 30 mg because citrate is one of the most bioavailable forms available, and 30 mg is the dose shown to meaningfully impact testosterone in men with suboptimal levels, not the token 5 to 10 mg found in most formulas.
Why it's in Foundation
Every other ingredient in Foundation works through signaling pathways. Tongkat Ali signals the release of free testosterone. Shilajit supports LH output. Ashwagandha reduces the cortisol that suppresses the whole system. But signaling without raw material produces nothing. Zinc is that raw material. Without adequate zinc, testosterone synthesis stalls regardless of how well the signaling is working. It's the substrate the entire formula depends on. Including it at a therapeutic dose wasn't optional. It was the foundation of the foundation.
Your 90-Day Timeline.
If you were zinc deficient, correction begins immediately. The body prioritizes restoring zinc-dependent enzymatic functions, including those involved in testosterone synthesis.
Zinc levels approach sufficiency. For men who were deficient, measurable testosterone improvements are typically seen at this stage.
Sustained zinc sufficiency maintains the testosterone-supporting environment long-term. Consistent daily intake is required since the body cannot store zinc reserves.
What the research shows
30 mg zinc citrate. The dose that moves deficient men.
Studies in zinc-deficient men show that supplementation at 25 to 45 mg daily produces significant increases in serum testosterone. Foundation uses 30 mg of zinc citrate, landing in the center of that studied range, using the citrate form specifically for its superior absorption compared to zinc oxide, the cheap form found in most supplements. At 273% of the daily value per serving, Foundation delivers a dose designed to correct deficiency and support peak hormonal output simultaneously.
View the human study
Zinc supplementation and testosterone in deficient men, published clinical trial
How it works with other ingredients
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali amplifies the output of testosterone synthesis. Zinc provides the raw material that synthesis requires. The signal and the substrate. One is useless without the other.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 supports the HPG axis that drives testosterone production. Zinc supports the enzymatic reactions that execute it. They work at different levels of the same system, both necessary for the chain to complete.
Boron
Boron reduces SHBG, freeing the testosterone that zinc helped produce. Zinc handles synthesis, Boron handles availability. Together they cover both ends of the output equation.