NOW Foods C-1000 Zinc Immune combines two of the most researched immune-supporting nutrients into a single, once-daily vegetarian capsule (Item #N0694). Formulated with 1,000 mg of pure Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and 15 mg of elemental zinc from patented Albion™ TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate, this supplement delivers high-potency cellular defense while remaining exceptionally gentle on sensitive stomachs.
Quick Product Overview:
✓ Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule Daily with a meal
✓ Total Servings: 90 Days (3-Month Supply)
✓ Active Actives: 1,000 mg Vitamin C (1,111% DV) + 15 mg TRAACS™ Chelated Zinc (136% DV)
✓ Quality Standard: Non-GMO, Vegan/Vegetarian, Tested for Heavy Metals & Contaminants in ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Labs
✓ VitaNet Guarantee: Family-owned since 1995 with a 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1].
Whether preparing for seasonal climate changes or seeking daily antioxidant reinforcement, this formula avoids generic, hard-to-absorb mineral salts like zinc sulfate or zinc oxide, prioritizing biological availability and digestive comfort.
The Science of Synergy: Why Vitamin C and Zinc Must Work Together
In clinical immunology, Vitamin C and Zinc do not just sit side by side; they perform complementary biochemical roles that strengthen every phase of the human immune response. Understanding how they interact helps explain why clinical trials consistently demonstrate superior outcomes when both nutrients are supplied concurrently.
Role of 1,000 mg Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Epithelial Barrier Support: Enhances skin and mucous membrane collagen synthesis, preventing foreign microbes from penetrating tissues (Carr & Maggini, 2017).
Phagocyte Fuel: Accumulates inside human neutrophils and macrophages, giving them the cellular energy needed to neutralize invaders.
Antioxidant Recycling: Quenches free radicals generated during inflammatory immune reactions, shielding healthy surrounding tissues from collateral oxidative stress.
Role of 15 mg Elemental Zinc (Bisglycinate)
White Blood Cell Messenger: Essential for thymus gland activity and the normal maturation of T-lymphocytes and Natural Killer (NK) cells (Wintergerst et al., 2006).
Gene Expression & Repair: Required by over 300 metalloenzymes that regulate cellular replication, DNA synthesis, and protein structure.
Direct Antiviral Defense: Helps maintain cellular enzyme levels that interfere with foreign viral replication inside host respiratory cells.
Clinical Evidence: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of International Medical Research (Maggini et al., 2012) verified that combining 1,000 mg of Vitamin C with elemental zinc significantly shortened symptom duration and accelerated recovery compared to placebo. By supporting both innate (first-line physical defense) and adaptive (targeted antibody/T-cell) immunity, this pairing covers biological blind spots that single-nutrient supplements miss.
The Albion™ TRAACS™ Difference: Why Chelated Zinc Outperforms Standard Supplements
Most consumers stop reading a supplement label at the word "Zinc." However, the chemical form of zinc dictates whether your body actually absorbs the nutrient or expels it while causing stomach distress.
Common store-bought products frequently utilize zinc sulfate or zinc oxide. These inorganic salts rapidly break apart in stomach acid, leaving free zinc ions that irritate the delicate gastric lining, often causing immediate nausea, cramping, or digestive upset. Furthermore, free zinc easily binds to dietary phytates (found in grains, legumes, and seeds), creating insoluble complexes that cannot pass into the bloodstream.
What is TRAACS™ Zinc Bisglycinate?
TRAACS™ stands for The Real Amino Acid Chelate System, a patented process developed by Albion Laboratories. In this formulation, one elemental zinc atom is bound securely to two molecules of the soothing amino acid glycine:
Molecular Shield: Because the zinc is shielded between two amino acids, it does not ionize in stomach acid, preventing the familiar "zinc stomach ache."
43% Greater Bioavailability: Clinical pharmacokinetic trials comparing oral zinc bisglycinate chelate directly against zinc gluconate showed that zinc bisglycinate achieved 43% higher blood plasma levels (Gandia et al., Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2007).
Bypasses Competition: Unlike regular zinc, which competes directly with iron and calcium for digestive mineral transporters, bisglycinate travels through dedicated dipeptide pathways, ensuring smooth, predictable assimilation.
Because dietary supplements are classified under Your Money, Your Life health standards, purity and accurate label dosing are non-negotiable. Many budget marketplace brands fail third-party audits due to heavy metal contamination or under-dosed ingredients. NOW Foods stands as an industry benchmark for transparency and clinical safety.
Over 31,000 Laboratory Tests Conducted Every Month
NOW Foods maintains one of the largest in-house analytical laboratories in the supplement industry, certified to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation. Every batch of C-1000 Zinc Immune undergoes a strict battery of advanced tests before and after encapsulation:
ICP-MS Heavy Metal Screening: Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, raw ingredients are tested down to parts-per-billion (ppb) detection limits for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. NOW rejects any ingredient failing to meet safety thresholds that are consistently stricter than FDA CGMP and California Proposition 65 limits.
HPLC Potency Verification:High-Performance Liquid Chromatography verifies that each capsule contains the full 1,000 mg of pure ascorbic acid and exactly 15 mg of elemental zinc from Albion™ chelate.
Microbiological Testing: Comprehensive pathogen assays confirm the complete absence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside rigorous screening for aerobic bacteria, coliforms, yeast, and mold.
Pesticide & Adulterant Profiling: Using tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS), raw materials are screened for over 400 agrochemical residues, ensuring raw botanicals and mineral ligands are uncontaminated.
This standard guarantees that the capsule you swallow matches the supplement panel with zero synthetic adulteration, pharmaceutical contaminants, or heavy metal accumulation.
Complete Supplement Facts & Ingredient Breakdown
Full ingredient transparency is vital for consumers tracking nutrient intakes or managing allergies. Below is the verified label breakdown for NOW Foods C-1000 Zinc Immune (UPC: 733739006943 / Item #N0694).
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), and Silicon Dioxide.
Allergen Information: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
High-potency immune support works best when integrated into your daily wellness routine with clinical awareness of nutrient timing and potential medication interactions.
How and When to Take
Suggested Usage: Take 1 veg capsule daily with a meal and a full glass of water.
Meal Timing: Even though chelated zinc is very gentle, taking supplements alongside food slows gastric transit, enhancing absorption efficiency.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Avoid humid bathrooms or direct sunlight to prevent ascorbic acid oxidation.
Important Safety & Interaction Guidance
Antibiotic Timing: Separate intake by at least 2 hours from tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics, as zinc can bind to medications and reduce efficacy.
Copper Balance: Long-term zinc intake above 40 mg daily can deplete copper. At 15 mg elemental zinc, this product remains well within the safe Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL).
Medical Conditions: Adults only. Consult a healthcare provider if pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing kidney or hemochromatosis issues.
Why Order From VitaNet, LLC? Serving Customers Online Since 1995
When buying natural health supplements online, where you purchase matters as much as what brand you select[cite: 1]. Mass third-party online marketplaces often struggle with expired inventory, unverified counterfeit sellers, and improper warehouse temperature controls that degrade delicate nutrients like Vitamin C.
The VitaNet Independent Retailer Commitment
Independent, Family-Owned Heritage: Founded in 1995 in Hartville, Ohio, VitaNet, LLC has over 31 years of direct nutritional retail experience and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)[cite: 1].
100% Direct-from-Manufacturer Inventory: Every bottle of NOW Foods C-1000 Zinc Immune is sourced directly from certified brand distributors and stored in climate-controlled facilities[cite: 1].
Risk-Free Guarantee (We Even Pay Return Shipping): VitaNet backs every purchase with an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee, covering return shipping even on opened bottles if you are not fully satisfied[cite: 1].
Direct Human Customer Service: Have a question about an order or dosage? Speak with knowledgeable US-based staff directly by phone (1-800-877-8702) rather than robotic marketplace chatbots[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — NOW C-1000 Zinc Immune
1. Why is Zinc Bisglycinate preferred over Zinc Oxide or Zinc Gluconate?
Zinc bisglycinate (TRAACS™) binds elemental zinc to two glycine amino acid molecules. This organic chelate remains stable in stomach acid, preventing the direct stomach irritation, nausea, and cramping that frequently occur with inorganic zinc oxide or sulfate. In clinical studies, zinc bisglycinate demonstrated up to 43% higher bioavailability than zinc gluconate, ensuring higher absorption into your bloodstream.
2. Can I take NOW C-1000 Zinc Immune on an empty stomach?
While chelated zinc bisglycinate is dramatically gentler on the digestive tract than conventional zinc forms, we always recommend taking your daily capsule with a meal. Combining Vitamin C and zinc with whole food slows down digestive transit, maximizing nutrient assimilation and eliminating any chance of mild stomach sensitivity.
3. Is 15 mg of zinc a safe daily dose to take every day?
Yes. The Food and Nutrition Board sets the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adult men at 11 mg and adult women at 8 mg, with a safe Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 40 mg daily for adults. At 15 mg elemental zinc per capsule, this formula provides effective immune reinforcement without risking the copper depletion or mineral imbalances linked with excessive megadosing.
4. How does NOW Foods ensure this product is free from heavy metals and contaminants?
NOW Foods tests raw ingredients and finished capsules in their in-house, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical laboratories. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), every batch is screened down to parts-per-billion levels for lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) verifies active potency, and thorough microbiological assays test for pathogens, yeasts, and molds.
5. Does this product contain common food allergens or animal byproducts?
No. NOW C-1000 Zinc Immune is 100% vegan/vegetarian, utilizing hypromellose plant-cellulose capsules. It is manufactured without wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients, and is certified non-GMO.
