Different types of zinc supplements work about the same in male rats eating a diet high in phytic acid, because they grew similarly and had similar zinc levels in their bodies.

When male rats eat a diet high in phytic acid (which makes it hard for their bodies to absorb zinc), giving them a special type of zinc called EDTA disodium zinc helps their bodies use the zinc better than other zinc types. This leads to better growth and more zinc in their blood and bones.

When male rats eat food low in zinc and also get phytic acid added, it makes their zinc levels drop even more compared to rats that don't get the extra phytic acid.