MyProtein ZMA Capsules Review — Is It Worth It?

ZMA is one of the older sports nutrition supplements, predating the recent adaptogen and greens powder trends. The underlying logic is sound — zinc and magnesium are commonly depleted in athletes, and supplementing them before bed may support recovery and sleep quality. MyProtein's version is affordable and straightforward.

What Is It?

ZMA is a combination supplement containing zinc, magnesium aspartate, and vitamin B6. It was originally developed as a sports nutrition product based on observations that athletes commonly showed deficiencies in both zinc and magnesium, with the B6 included to improve zinc and magnesium absorption.

Ingredients & Nutrition

Per 3-capsule serving: 10mg zinc (as zinc monomethionine aspartate), 150mg magnesium (as magnesium aspartate), 3.5mg vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl). Zero calories.

The zinc and magnesium forms used in ZMA are specifically the aspartate-bound forms, which proponents claim have higher bioavailability than oxide or carbonate forms. The dosing is standard for ZMA formulations and consistent with the original research protocol.

Zinc at 10mg represents approximately 100% of the RDA; magnesium at 150mg covers around 40% of the RDA — providing meaningful supplementation while staying within safe ranges.

Taste & Mixability

Three capsules taken 30–60 minutes before bed on an empty stomach (or at least 2 hours after dairy, which inhibits zinc absorption). Capsule form with no taste. The pre-bed timing is important — magnesium has relaxing properties that can improve sleep onset.

Effectiveness

The research on ZMA is somewhat mixed. The original studies showing testosterone and IGF-1 improvements used specific NCAA athletes with confirmed deficiencies. When researchers have tested ZMA on well-nourished populations without baseline deficiencies, the effects on hormones are largely absent.

However, the underlying mineral supplementation value is real. Many UK adults — particularly those training regularly — have inadequate zinc and magnesium intake through diet alone. For deficient individuals, supplementing these minerals improves numerous metabolic processes and can meaningfully improve sleep quality (via magnesium's effects on GABA receptors).

Value for Money

At £9.99 for 90 capsules (30 servings at 3 capsules), you're paying approximately £0.33 per serving. That's reasonable for a combined zinc and magnesium supplement. It's slightly more expensive than buying zinc and magnesium individually in bulk form, but the convenience of a pre-dosed combination product is worth something.

Verdict

MyProtein ZMA is a useful mineral supplement for athletes who don't already have strong zinc and magnesium intake from diet or their multivitamin. The sleep quality benefits from pre-bed magnesium are the most reliably experienced outcome. Approach the testosterone-boosting marketing with scepticism, but the mineral supplementation value is genuine — particularly the sleep support. At this price, the risk-benefit calculation is clearly positive.

Rating: 7/10