What it does in the body
- Possible role in growth (demonstrated in animal studies)
- Potential role in heme synthesis
- May participate in redox reactions
- Possible involvement in protein and nucleic acid metabolism
- Uncertain — human essentiality not established
How much you need (Daily Value)
| Group | Recommended | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adult male | No RDA; estimated dietary intake 1-3 mg/day | Estimated |
| Adult female | No RDA; estimated dietary intake 1-3 mg/day | Estimated |
| Pregnancy | No RDA established | N/A |
| Children | No RDA established | N/A |
| Older adults | No RDA established | N/A |
Richest food sources
| Food | Amount | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Canned foods (uncoated tin cans) | 1-100 mg per 100g (variable) | global |
| Canned tomatoes | 10-50 mg per 100g | global |
| Canned pineapple | 5-30 mg per 100g | global |
| Canned fish | 2-20 mg per 100g | global |
| Asparagus (canned) | 5-15 mg per 100g | global |
| Fresh foods | <1 mg per 100g | global |
If you don't get enough
Mild: Not defined in humans
Moderate: Animal studies: impaired growth, reduced food efficiency
Severe: Not documented in humans
Time to onset: Not established.
Too much
Upper limit: No established UL. CODEX Alimentarius maximum in canned foods: 200 mg/kg (beverages: 100 mg/kg).
Inorganic tin: GI irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea at high doses (>200 mg/kg food). Organotin compounds (tributyltin): immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity — not a dietary concern.
How well you absorb it
1-5% of inorganic tin is absorbed from diet
Helped by: Acidic pH, Low iron status
Hindered by: Iron, Zinc, Copper, Food matrix components
Cooking & storage
Tin dissolves from uncoated tin cans into food, especially acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus fruits, pineapple). Storing opened canned food in the can accelerates tin migration. Lacquered cans reduce tin transfer by >90%. Refrigeration slows dissolution.
Nutrisize Health totals every nutrient from what you actually eat, against targets set for your age and sex, and flags what's short — across 4,995 foods, on your device.
