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BACKGROUD Zinc is an essential catalytic element in human health system but its absorption in intestinal system could be strongly affected by the gastrointestinal digestion. In this study, the food-derived potential zinc carrier, scallop adductor hydrolysates (SAHs), was produced and characterized. RESULTS During the temporary storage in 4°C, the SAH decreased in zinc-chelating capacity in aqueous phase whereas the SAH-Zn complex exhibited high stability. Moreover, the secondary structure of SAH had no significant alteration. Zinc morphologically altered the surface structures of SAH, which was involving in carboxyl group of SAH. Results of in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion suggested that the SAH-Zn maintained good stability in GI system and only proportion of high molecular weight cleaved. In addition, SAH could successfully carry and transport zinc while the fluorescence staining revealed free zinc accumulation inside the tissue. Finally, 3 representative absorbed peptides (around 600 Da) were identified and synthesized. Three synthetic peptides exhibit higher zinc-chelating capacity than SAH and could also successfully transported through the intestine. CONCLUSION This study provided a theoretical basis for the investigation of digestion and absorption of marine animal-derived peptides as zinc carriers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.