A nutritional supplement for a human, the supplement having a chelate comprised of an N-acetyl-L-cysteine ligand bonded to zinc to form a chelate ring. A method of treating a human for one or more of oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimers disease, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, dementia, and HIV in a human comprising administering an effective amount of a composition having N-acetyl-L-cysteine in a chelate formation with zinc. A compound having a chelate formulation with zinc being chelated by an N-acetyl-L-cysteine ligand.