Untitled Document
The danger of taking zinc supplements can be summarized in two words: zinc overdose. A zinc dose of 40 milligrams is approved safe to use by FDA and a zinc dosage more than this can pose certain risks. In terms of zinc toxicity, there is no other way to put it: excess zinc is dangerous! This is primarily true because too much zinc will likely interfere with the metabolism and absorption of other essential minerals in your body, most especially iron, magnesium and copper. Zinc side effects can become potentially serious if you take doses from 150 to 450 mg a day. Taking this much can decrease your copper, iron and magnesium levels, reduce your body's immune function, and reduce your HDL (good cholesterol) level.
Zinc Sulfate Side Effects
Oral zinc sulfate supplements can also cause side effects such as stomach upset, heartburn and nausea. Rare side effects have also been reported and these include fever, sore throat, mouth sores, weakness and fatigue. Zinc is a very important mineral but you only need to take just enough. If you decide on taking mineral supplements for one or more reasons, it is very important that you consult your doctor first and report whatever zinc side effects you experience.
Zinc Poisoning in Humans
Full-fledged, acute zinc poisoning is a very rare event. Causing symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and destruction of white blood cells, zinc toxicity usually occurs when someone has drunk large quantities of an acidic beverage, such as orange juice, from a galvanized (zinc lined) container, releasing 800 to 2,000 mg of zinc per day, or more.
Chronic nutritional imbalance caused by taking too much zinc is a relatively common problem. People who take 100 to 150 mg of zinc a day for several weeks to several months develop problems with the ways the body uses copper.
Zinc and Copper Reaction
In one case, a woman who took 400 mg of zinc a day became almost totally depleted of copper; her copper levels fell to 7 micrograms/dl, compared to an average of 70 to 155 micrograms/dl. She developed various zinc toxicity symptoms, especially neurological problems, including an unsteady gait, dizziness, and a low white blood cell count. She recovered a normal white blood cell count, but her central nervous system did not completely recover even after six months of avoiding zinc and taking copper.
So how can you avoid taking the wrong amount of zinc? Here are five recommendations to consider:
- If you take zinc, take copper, at least 1 mg but no more than 3 mg a day.
- Unless you have a medically diagnosed zinc deficiency, don't take more than 40 mg of zinc a day.
- Get treatment for nasal symptoms quickly. Zinc nose sprays can cause permanent loss of sense of smell. However, people who suffer this complication usually experience intense pain after using a zinc nose spray to treat a cold. The pain is so bad that the user can't stand up. If this happens to you after using a zinc nose spray, see a doctor at once. You may have a very short time to get medical treatment that may save your sense of smell.
- Get treatment for central nervous symptoms quickly, and stop taking zinc while you are waiting for your appointment, if you can't see your doctor right away. Damage to the central nervous system caused by too much zinc depleting copper in the central nervous system can take months to correct.
- How Much Zinc is Too Much - If zinc tastes bad, you probably don't need it. When your body is zinc-deficient, a zinc supplement will not leave a bitter or metallic aftertaste on your tongue. When your body has enough zinc, a zinc supplements will leave a bitter or metallic aftertaste on your tongue. If it tastes bad, don't take it. *
