Zinc is considered to be relatively nontoxic, particularly if taken orally. However, manifestations of overt toxicity symptoms (nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, lethargy, and fatigue) will occur with extremely high zinc intakes.
Signs of too much zinc include nausea, dizziness, headaches, upset stomach, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If you take too much zinc for a long time, you could have problems such as lower immunity, low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol, and low copper levels.
If you swallow too much zinc, the first symptoms you may experience are gastrointestinal side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Diarrhea and muscle cramps are also possible. As time passes, you may experience sleepiness, dizziness, or fatigue (Bartzatt, 2017; Agnew, 2021).
These symptoms occur within a few hours of acute exposure. Although this condition is usually reversible, doctors do not know the possible long term effects of breathing in zinc dust or fumes.
It typically stays in your body for about 25 hours (a little over a day) before leaving. However, if you've had gastrointestinal surgery or have a digestive condition — like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease — you may have trouble absorbing zinc. In these situations, it may leave your body faster.
Your body doesn't need a large amount of zinc. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 8 - 11 mg. It's common to have slightly low levels of zinc, but taking a multivitamin, plus eating a healthy diet, should give you all the zinc you need.
Immunosuppressant medications -- Since zinc may make the immune system stronger, it should not be taken with corticosteroids (such a prednisone), cyclosporine, or other medications intended to suppress the immune system.
Diagnosis of zinc toxicity is usually based on the time course and a history of exposure. Treatment of zinc toxicity consists of eliminating exposure to zinc; no antidotes are available.
Acute toxicity (ingesting more than 200 mg/day of zinc) can cause: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Other reported effects - these include gastric irritation, headache, irritability, lethargy, anaemia and dizziness.
When you take a zinc supplement orally, it will dissolve in a single spot when it reaches your stomach. As it dissolves, the heavy concentration of zinc could irritate the stomach lining in that area, leading to pain or discomfort in addition to nausea or the risk of vomiting.
Gastrointestinal side effects of zinc sulfate (the active ingredient contained in Zinc) when taken in large doses have included diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, usually within 3 to 10 hours of dosing. The symptoms go away soon after discontinuation.
When the level of zinc in blood is faulty, the blood clots can be formed. Additionally, the work of heparins also depends on zinc level.
Zinc is a mineral that is essential for many of the body's normal functions and systems, including the immune system, wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and the senses of taste and smell. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence.
Too much zinc or magnesium can cause diarrhea, nausea, and cramping, and when taken in high doses over a period of time, zinc can lower the body's immunity and its levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol.
The daily intake recommended by several reviews for people aged more than 70 are 11 mg for males and 8 mg for women with 40 mg being the top tolerable dosage (56, 59).
An over- or underabundance of zinc can cause shifts in the gut microbiome, and cause diarrhea and inflammation. The only way that people can consume too much zinc is through supplements. If you get zinc only through foods in your diet, then you really can't consume toxic amounts.
Short-term Exposure: Zinc oxide fume causes a flu- like illness called metal fume fever. Symptoms of metal fume fever include headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and tiredness. The symptoms usually start several hours after exposure. The attack may last 6 to 24 hours.
Zinc overdose can be associated with liver injury, jaundice and even hepatic failure, usually arising after several days and resembling injury from copper or iron overdose. The injury is clearly direct toxicity.
Do not take zinc supplements and copper, iron, or phosphorus supplements at the same time. It is best to space doses of these products 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each dietary supplement.
Together, zinc and vitamin D in adequate concentrations help maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system and beyond; however, deficiency in either of these nutrients can result in various disorders affecting almost all body systems.
There is a lot of evidence linking zinc to blood clotting. Zinc is released from cells called platelets that control blood clotting, and scientists have found unwanted blood clots can form when zinc levels in the blood are faulty.
According to MayoClinic.com, zinc may increase bleeding risk; hence, people suffering from bleeding disorders or taking medications that may increase bleeding risk should be wary of using zinc supplements and consult their health care providers regarding adjusted dosing.