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. Taking very high doses of supplemental zinc can reduce your body's absorption of magnesium.
Zinc reduces the amount of copper your body absorbs, and high doses of zinc can cause a copper deficiency. For that reason, many doctors recommend that you take 2 mg of copper along with a zinc supplement.
Zinc is an essential mineral with an important relationship with vitamin D. Studies have found that reduced blood zinc levels could predict vitamin D deficiency in adolescent girls, while zinc supplementation increased vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women.
While the two minerals work synergistically, research shows that taking too much zinc, or about 50 milligrams per day6 , can decrease the amount of magnesium you absorb and negatively affect magnesium balance.
Chelation is a process that removes excess metals, such as zinc, copper, or lead, from the body. During this treatment, a doctor gives the person a drug that helps bind the excess zinc and remove it from the body through the urine.
“Toxicity can occur when taking high levels of elemental zinc (for example 570 milligrams) and can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, metallic taste and headaches,” Harrison said. ”If elemental zinc (greater than 40 mg) is ingested long-term, copper deficiency can also occur.”
The short answer is yes, but not at the same time. Taking high levels of zinc (142 milligrams a day and up) in supplement form may interfere with magnesium absorption. If you are taking zinc at extremely high doses due to medical issues, take the zinc several hours before or after taking a magnesium supplement.
If the interactions of iron and zinc occur at a specific protein site, zinc would also be expected to inhibit the absorption of iron. Indeed, zinc at high doses does reduce the absorption of iron in adult human subjects when fed with liquid, but no such effects were seen when given in a meal [71].
Phytate, which is a natural component of plants, severely decreases intestinal zinc bioavailability and is regarded as the main nutritional inhibitor of zinc absorption.
However, during a normal calcium intake of 800 mg/day, the high zinc intake had no significant effect on the intestinal absorption of calcium. These studies have shown that the high zinc intake decreased the intestinal absorption of calcium during a low calcium intake but not during a normal calcium intake.
What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency? Zinc deficiency can result in skin changes that look like eczema at first. There may be cracks and a glazed appearance on the skin, often found around the mouth, nappy area and hands. The rash doesn't get better with moisturisers or steroid creams or lotions.
Caffeine may reduce the absorption of manganese, zinc and copper. It also increases the excretion of the minerals magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphate. There is also evidence that caffeine interferes with the action of vitamin A.
Furthermore, taking Zinc and Magnesium together may offer additional benefits. You can choose to take Zinc and Magnesium separately or a Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc combination that helps support strong bones with Calcium, helps support a healthy heart with Magnesium, and supports a healthy immune system with Zinc.
One of the most common nutrient deficiencies to show up in nails is a zinc deficiency. More prevalent in school-age children, this deficiency can present as scattered white spots. Usually, people can take a zinc supplement for a short amount of time to clear up these white marks.
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.
Excess intake of zinc interferes with the uptake of copper and results in copper deficiency, which leads to anemia.
Zinc and iron interact competitively during intestinal absorption. When both nutrients are ingested simultaneously in aqueous solutions at levels commonly used in supplements, there is evidence that an excess of iron inhibits zinc absorption (1,2) and that excess zinc inhibits iron uptake (3).
Interactions between your drugs. No interactions were found between Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc and Vitamin D3.
Magnesium helps your body regulate its zinc levels, though it should be noted that high intake of zinc can be detrimental to magnesium absorption and reduce magnesium balance - it will only hinder absorption when taken in abnormally high doses (around 142 mg of zinc per day).
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.