Can taking zinc cause a deficiency in copper in your body?!
Question:
Can taking zinc cause a deficiency in copper in your body?
what can I do to prevent this deficiency (while still taking zinc)
Answers:
Hi Daffy Duck, Yes Zinc interferes with copper absorption. People taking zinc supplements for more than a few weeks should also take copper (unless they have Wilson’s disease). In the absence of copper supplementation, vitamin C may interfere with copper metabolism. Copper improves absorption and utilization of iron.
The type of zinc you need is one that is bound with picolinic acid. This type is called "zinc picolinate." There are other type of zinc supplements such as zinc citrate and zinc gluconate, but there are not absorb as good as zinc picolinate. If you cannot get zinc picolinate then the next best is zinc gluconate.
Here are some of the foods to add to your diet to get more zinc.
Beef, lamb, cheese, yeasts, oysters, Shrimp, herring, sunflower seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, wheat germ & bran, Mushrooms, Spinach, Squash, Asparagus, Collard Greens, Broccoli ,Chard, Miso, Maple Syrup
Zinc can be toxic in excessive amounts. A safe amount to take is 20 - 25 mg per day. Do not take more than 40 mg per day. Toxic effects are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea.
Jason Homan