Vitamin Zinc
Zinc is a nutrient that is found throughout your body and helps your immune system and metabolism function. It is also important for wound healing and for your sense of taste and smell.
A varied diet will usually provide your body with enough zinc. Food sources of zinc include chicken red meat and fortified breakfast cereals.
Oral zinc is used to treat colds, but it can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications and cause side effects.
The daily recommended amount of zinc for women and men is 8 mg and 11 mg, respectively.
Evidence
Studies on the use of oral zinc for specific conditions show:
- Zinc deficiency.People who have low levels of zinc seem to benefit the most from zinc supplements. This sort of deficiency is not common in the United States.
- Colds.Taking zinc lozenges or syrup as soon as you start experiencing cold symptoms might help shorten the length of your cold. However, using intranasal zinc can have long-term consequences, including the loss of your sense of smell.
- Wound healing.People with skin ulcers or low levels of zinc might benefit from taking oral zinc supplements.
- Diarrhea.Zinc supplements can reduce the symptoms of diarrhea in children who have low levels of zinc from malnutrition. However, there isn't enough evidence to recommend using oral zinc for children with diarrhea who have a healthy and varied diet.
- Age-related macular degeneration is a condition that affects the eyes as people get older.Some research suggests that oral zinc might slow the progression of this eye disease.
Topical zinc is used to prevent conditions such as diaper rash and sunburn. Zinc oxide cream or paste is applied to the skin to achieve this goal.
Our take
Generally safe
If you are low in zinc, taking an oral supplement might help. Taking zinc soon after you start experiencing cold symptoms might shorten the length of the cold.
Don't use nasal zinc if you want to retain your sense of smell.
Safety and side effects
Oral zinc can cause:
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
When taking oral zinc for a long time, in high doses, it can cause copper deficiency. This could result in problems with nerve function, such as numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.
The National Institutes of Health recommends that adults eat 40 mg of zinc each day and that infants under 6 months eat 4 mg of zinc each day.
Do not use zinc nasal spray. This form of zinc can damage the sense of smell.
Interactions
Possible interactions include:
- Antibiotics.Taking oral zinc while taking quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics can reduce their effectiveness in fighting bacteria. Taking the antibiotic two hours before or four to six hours after zinc supplementation can lessen this effect.
- Penicillamine.Taking oral zinc with the rheumatoid arthritis drug penicillamine (Cuprimine Depen) can reduce the effectiveness of the drug in relieving symptoms. Taking zinc at least two hours before or after taking the drug may lessen this effect.
- Thiazide diuretics.These blood pressure medications can increase the amount of zinc lost in urine.