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Suggest Remedy For Zinc Deficiency
Question: 1. Hi, I have a Zinc deficiency(58mcg/dl, ref range-70-150).
What is a good regimen for correcting it?My current plan-50 mg for 30 days with 3 mg copper. This is most comfortable for me for a number of reasons. If that's not ok,what's a better plan?
[I am limiting Cu to 3 mg because my serum level is border high-140mcg/dl and its only for 30 days.]
2. Please note: I have already taken a multi with 30 mg/d zinc for 30 days with 0.5 mg copper. Should I be worried about copper deficiency, or some other Zinc toxicity issue?
3. Also, 25mg of the 50mg comes from high quality multi.Can I assume I will absorb most of it, or should i compensate by taking more zinc syrup(say 30 mg)?
3. Is 2 hr gap enough between multi,zinc syrup and copper tablet doses?
What is a good regimen for correcting it?My current plan-50 mg for 30 days with 3 mg copper. This is most comfortable for me for a number of reasons. If that's not ok,what's a better plan?
[I am limiting Cu to 3 mg because my serum level is border high-140mcg/dl and its only for 30 days.]
2. Please note: I have already taken a multi with 30 mg/d zinc for 30 days with 0.5 mg copper. Should I be worried about copper deficiency, or some other Zinc toxicity issue?
3. Also, 25mg of the 50mg comes from high quality multi.Can I assume I will absorb most of it, or should i compensate by taking more zinc syrup(say 30 mg)?
3. Is 2 hr gap enough between multi,zinc syrup and copper tablet doses?
Brief Answer:
Diet should be complemented with supplments and not otherwise
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry for a delayed response.
What is your Hemoglobin level? Did you check serum protein/albumin? Did you check CRP levels in the blood? Low levels of albumin are linked to low zinc levels and are linked to high levels of CRP.
Do you have any symptoms related to zinc and copper deficiency like easy fatigue, generalized weakness?
An average adequate intake of zinc for male is 9 to 11mg/day and close to 900 micro gram of copper per day. This is available from natural sources via diet.
I found that your zinc levels were marginally less. I would call it insufficiency and not deficiency. It can be corrected with nutrient rich diet complemented with multivitamin supplements and not otherwise
The reality is that most of us eat an energy-rich, nutrient-poor diet lacking in fruit and vegetables.
So concentrate on organically grown fruits and vegetables along with one multivitamin supplement like Zincovit tablet or like the one which you had already taken for 30 days that has 30mg/day.
I do not think you need 50mg doses. We do not know how much of zinc and copper would be absorbed if taken as supplement. They vary from supplement to supplement and on some unknown factors.
Yes 2 hour gap between multivitamin and zinc syrup and copper tablet should be fine.
Thanks.
Diet should be complemented with supplments and not otherwise
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry for a delayed response.
What is your Hemoglobin level? Did you check serum protein/albumin? Did you check CRP levels in the blood? Low levels of albumin are linked to low zinc levels and are linked to high levels of CRP.
Do you have any symptoms related to zinc and copper deficiency like easy fatigue, generalized weakness?
An average adequate intake of zinc for male is 9 to 11mg/day and close to 900 micro gram of copper per day. This is available from natural sources via diet.
I found that your zinc levels were marginally less. I would call it insufficiency and not deficiency. It can be corrected with nutrient rich diet complemented with multivitamin supplements and not otherwise
The reality is that most of us eat an energy-rich, nutrient-poor diet lacking in fruit and vegetables.
So concentrate on organically grown fruits and vegetables along with one multivitamin supplement like Zincovit tablet or like the one which you had already taken for 30 days that has 30mg/day.
I do not think you need 50mg doses. We do not know how much of zinc and copper would be absorbed if taken as supplement. They vary from supplement to supplement and on some unknown factors.
Yes 2 hour gap between multivitamin and zinc syrup and copper tablet should be fine.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
I haven't made the other tests but I do have general weakness , easy fatigue, mental slowness and some hair loss. I am not saying they were in fact caused by Zinc deficiency. I am just asking, if I don't have Zinc deficiency and take a 50 mg/d regimen for a month ONLY(with 3 mg copper) will it be safe?
Its from Zinc citrate and copper ascorbate supplements.
The reasons I ask are- I have had a really bad diet and neglected my health for many years, and I found I had few other deficiencies confirmed and treated. Given my years of neglect, a Zinc deficiency is very probable.
While I am trying my best, my work situation is such as that I can't really get nutrient-rich everyday to correct Zinc insufficiency.
I am being treated for Depression, so I don't want any nutritional deficiencies getting in the way of that treatment.
1. So, my Q is- is there any major downside to assuming mild Zinc deficiency and taking 45-50 mg of Zinc citrate everyday for 30 days? Do I have to take Copper and if so, how much?
2. I am a vegetarian with lactose intolerance. So, my Calcium intake is less than 200 mg per day. So on doctor's advice, I am supplementing with 800 mg of Calcium tablets(500 mg CA carbonate and 300 mg Ca citrate) bringing the total to less than 1000 mg.
But on some days (say,ONCE A WEEK) I eat something off my regular diet and the total becomes 1300 mg.
(Please note - there is no chance of the total calcium intake on any day exceeding 1300 mg as I rarely eat Calcium rich foods)
The Q is - Is it safe in the long run, to OCCASIONALLY exceed calcium RDA (once a week or so) by maximum 300 mg, if on all other days it's less than RDA?
Any downside to getting most of Calcium from supplements?
3. I take Zoloft and Modafinil. I am still experimenting to get the dosage time right.
Q - Can you confirm that I can take the following together, without any reduction in their medical efficacy? Or should I give a gap between the combinations, and if so how many hours?
a. Zoloft and Modafinil within 1 hr of each other in the morning
b. Zoloft together with Calcium and Magnesium supplements in the night.
c. Zoloft with Iron syrup and food.
d. Modafinil and Iron syrup with food.
(If you are wondering why I am taking iron/magnesium - I take them only on days where my diet was bad, to the get the RDA, because my multivit doesn't have them. I always consume less than RDA. I have cleared it with my doctor.)
Thanks.
Its from Zinc citrate and copper ascorbate supplements.
The reasons I ask are- I have had a really bad diet and neglected my health for many years, and I found I had few other deficiencies confirmed and treated. Given my years of neglect, a Zinc deficiency is very probable.
While I am trying my best, my work situation is such as that I can't really get nutrient-rich everyday to correct Zinc insufficiency.
I am being treated for Depression, so I don't want any nutritional deficiencies getting in the way of that treatment.
1. So, my Q is- is there any major downside to assuming mild Zinc deficiency and taking 45-50 mg of Zinc citrate everyday for 30 days? Do I have to take Copper and if so, how much?
2. I am a vegetarian with lactose intolerance. So, my Calcium intake is less than 200 mg per day. So on doctor's advice, I am supplementing with 800 mg of Calcium tablets(500 mg CA carbonate and 300 mg Ca citrate) bringing the total to less than 1000 mg.
But on some days (say,ONCE A WEEK) I eat something off my regular diet and the total becomes 1300 mg.
(Please note - there is no chance of the total calcium intake on any day exceeding 1300 mg as I rarely eat Calcium rich foods)
The Q is - Is it safe in the long run, to OCCASIONALLY exceed calcium RDA (once a week or so) by maximum 300 mg, if on all other days it's less than RDA?
Any downside to getting most of Calcium from supplements?
3. I take Zoloft and Modafinil. I am still experimenting to get the dosage time right.
Q - Can you confirm that I can take the following together, without any reduction in their medical efficacy? Or should I give a gap between the combinations, and if so how many hours?
a. Zoloft and Modafinil within 1 hr of each other in the morning
b. Zoloft together with Calcium and Magnesium supplements in the night.
c. Zoloft with Iron syrup and food.
d. Modafinil and Iron syrup with food.
(If you are wondering why I am taking iron/magnesium - I take them only on days where my diet was bad, to the get the RDA, because my multivit doesn't have them. I always consume less than RDA. I have cleared it with my doctor.)
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Correct the diet.
Detailed Answer:
Please find my answers:
if I don't have Zinc deficiency and take a 50 mg/d regimen for a month ONLY(with 3 mg copper) will it be safe?
Ans----I am strictly against supplements unless there is proven deficiency of the same. This is my school of teaching.
Given my years of neglect, a Zinc deficiency is very probable.
Ans---Get a Blood test for micronutrients at any lab.
So, my Q is- is there any major downside to assuming mild Zinc deficiency and taking 45-50 mg of Zinc citrate everyday for 30 days? Do I have to take Copper and if so, how much?
Ans - You may choose to take Zinc supplementation without fearing about copper though they do not go together. You can take the same dose as you had taken all these days.
Is it safe in the long run, to OCCASIONALLY exceed calcium RDA (once a week or so) by maximum 300 mg, if on all other days it's less than RDA?
Any downside to getting most of Calcium from supplements?
Ans---NO PROBLEM. You can take it as usual up to 1500 mg/day.
Can you confirm that I can take the following together, without any reduction in their medical efficacy? Or should I give a gap between the combinations, and if so how many hours?
Ans-- zoloft and modafinil can be taken together without reduced efficacy, you may leave a gap of 15 minutes to half an hour.
I do not suggest Zoloft and calcium; zoloft and iron together leave at least two hour gap between them.
Similarly gap between modafinil and iron syrup.
Take Iron in the morning and calcium in the afternoon. Modafinil can be taken at night. Similarly zoloft during breakfast.
If you know that your diet is bad you correct it but do not rely on supplements altogether. As I said supplements should be complementary to diet and not otherwise.
Correct the diet.
Detailed Answer:
Please find my answers:
if I don't have Zinc deficiency and take a 50 mg/d regimen for a month ONLY(with 3 mg copper) will it be safe?
Ans----I am strictly against supplements unless there is proven deficiency of the same. This is my school of teaching.
Given my years of neglect, a Zinc deficiency is very probable.
Ans---Get a Blood test for micronutrients at any lab.
So, my Q is- is there any major downside to assuming mild Zinc deficiency and taking 45-50 mg of Zinc citrate everyday for 30 days? Do I have to take Copper and if so, how much?
Ans - You may choose to take Zinc supplementation without fearing about copper though they do not go together. You can take the same dose as you had taken all these days.
Is it safe in the long run, to OCCASIONALLY exceed calcium RDA (once a week or so) by maximum 300 mg, if on all other days it's less than RDA?
Any downside to getting most of Calcium from supplements?
Ans---NO PROBLEM. You can take it as usual up to 1500 mg/day.
Can you confirm that I can take the following together, without any reduction in their medical efficacy? Or should I give a gap between the combinations, and if so how many hours?
Ans-- zoloft and modafinil can be taken together without reduced efficacy, you may leave a gap of 15 minutes to half an hour.
I do not suggest Zoloft and calcium; zoloft and iron together leave at least two hour gap between them.
Similarly gap between modafinil and iron syrup.
Take Iron in the morning and calcium in the afternoon. Modafinil can be taken at night. Similarly zoloft during breakfast.
If you know that your diet is bad you correct it but do not rely on supplements altogether. As I said supplements should be complementary to diet and not otherwise.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
Thanks for the answers. Final Qs-
1. Modafinil can be taken at night?
2. What is the best time for Calcium?
3. "You may choose to take Zinc supplementation without fearing about copper though they do not go together."
I am not sure what that means. Is there no need to take copper with 45 mg zinc? What do you mean by they do not go together?
4. "Get a Blood test for micronutrients at any lab."
I asked around a lot but the only tests available in XXXXXXX diag labs are serum tests for micronutrients. Evcen plasma tests are unavailable. Can you give the official name to the test you are mentioning? Thanks.
5. Also,can I take modafinil and calcium tablet together without reduced efficacy? Right now, only way I can take all my meds is if I time it like this-
Zoloft with a little food at 6 am.
Modafinil with Breakfast and Calcium tablet at 8 am.
Rest of the supplements and multi spread throughout the rest of the day.
Is this okay?
Regards.
1. Modafinil can be taken at night?
2. What is the best time for Calcium?
3. "You may choose to take Zinc supplementation without fearing about copper though they do not go together."
I am not sure what that means. Is there no need to take copper with 45 mg zinc? What do you mean by they do not go together?
4. "Get a Blood test for micronutrients at any lab."
I asked around a lot but the only tests available in XXXXXXX diag labs are serum tests for micronutrients. Evcen plasma tests are unavailable. Can you give the official name to the test you are mentioning? Thanks.
5. Also,can I take modafinil and calcium tablet together without reduced efficacy? Right now, only way I can take all my meds is if I time it like this-
Zoloft with a little food at 6 am.
Modafinil with Breakfast and Calcium tablet at 8 am.
Rest of the supplements and multi spread throughout the rest of the day.
Is this okay?
Regards.
Brief Answer:
Vitamins schedule
Detailed Answer:
Modafinil is better taken earlier during the day to be vigilant.
Calcium citrate can be either on empty or full stomach, while calcium carbonate should be taken with food for better absorption. I think it is better to take in the breakfast or lunch as you can get the benefits while awake. No problem taken during dinner as well.
What I mean was you can take ZINCOVIT syrup which has Copper 0.5mg in it and still feel safe with that dose of copper.
I remember Thyrocare labs doing it. Please check with them. Very few physicians are asking for such tests that too in critical care. So not many labs are using good technology to measure them.
Always choose convenient and easily remember able time for most important drugs. Later non essential drugs. For you zoloft and modafinil seems to be most important than vitamins. So choose the best remember able time for these two.
You can take as per your schedule but take calcium during lunch. Everything written was good.
Thank you.
Vitamins schedule
Detailed Answer:
Modafinil is better taken earlier during the day to be vigilant.
Calcium citrate can be either on empty or full stomach, while calcium carbonate should be taken with food for better absorption. I think it is better to take in the breakfast or lunch as you can get the benefits while awake. No problem taken during dinner as well.
What I mean was you can take ZINCOVIT syrup which has Copper 0.5mg in it and still feel safe with that dose of copper.
I remember Thyrocare labs doing it. Please check with them. Very few physicians are asking for such tests that too in critical care. So not many labs are using good technology to measure them.
Always choose convenient and easily remember able time for most important drugs. Later non essential drugs. For you zoloft and modafinil seems to be most important than vitamins. So choose the best remember able time for these two.
You can take as per your schedule but take calcium during lunch. Everything written was good.
Thank you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
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