Post by catatonic on Mar 6, 2004 19:33:31 GMT -5
Allanque,
You're absolutely right that excessive zinc can cause a host of other unintended problems. That's why you've got to be taking a good multi-vitamin containing trace minerals at the same time. Copper is particularly at risk, and the ideal ratio is 15mg zinc to 1mg copper. Many zinc supplements have the copper built right in to help prevent this problem.
Unfortunately, research findings show that 30mg of zinc are not particularly effective against acne (Dreno B, Amblard P, Agache P, et al. Low doses of zinc gluconate for inflammatory acne. Acta Derm Venereol. 1989;69:541–543).
The best results were seen at 90 - 135mg daily (Verma KC, Saini AS, Dhamija SK. Oral zinc sulfate therapy in acne vulgaris: a double-blind trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 1980;60:337–340).
These high doses are not safe to give over a long period of time. It is not safe to give 100mg+ daily without a physician monitoring you.
According to the Merck Manual, zinc causes acute (short-term) toxicity at 200 - 800mg per day and long-term toxicity may be seen at 100-150mg per day, specifically in the form of depressed copper levels, reduced red blood cell size, or depressed white cell counts. (Copper deficiency is the major concern in most cases.) In fact, having read the Merck information, I'm now planning to cut my boy off zinc at 4 weeks, instead of 12 weeks as originally planned.
The Linus Pauling Institute takes an even more conservative view, citing research that demonstrated zinc at 60mg per day can result in copper deficiency. ( lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/index.html ) Make sure that you are taking copper.
You don't want to do zinc therapy for acne for a long period of time, and it's best to have a physician involved. However, if you use 50mg briefly, in conjunction with Vitamin B5, and then discontinue the zinc while keeping on with the Vitamin B5, I haven't found any evidence that you're likely to harm yourself. As long as you are taking a multi-vitamin that includes minerals!!! Do not neglect your copper!!!
Overall, I've found the research on Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) to be far more impressive than that on zinc. The success of B5 is MUCH better, and B5 is COMPLETELY SAFE to take, even at very high doses. There isn't even a tolerable upper limit for B5 because no one has ever detected toxic effects!
If the zinc makes you uncomfortable, skip it! Stick to the typical adult multi-vitamin formulation which provides 15mg zinc, and simply use the Vitamin B5 to treat the acne. I believe the B5 is what makes the major difference...zinc is just "insurance".
I'm really glad you brought the zinc toxicity issue up, Allanque. It's always wise to keep in mind that vitamins may be "natural" but that doesn't mean they are universally safe.
You're absolutely right that excessive zinc can cause a host of other unintended problems. That's why you've got to be taking a good multi-vitamin containing trace minerals at the same time. Copper is particularly at risk, and the ideal ratio is 15mg zinc to 1mg copper. Many zinc supplements have the copper built right in to help prevent this problem.
Unfortunately, research findings show that 30mg of zinc are not particularly effective against acne (Dreno B, Amblard P, Agache P, et al. Low doses of zinc gluconate for inflammatory acne. Acta Derm Venereol. 1989;69:541–543).
The best results were seen at 90 - 135mg daily (Verma KC, Saini AS, Dhamija SK. Oral zinc sulfate therapy in acne vulgaris: a double-blind trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 1980;60:337–340).
These high doses are not safe to give over a long period of time. It is not safe to give 100mg+ daily without a physician monitoring you.
According to the Merck Manual, zinc causes acute (short-term) toxicity at 200 - 800mg per day and long-term toxicity may be seen at 100-150mg per day, specifically in the form of depressed copper levels, reduced red blood cell size, or depressed white cell counts. (Copper deficiency is the major concern in most cases.) In fact, having read the Merck information, I'm now planning to cut my boy off zinc at 4 weeks, instead of 12 weeks as originally planned.
The Linus Pauling Institute takes an even more conservative view, citing research that demonstrated zinc at 60mg per day can result in copper deficiency. ( lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/index.html ) Make sure that you are taking copper.
You don't want to do zinc therapy for acne for a long period of time, and it's best to have a physician involved. However, if you use 50mg briefly, in conjunction with Vitamin B5, and then discontinue the zinc while keeping on with the Vitamin B5, I haven't found any evidence that you're likely to harm yourself. As long as you are taking a multi-vitamin that includes minerals!!! Do not neglect your copper!!!
Overall, I've found the research on Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) to be far more impressive than that on zinc. The success of B5 is MUCH better, and B5 is COMPLETELY SAFE to take, even at very high doses. There isn't even a tolerable upper limit for B5 because no one has ever detected toxic effects!
If the zinc makes you uncomfortable, skip it! Stick to the typical adult multi-vitamin formulation which provides 15mg zinc, and simply use the Vitamin B5 to treat the acne. I believe the B5 is what makes the major difference...zinc is just "insurance".
I'm really glad you brought the zinc toxicity issue up, Allanque. It's always wise to keep in mind that vitamins may be "natural" but that doesn't mean they are universally safe.
