Posted by Larry Hoover on April 11, 2007, at 7:53:26
In reply to Re: How much zinc is too much re: copper deficienc, posted by LOOPS on April 10, 2007, at 10:49:37
> Hi -
>
> I read that if you use a properly chelated form of a mineral, including zinc, that this prevented depletion/inhibition of copper. So you could take 30mg chelated zinc, or even more, and it wouldn't have any effect on copper.
>
> Is this correct?
>
> LoopsNo, zinc chelation would not influence copper uptake one way or the other. There are at least four distinct cation uptake pumps that zinc can occupy. That's the entire issue. Zinc ions bully copper ions out of the way. 30 mg/day zinc is not likely to inhibit copper uptake to any substantial degree. There is a genetic disease leading to copper accumulation in the body (Wilson's Disease, analogous to hemochromatosis and iron), and treatment is simply to block copper uptake. Studies have clearly demonstrated that inhibition of copper uptake starts at around 80 mg/day zinc, and goes towards zero at 150 mg/day and above (statistically). Nota bene that no toxic effects of zinc occur at those intake levels, apart from blocking copper (and sometimes iron) uptake.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:744252
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070410/msgs/748988.html