Zinc Cautions
Article navigation
General warnings and precautions
Certain people should not take zinc supplements at all:
- People with stomach or duodenal ulcers
Zinc supplements can cause a number of gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and abdominal bleeding, so people who have ulcers (stomach or duodenal) may have an exacerbation of their symptoms and should not take zinc supplements at all to prevent this.
Certain people should not take zinc supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice about the possible interaction of zinc supplements and their medication:
- People taking any type of medication
- Women who are pregnant
While zinc supplements are a great supplement to take when women are pregnant, high levels of zinc should not be taken as they can cause premature labour or stillbirth. Pregnant women should ensure they consult their doctor about suitable supplemental levels of zinc to prevent any adverse effects on the growing foetus.
Certain people should not take zinc supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice about the possible interaction of zinc supplements and their medicatio
Toxic Levels of Zinc
Zinc is toxic at doses greater than 1000mg per day, but can produce some toxicity symptoms such as nausea and vomiting at levels higher than 150mg per day.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Acute
Acute toxicity from taking too much in zinc supplements - over 1000mg can cause the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal intestinal bleeding
- Gastric ulceration
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Chronic
Chronic toxicity of zinc from taking higher than the therapeutic dose of supplements (over 150mg) for a long time can cause the following symptoms:
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
People experiencing any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their zinc supplements and seek medical advice. Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of zinc is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.