Zinc toxicity question

Dermighty

Hi,

I'm currently taking Universal Animal Pak once a day and Optimum Nutrition ZMA once a day.

Up to now I would have thought that many people would take these two supplements in combination. I am curious as to how such a high level of Zinc would affect your body if these two were combined.

I take Animal Pak to aid recovery and I take ZMA because I find it helps my sleep and recovery.

Firstly here's the two product labels in question.

ON ZMA: http://www.nzmuscle.co.nz/site/nzmuscle/images/items_labels/ON_ZMA_LABEL.gif

Animal Pak: http://bodybuilding.epicsports.com/products/UNIVERSAL_NUTRITION/CHARTS/3011_3012_label.jpg

Secondly I found a couple of articles on Zinc toxicity here: http://www.ajcn.org/content/51/2/225.abstract

and here: http://www.jurology.com/article/S0022-5347(06)02494-3/abstract


Any informed advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

El_Dangeroso

Don't supplement zinc, eat oysters, one oyster has over the 100% RDA of zinc.

Zinc toxicity is usually in the presence of copper deficiency, good sources of copper include beef liver, and well, lamb liver. Liver is pretty much the only good source left since the soil has become more depleted due to modern farming techniques.

So IF you are going to continue with ZMA, eat 200g beef liver once a week.

Oh and it's the magnesium that's helping your sleep. You can take it on it's own.

Dermighty

I posted a similar thread on bodybuilding.com here.

I don't want to eat Oysters (point taken though).

AP has 30% of the RDA so any vegetables you can get copper in? The idea of eating liver doesn't really do much for me, also I don't eat red meat that often, perhaps once a week or once every 2 weeks. I prefer chicken/turkey.

El_Dangeroso

Dermighty wrote: »

I posted a similar thread on bodybuilding.com here.

I don't want to eat Oysters (point taken though).

AP has 30% of the RDA so any vegetables you can get copper in? The idea of eating liver doesn't really do much for me, also I don't eat red meat that often, perhaps once a week or once every 2 weeks. I prefer chicken/turkey.

The content of copper listed on most food databases is outdated. Copper has been reduced in the soil over time (1)
On average, the copper content of vegetables in the UK has declined 76 percent since 1940. Most of the decrease has taken place since 1978.

Oysters become addictive. Just force yourself to eat it 20 times and you'll start to like them. The zinc is more bioavailable too. I don't think the same happens for liver, but you can eat a 100g portion twice a week. It's filled with all sorts of goodies and vitamin A which aids muscle building.