I did a search for this topic and just saw it mentioned in a few posts. With flu and cold season upon us, does anyone take zinc? I read where there are 7 kinds and the article I read was that chelated was the best, and yet another one said the orotate was the best.
Does anyone here take it? What kind? I don't think I need it all the time, but thought maybe before cold and flu season (and especially since I work with kids) that a little boost would be helpful.
Thoughts?
Zinc?
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Hi Jari,
I never used to take zinc (at least not regularly), but late last spring a retina specialist recommended it (in combination with copper, in the proper ratio) as part of a supplemental treatment program to help prevent macular degeneration. So now I take it regularly. The treatment also includes vitamins E and C.
That said, I've used zinc lozenges in years past, whenever I thought I might be coming down with a cold or some sort of respiratory virus, and it does seem to help.
Tex
I never used to take zinc (at least not regularly), but late last spring a retina specialist recommended it (in combination with copper, in the proper ratio) as part of a supplemental treatment program to help prevent macular degeneration. So now I take it regularly. The treatment also includes vitamins E and C.
That said, I've used zinc lozenges in years past, whenever I thought I might be coming down with a cold or some sort of respiratory virus, and it does seem to help.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
Just curious what is the ration of zinc to copper that you are taking. I recently added zinc to my supplements and have some copper, but not sure what ratio they should be. I have a family history of macular degeneration, so would like to be proactive.
Thanks,
Just curious what is the ration of zinc to copper that you are taking. I recently added zinc to my supplements and have some copper, but not sure what ratio they should be. I have a family history of macular degeneration, so would like to be proactive.
Thanks,
Donna
Diagnosed with CC August 2011
Diagnosed with CC August 2011
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Jari
Ideal ratio in blood tests is about 0.7 copper to 1.0 zinc
ie 10 copper to 14 zinc or 14 copper to 20 zinc type ratios
I have used zinc supplementation alot, (pre MC dx and post MC Dx) as I always showed signs of zinc deficiency.
when I was having dental issues, I have used zinc liquid to brush teeth and gums so that bacteria from mouth would not go to the gut
and gargled zinc liquid if I had a sore throat/cold/flu (i get a zinc minerals liquid from iHerb)
I now know that i have a medical condition that depletes zinc and excess copper builds up in my body causing issues, so I take high high doses of zinc... (and my zinc copper levels are tested every 4-5 months)
Copper deficiency is just as bad as Copper toxicity - so it is recommended to get zinc and copper levels checked before taking any high doses of Zinc supplementation.
what form of zinc - I am taking Zinc picolinate with biotin (to help me absorb the mega doses) (as it is the cheapest)
things to note from my nutrient bible book
- Zinc-histidine, Zinc-methionine, and Zinc-Cysteine complexes appear to be more efficiently absorbed than other zinc forms
- absorption is inhibited by excess sugar, insufficient stomach HCL, gut inflammation, allergy
- excessive calcium intake impairs zinc absorption.
- H-2 receptor antagonists ie ranitidine decrease zinc absorption
Ideal ratio in blood tests is about 0.7 copper to 1.0 zinc
ie 10 copper to 14 zinc or 14 copper to 20 zinc type ratios
I have used zinc supplementation alot, (pre MC dx and post MC Dx) as I always showed signs of zinc deficiency.
when I was having dental issues, I have used zinc liquid to brush teeth and gums so that bacteria from mouth would not go to the gut
and gargled zinc liquid if I had a sore throat/cold/flu (i get a zinc minerals liquid from iHerb)
I now know that i have a medical condition that depletes zinc and excess copper builds up in my body causing issues, so I take high high doses of zinc... (and my zinc copper levels are tested every 4-5 months)
Copper deficiency is just as bad as Copper toxicity - so it is recommended to get zinc and copper levels checked before taking any high doses of Zinc supplementation.
what form of zinc - I am taking Zinc picolinate with biotin (to help me absorb the mega doses) (as it is the cheapest)
things to note from my nutrient bible book
- Zinc-histidine, Zinc-methionine, and Zinc-Cysteine complexes appear to be more efficiently absorbed than other zinc forms
- absorption is inhibited by excess sugar, insufficient stomach HCL, gut inflammation, allergy
- excessive calcium intake impairs zinc absorption.
- H-2 receptor antagonists ie ranitidine decrease zinc absorption
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Many years ago I worked for a company that bottled some zinc tablets labeled to help with colds. It certainly was a popular product in the winter time. Figured it must help some. I don't take zinc myself though as I found it tended to upset my stomach.
I found the wheat free diet, plus taking vitamin D greatly helpful at preventing colds for me. I guess though I also have a vitamin D sunlight that I'll use in the winter, which is different from what most others do. So far I've been all but flu/cold free for 8 years - other than a brief day or two bout with a cold a few years ago.
I found the wheat free diet, plus taking vitamin D greatly helpful at preventing colds for me. I guess though I also have a vitamin D sunlight that I'll use in the winter, which is different from what most others do. So far I've been all but flu/cold free for 8 years - other than a brief day or two bout with a cold a few years ago.
Donna,
The ones I'm using contain 50 mg zinc, and 2 mg copper. That amounts to 333 % of the RDA for zinc, and 100 % of the RDA for copper. If I recall correctly, the ideal daily dose recommendation is for about 30 mg zinc and 1.5 mg copper.
The rest of that treatment combination is 400 IU of vitamin E and 500 mg of vitamin C.
The recommendation also includes a small amount of lutein (I'm thinking something like 10 mg or less), but I've had drusen for over 35 years, and all I've ever taken for it (up until a few months ago) is luten, and my eyes have changed very little in the past 35 years. I take much more lutein than this doctor recommended, though. I've always taken either 20 mg or 40 mg per day, except that if I'm using the 40 mg version, I only take it 5 days each week. So IMO, lutein may be the most important supplement one can take for drusen/macular degeneration issues, based on my experience.
Tex
The ones I'm using contain 50 mg zinc, and 2 mg copper. That amounts to 333 % of the RDA for zinc, and 100 % of the RDA for copper. If I recall correctly, the ideal daily dose recommendation is for about 30 mg zinc and 1.5 mg copper.
The rest of that treatment combination is 400 IU of vitamin E and 500 mg of vitamin C.
The recommendation also includes a small amount of lutein (I'm thinking something like 10 mg or less), but I've had drusen for over 35 years, and all I've ever taken for it (up until a few months ago) is luten, and my eyes have changed very little in the past 35 years. I take much more lutein than this doctor recommended, though. I've always taken either 20 mg or 40 mg per day, except that if I'm using the 40 mg version, I only take it 5 days each week. So IMO, lutein may be the most important supplement one can take for drusen/macular degeneration issues, based on my experience.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
WhirledPeas
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 10:25 pm
Hi Gabes and Tex,
Hope you or others will comment with some suggestions. I need some feedback.
After reading the recent MC Foundation newsletter, I asked my primary to add zinc and copper to her list of recent blood work. Copper is 173. Range is 70-175. Zinc is 58 and range is 60-130. Trying to figure out how to supplement the zinc without stomach or GI upset. In past I never could do the sublingual tablets (when I was GI stable and healthy). Upset my stomach. Is there a topical zinc cream that works like the magnesium oil that many use on here? There is a product on Amazon called Kirkman Labs Zinc Sulfate Topical Cream but it has methyl paraben in it. Not sure if it's a supplement or just an ointment. Any suggestions or links to products would be greatly appreciated!
Hoping to try a lamb chop at some point and see if it has a better effect than the roasted poultry I've tried. It's not the chicken or the turkey per se because I tolerate boneless chicken and turkey breasts. Lamb has a lot of nutrients in it.
I am still struggling with various GI symptoms and limited diet of turkey tenderloins baked with certified EVOO, salted boiled yellow potatoes and boiled carrots and Progresso Classic Chicken Broth (fewest mildest ingredients). Every time I try to add roasted chicken or turkey breast with bone and skin on (not eating skin of course) and eat it 3 times a day I have nausea and BM issues (either formed IBS or non-liquid diarrhea with cramping). That's why I haven't gone the bone broth route. I tried adding the "jelly" the forms after cooking these meats with fat skimmed off and it caused issues two months ago. Once a day eating roasted skin on poultry has worked before at times. Somehow my body is having difficulty with fat. Related to gallstones or just MC??? I tolerate moderate amount of olive oil which I coat the turkey tenderloins in which is 98% fat free, but it's not a sufficient amount of fat in my diet. This is making me lose more weight especially with the recent "flare" 3 weeks ago which I've thankfully recovered from.
Still have chronic burning in throat and stomach with no diagnosis after upper endoscopy besides dyspepsia and then later after ultrasound he said it "might" be bile, but not sure. Gallstones are not inflamed and no stabbing pains or fever, etc. Burning only starts after I've eaten. Worse after lunch and really painful sometimes after dinner. Anxiety has decreased and am sleeping better. I really don't know what to do. I've changed GI doctors and will be seeing someone at the local university hospital within the Crohn's and Colitis division. Not expecting much, but couldn't deal with the other doctor and his discouraging attitude and belittling attitude when I shared things I have learned on this site and through reputable medical sources. My primary is knowledgeable about deficiencies and is open minded, so grateful for that!
At least my primary and GI doctor will be in the same facility/system and can consult each other easily. That appointment is on November 30th.
Happily the cervical polyps were benign and my GYN was just being overly cautious with that test that I mentioned a few weeks ago. One less thing...
Taking D3 5000 IU now for last week. Upped dosage. Today I upped methyl B12 drops to 800 mcg and tolerated it fine. No jitters or hyperactivity. Body getting used to it by slowing introducing. B12 (429 now in July 307) and D (61 now in July was 34) levels are higher in recent blood work which is good. Homocysteine dropped to 11.6, so on the low end of high. Grateful for that. The B12 must be working to get that down. My MMA is now 138, so I guess that's good that I'm not on the low range of normal anymore. Vitamin A is good.
I am making plans to celebrate my birthday soon and focus on the good and gather some good friends around to listen to some of my musician friends jam. Focus on music and friends not food or cake. Walking on the beach as much as I can. I will not let this get the better of me. Must keep moving forward and finding solutions and patience.
Appreciate anything you can share.
Kind regards,
Wen
P.S. Gables do you only gargle with the zinc liquid or do you also ingest it? Speaking of dentists, I have flossed my teeth *every night* since this started in early May. Healthy mouth and gums are essential. If I don't do that, my gums bleed when I floss. A few months ago I got a good checkup at the dentist which I was grateful for.
Hope you or others will comment with some suggestions. I need some feedback.
After reading the recent MC Foundation newsletter, I asked my primary to add zinc and copper to her list of recent blood work. Copper is 173. Range is 70-175. Zinc is 58 and range is 60-130. Trying to figure out how to supplement the zinc without stomach or GI upset. In past I never could do the sublingual tablets (when I was GI stable and healthy). Upset my stomach. Is there a topical zinc cream that works like the magnesium oil that many use on here? There is a product on Amazon called Kirkman Labs Zinc Sulfate Topical Cream but it has methyl paraben in it. Not sure if it's a supplement or just an ointment. Any suggestions or links to products would be greatly appreciated!
Hoping to try a lamb chop at some point and see if it has a better effect than the roasted poultry I've tried. It's not the chicken or the turkey per se because I tolerate boneless chicken and turkey breasts. Lamb has a lot of nutrients in it.
I am still struggling with various GI symptoms and limited diet of turkey tenderloins baked with certified EVOO, salted boiled yellow potatoes and boiled carrots and Progresso Classic Chicken Broth (fewest mildest ingredients). Every time I try to add roasted chicken or turkey breast with bone and skin on (not eating skin of course) and eat it 3 times a day I have nausea and BM issues (either formed IBS or non-liquid diarrhea with cramping). That's why I haven't gone the bone broth route. I tried adding the "jelly" the forms after cooking these meats with fat skimmed off and it caused issues two months ago. Once a day eating roasted skin on poultry has worked before at times. Somehow my body is having difficulty with fat. Related to gallstones or just MC??? I tolerate moderate amount of olive oil which I coat the turkey tenderloins in which is 98% fat free, but it's not a sufficient amount of fat in my diet. This is making me lose more weight especially with the recent "flare" 3 weeks ago which I've thankfully recovered from.
Still have chronic burning in throat and stomach with no diagnosis after upper endoscopy besides dyspepsia and then later after ultrasound he said it "might" be bile, but not sure. Gallstones are not inflamed and no stabbing pains or fever, etc. Burning only starts after I've eaten. Worse after lunch and really painful sometimes after dinner. Anxiety has decreased and am sleeping better. I really don't know what to do. I've changed GI doctors and will be seeing someone at the local university hospital within the Crohn's and Colitis division. Not expecting much, but couldn't deal with the other doctor and his discouraging attitude and belittling attitude when I shared things I have learned on this site and through reputable medical sources. My primary is knowledgeable about deficiencies and is open minded, so grateful for that!
At least my primary and GI doctor will be in the same facility/system and can consult each other easily. That appointment is on November 30th.
Happily the cervical polyps were benign and my GYN was just being overly cautious with that test that I mentioned a few weeks ago. One less thing...
Taking D3 5000 IU now for last week. Upped dosage. Today I upped methyl B12 drops to 800 mcg and tolerated it fine. No jitters or hyperactivity. Body getting used to it by slowing introducing. B12 (429 now in July 307) and D (61 now in July was 34) levels are higher in recent blood work which is good. Homocysteine dropped to 11.6, so on the low end of high. Grateful for that. The B12 must be working to get that down. My MMA is now 138, so I guess that's good that I'm not on the low range of normal anymore. Vitamin A is good.
I am making plans to celebrate my birthday soon and focus on the good and gather some good friends around to listen to some of my musician friends jam. Focus on music and friends not food or cake. Walking on the beach as much as I can. I will not let this get the better of me. Must keep moving forward and finding solutions and patience.
Appreciate anything you can share.
Kind regards,
Wen
P.S. Gables do you only gargle with the zinc liquid or do you also ingest it? Speaking of dentists, I have flossed my teeth *every night* since this started in early May. Healthy mouth and gums are essential. If I don't do that, my gums bleed when I floss. A few months ago I got a good checkup at the dentist which I was grateful for.
Gabes-Apg wrote:Jari
Ideal ratio in blood tests is about 0.7 copper to 1.0 zinc
ie 10 copper to 14 zinc or 14 copper to 20 zinc type ratios
I have used zinc supplementation alot, (pre MC dx and post MC Dx) as I always showed signs of zinc deficiency.
when I was having dental issues, I have used zinc liquid to brush teeth and gums so that bacteria from mouth would not go to the gut
and gargled zinc liquid if I had a sore throat/cold/flu (i get a zinc minerals liquid from iHerb)
I now know that i have a medical condition that depletes zinc and excess copper builds up in my body causing issues, so I take high high doses of zinc... (and my zinc copper levels are tested every 4-5 months)
Copper deficiency is just as bad as Copper toxicity - so it is recommended to get zinc and copper levels checked before taking any high doses of Zinc supplementation.
what form of zinc - I am taking Zinc picolinate with biotin (to help me absorb the mega doses) (as it is the cheapest)
things to note from my nutrient bible book
- Zinc-histidine, Zinc-methionine, and Zinc-Cysteine complexes appear to be more efficiently absorbed than other zinc forms
- absorption is inhibited by excess sugar, insufficient stomach HCL, gut inflammation, allergy
- excessive calcium intake impairs zinc absorption.
- H-2 receptor antagonists ie ranitidine decrease zinc absorption
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
I've been taking 50mg zinc forever...but my copper is on the high side so I take the zinc just to keep in sync with it.
I feel the zinc in tandem with higher VitD levels and getting good magnesium daily has helped keep more viruses at bay. Hope I continue to keep them at bay this winter too
I feel the zinc in tandem with higher VitD levels and getting good magnesium daily has helped keep more viruses at bay. Hope I continue to keep them at bay this winter too
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
topical zinc does not work so well.
i have tolerated high high dose zinc orally with no issues MC wise.
like anything in MC world, start low and slow and and work up gradually, you get what you pay for, dont buy cheap and nasty, spend a bit extra for better quality.
like the dr dean remag product, there is highly absorbable ionised zinc drops available on iherb.
now foods or thorne brand of zinc piconolate are good oral products
zinc is best taken of a night, and if someone is low in B6 (or P5P active form) then zinc can make you a little bit nauseous.
based on your post above, i would start on P5P first and then after 6 weeks start taking some zinc. the long term aim is to have your zinc blood test result higher than the copper.
hope this helps.
i have tolerated high high dose zinc orally with no issues MC wise.
like anything in MC world, start low and slow and and work up gradually, you get what you pay for, dont buy cheap and nasty, spend a bit extra for better quality.
like the dr dean remag product, there is highly absorbable ionised zinc drops available on iherb.
now foods or thorne brand of zinc piconolate are good oral products
zinc is best taken of a night, and if someone is low in B6 (or P5P active form) then zinc can make you a little bit nauseous.
based on your post above, i would start on P5P first and then after 6 weeks start taking some zinc. the long term aim is to have your zinc blood test result higher than the copper.
hope this helps.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hi, Jari. I purchased the zinc liquid that Gabes mentioned and I keep it on hand for when I start feeling run down. I take the dosage in water and it really seems to help me stay healthy. I have recently been under an extreme amount of stress at work and while my co-workers started to get colds, etc. I didn't.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
to do a price comparison
this capsule product is 2 months worth - yes it is appears as a higher amount of zinc per dose, but the form of zinc is not as bioavailable as the liquid.
this is one of the only oral forms I would recommend.
https://au.iherb.com/pr/Thorne-Research ... Caps/18460
this capsule product is 2 months worth - yes it is appears as a higher amount of zinc per dose, but the form of zinc is not as bioavailable as the liquid.
this is one of the only oral forms I would recommend.
https://au.iherb.com/pr/Thorne-Research ... Caps/18460
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
-
WhirledPeas
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 10:25 pm
What a nice surprise to find all these replies today! I didn't get any email notifications for this thread.tex wrote:Wen,
I'm not at all familiar with topical creams of lotions.
MC is nototious for causing steatorrhea.
Tex
I looked up steatorrhea to see if the symptoms match mine. Only a few times (3-5 times at most in last 6 months) do I recall seeing oily
droplet film in BM. No pale BMs ever. Usually orange because I eat carrots 3 x's a day. lol Only occasionally floaters. Sometimes that happens because of having colon or stomach gas night before. Usually sinkers especially if I'm eating the 98% fat free turkey tenderloins (plus salted yellow boiled potatoes, carrots and Progresso Classic Broth). My BMs tend to be less predictable when I have eaten roasted bone and skin on chicken breast or turkey breast especially two or three times in one day. Discard skin. More so with the roasted chicken breast (no major issue with boneless chicken breast). Never had issues like this before. I ate roasted chicken and turkey without any issues prior to this MC flare in May. Of course I would avoid high fat if I had D, but D was only for one day and the prior D regime of eating would get me back to normal and then I would add more fat and fiber to my diet once stable in a few weeks. I stuck to boneless chicken for two weeks and binding type foods. It was like clockwork. I never had any anxiety about this because my body would always respond to my system of eating after D. Inconvenient, but nothing like the last 6 months. Very Predictable. I didn't know how good I had it despite not being "like other friends and family" eating wise.
Foul smelling usually only occurs when diarrhea, cramping or IBS type BMs occur usually related to eating more poultry fat in a day combined with or without stress. I am happy to say I am more comfortable and stable now than 3 weeks ago when I had the last painful cramping D episode. Not perfect, but am able to enjoy my day more than before. 9 weeks ago was the prior D episode.
In my reading it mentioned tests to diagnose steatorrhea. Qualitative test (1 stool fat globule test) and Quantative test (2-4 stool samples in a row). Is this worth doing when I see my new GI doc on November 30th? How do you eventually overcome this if I actually do have it?
Have you found that certain meat fats are more tolerable during a recovery from a flare than others? I keep wanting to try a lamb chop, but I know it has more fat content than turkey tenderloins. Stability has been my focus more so than nutrition or variety. Birthday this week plus family in town for Thanksgiving and next week I have two doctor appointments. I am able to go out and do errands and when I have the energy do something social as well as walk on the beach when I am stable and dealing with symptoms beyond burping, occasional gas, chronic burning in throat and stomach (thankfully it's been mild the last few days... ahhh). Life is expanding a little bit for me.
I walked for an hour and a half on the beach yesterday. The farthest I've gone since this all started. More energy and less concern of having a bathroom nearby. Of course I was so hungry and tired by the time I got home, but it felt good to make it to the #1 life guard stand! And it was a beautiful day and sunset. It's good to have feelings of happiness.
Thank you for your reply. It's less frustrating knowing this is an issue that others have faced with MC and not just some unknown mystery of my own.
Have a blessed and feel good Thanksgiving, Tex.
Wen
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.