Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

Question on zinc copper and iron with regard to nutrition ?

How much supplemental zinc can be taken before supplemental copper is required? At over 150 mg of supplemental zinc per day is it even possible to absorb supplemental copper? In other words does there come a point above which zinc supplementation negates the usefulness of copper supplementation completely and copper deficiency becomes a problem even with copper supplementation? Does supplemental iron have an effect on the metabolism of these metals?

Supplemental zinc should never exceed 50 mg per day and 150 mg per day is far too much and is likely to give you zinc poisoning.

Copper and iron interact and too much of one can cause a deficiency of the other one due to preferential absorption of the one in excess.

Sound Science: The Consequences of Zinc Deficiency