High doses of zinc linked to urinary problems

From www.womens-health-advisor.com

“Some vitamin supplements containing high doses of zinc as well as remedies aimed at reducing cold symptoms could lead to excess zinc levels and cause urinary problems for older adults, according to a study in the February 2007 Journal of Urology. The study analyzed data from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), in which 3,640 people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were randomly assigned to various formulations of daily antioxidant vitamins with high doses vitamins C, E, beta carotene, and copper, with and without 80mg of zinc, or a placebo.

The six-year AREDS study found the supplements with zinc slowed the progression of AMD. However, there were almost twice as many hospital admissions for genitourinary problems among patients assigned to supplements with zinc than those taking formulas without zinc (11.1 percent vs. 7.6 percent). The most common problem was a urinary tract infection. Zinc had no effect on the risk of bladder or urinary system cancer.”

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