Overloading zinc actually may risk prostate health - OregonLive.com
The Oregonian (7/23, Rojas-Burke) reports that the latest “research about men taking zinc supplements creates more confusion than clarity.” Currently, “U.S. diet guidelines recommend that adult men get 11 milligrams of zinc a day.” But, “in studies showing harmful effects, men took much higher levels.” For example, “University of Wisconsin researchers last year reported that men who took 80 milligrams of zinc each day suffered higher rates of prostate enlargement and urinary problems.” They also linked dosages of “100 milligrams a day” to an increased likelihood of “developing advanced prostate cancers.” Yet, “for men worried about macular degeneration,” experts currently “recommend…80 milligrams a day.” In a study reported in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, David Jarrard, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, “said the firmly established benefits for men at risk of vision loss outweigh the uncertain risks of prostate cancer.” Still, “before taking such high doses, it’s a good idea to clear it with a health professional who can also watch for problems” higher zinc supplementation might cause.
