Zinc and vitamin C cancel each other out?

I work at a hospital a fellow coworker became ill the other day.

I said take some goldenseal root, echinacea, and PLENTY of vitamin C and zinc.

She said no, you not supposed to take vitamin C along with zinc because it nullifies the effects of each other. She assured me this was true... but I'm staring at my Halls defense lozenges that have vitamin C AND zinc in them. They wouldn't sell it if the combination of the two didn't work, right?

[Sister Ray]

Originally Posted by magemage

I work at a hospital a fellow coworker became ill the other day.

I said take some goldenseal root, echinacea, and PLENTY of vitamin C and zinc.

She said no, you not supposed to take vitamin C along with zinc because it nullifies the effects of each other. She assured me this was true... but I'm staring at my Halls defense lozenges that have vitamin C AND zinc in them. They wouldn't sell it if the combination of the two didn't work, right?

Yes they would.

The idea that vitamin c prevents colds or makes them less severe is a myth. Anyway, various foods have both those vitamins/minerals and they don't seem to cancel each other out there.

Sister "but don't get me started on the vitamin rant" Ray

[Thebobo]

Originally Posted by Sister Ray

Yes they would.

The idea that vitamin c prevents colds or makes them less severe is a myth. Anyway, various foods have both those vitamins/minerals and they don't seem to cancel each other out there.

Sister "but don't get me started on the vitamin rant" Ray

Sorry to do this to you but would you mind elaborating? You may have some good information that some of us could use.
I take vitamins (C,B Complex,Zinc and Fish Oils). I was always wondering if they are all in vain. While I do not seem to get as sick as often, but when I do it appears to be mild. I would like to think the wad of cash I spend on them a year is actually doing good.

[Artemis]

I don't think that's true about the Vitamin C. This past year, whenever I feel a cold coming on, I try to take as much Vitamin C as possible. Since I've been doing that, I tend to feel kind of tiredy/sickish for a couple days, but the cold generally goes away before it becomes a full blown cold.

[DaGuyWitBluGlasses]

chelation maybe?

(But chemical reactions don't involve all molecules, so even if it reduces the effective dose of one, you'd still be getting both nutrients.)

[Sister Ray]

Originally Posted by Thebobo

Sorry to do this to you but would you mind elaborating? You may have some good information that some of us could use.
I take vitamins (C,B Complex,Zinc and Fish Oils). I was always wondering if they are all in vain. While I do not seem to get as sick as often, but when I do it appears to be mild. I would like to think the wad of cash I spend on them a year is actually doing good.

I can't cite a website in many cases, as most of the info is in books. Dan Hurley has a terrific new book "Natural Causes" about the supplement/vitamin industry.

As for all the vitamins, any person who eats the RDAs has no danger of vitamin deficiancy. http://www.quackwatch.org/01Quackery...uppsherbs.html is a good place to start about this. There are some situations where supplementing with vitamins is appropriate, but most people need none of them. The evidence that anything taken can prevent colds or strengthen the immune system is nonexistant.

Sister "did I mention I hate medical quackery?" Ray

I've never heard of Vit C and zinc cancelling each other out...I think it's a myth. Both supplement the immune system, but there is very little high quality evidence that high doses prevent or cure viral illness.

It is true, however, that vitamin C will help the absorption of iron (and tannins interfere with it...so take those prenatals with OJ!!).

Maybe someone mixed their vitamins up?

One last comment-- if you take too much of anything water soluable (vit C, vits B, most minerals, etc) you will just pee them out. It's said that Americans have the most expensive pee in the world!

However, if you take too much of the fat soluable vitamins (A, D, E, and K) you can run into some pretty serious problems (like too much vit E will anticoagulate you much the same as warfarin ,and too much vit A can leave you blind!).

A good diet and the occasional multi-vitamin when you are low is ample!!!

Dr. Jay

[Liza]

I don't know about vitamin C, but grapefruit can change how quickly you absorb medicines. There are warnings against eating grapefruit or drinking juice while you take certain meds, mostly statins. The best known one is Lipitor. It changes the way your body processes the medication. Doses are set with the knowledge that a certain amount will pass out of your body in your wastes, and grapefruit causes you to absorb more than you should.

Apparently, the liver enzyme that breaks down some component of grapefruit is the same one that breaks down some medications. If you have the grapefruit juice going through your liver before the meds, there isn't enough enzyme to break down the meds, and they stay in your body longer, and more are absorbed. The FDA now requires medicines to be tested to see if grapefruit changes absorption rates.

Also, on the back of my zinc lozenges there is a warning not to drink or eat any citrus for an hour before or after you take one because it reduces the effectiveness of the zinc. Don't know what effect citrus has on zinc.

http://health.ninemsn.com.au/askthee...y.aspx?id=1410

http://www.drugs.com/lipitor.html

absorb absorb absorb...I think I like that word.

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jay

I've never heard of Vit C and zinc cancelling each other out...I think it's a myth. Both supplement the immune system, but there is very little high quality evidence that high doses prevent or cure viral illness.

It is true, however, that vitamin C will help the absorption of iron (and tannins interfere with it...so take those prenatals with OJ!!).

Maybe someone mixed their vitamins up?

One last comment-- if you take too much of anything water soluable (vit C, vits B, most minerals, etc) you will just pee them out. It's said that Americans have the most expensive pee in the world!

However, if you take too much of the fat soluable vitamins (A, D, E, and K) you can run into some pretty serious problems (like too much vit E will anticoagulate you much the same as warfarin ,and too much vit A can leave you blind!).

A good diet and the occasional multi-vitamin when you are low is ample!!!

Dr. Jay

Too much A, if I remember, also led to the deaths of some Arctic explorers, Willem Barents of Strait fame among them, due to liver failure.

[Skeptic]

Originally Posted by magemage

I work at a hospital a fellow coworker became ill the other day.

I said take some goldenseal root, echinacea, and PLENTY of vitamin C and zinc.

She said no, you not supposed to take vitamin C along with zinc because it nullifies the effects of each other. She assured me this was true... but I'm staring at my Halls defense lozenges that have vitamin C AND zinc in them. They wouldn't sell it if the combination of the two didn't work, right?

If you are a doctor, WHY are you suggesting this course of treatment.
If you are not a doctor, do not suggest ANY course of treatment.

[rockland6674]

You know this topic is over two years old and magemage is no longer a registered snopester, right?