Is plasma zinc really a good marker when it does not correlate with dietary zinc intake and is influenced by so many other things? Why would my plasma zinc keep going down while supplementing with more and more, and what else can I measure to figure it out?
This is a question asked live during the October 12, 2022 AMA.
Short Answer: Plasma zinc is the single most important marker of zinc status. Urine zinc may decline faster in deficiency. Hair zinc increases with supplementation but does not decrease in deficiency. Plasma zinc is decreased by inflammation, oxidative stress, the ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, probably pregnancy and oral contraceptive use, and any kind of stress that leads to an adrenal output. If plasma zinc declines despite supplementation, corroborate that this reflects zinc status by showing normal hair zinc and low urine zinc. Use symptoms as the ultimate arbiter of whether zinc supplementation is helping.
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This snippet is from the October 12, 2022 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what’s included:
Ask Me Anything | October 12, 2022
Statins versus sulfur, glutathione intolerance, plasma zinc, unexplained rises in urine ketones, continuous glucose monitors, MK-4 and heart palpitations, niacin forms, and more.
The questions include:
NADH vs NMN vs NR
An unexplained rise in urine ketones
Spreading out calcium across meals
What should we have in our cold season cabinet?
What besides diet could cause my high morning glucose on a CGM?
Will some older people benefit from supplementing carnitine?
What do I think about the CGM fad?
Could my low triglycerides be cholestasis?
Why limit the dose of cod liver oil?
Why do I always feel better when my sulfur problems are worse?
Should I use one lab’s reference range with another lab’s results?
Is it safe to eat roasted potatoes?
How much weight should I give genetic SNPs in my nutrition?
High RBC magnesium but low serum: what could it mean?
Burning in the stomach: what could it be?
Should I treat low plasma amino acids by supplementing them?
Why would MK-4 cause heart palpitations?
Disclaimer
I am not a medical doctor and this is not medical advice. My goal is to empower you with information. Please make all health decisions yourself, consulting sources you trust, including a caring health care professional.
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Why Plasma Zinc is the Best Marker of Zinc Status