Zinc supplementation has no effect on lipoprotein metabolism, hemostasis, and putative indices of copper status in healthy men.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 12835492 · doi:10.1385/bter:93:1-3:75
What was done
Thirty-eight healthy men were recruited into a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. One group received zinc supplements (30 mg/d) for 14 weeks followed by copper supplements (3 mg/d) for 8 weeks (with estimated dietary zinc intake approximating 10 mg/d, reaching a total intake of 40 mg/d). The second group received placebo supplements for the entire trial. Outcomes evaluated by repeated-measures ANOVA were markers of lipoprotein metabolism, hemostasis, and putative indices of copper status.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect estimates, or p-values. It reports that zinc supplementation had no effect on putative indices of copper status, lipoprotein metabolism, and markers of hemostasis.
Why it matters
This trial suggests that short-term zinc intake at the United States tolerable upper intake level (40 mg/day) does not adversely impact copper balance, lipid metabolism, or coagulation markers in healthy men.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 38). No specific numeric data or confidence intervals were provided in the abstract. The study included only healthy men and evaluated short-term supplementation, limiting generalizability to women, other demographics, or long-term chronic intake.
Cited by
- supports Taking more than 40 milligrams of elemental zinc per day can cause copper deficiency.