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Can Excess Alcohol Consumption Cause Low Zinc Levels?
Question: Could I have a zinc deficency?
Symptoms: These include depression, anxiety, sleep problems, vitiligo (since I was teenager but very slow spread, premature grey hairs (gradual progression since 1 year ago), acne (moderate since teenager), low sex drive, lack of erections, no sporadically erections, obsessiveness, slight ridging on nails, restless legs, feeling weak.
I've drank alcohol every weekend heavily for last 5 years. After taking zinc I sometimes get a feeling of higher libido, but I havent taken zinc regularly but think it could cure my acne and low sex drive as the alcohol could have caused the defiency.
I also think my Vitamin B was low as result of drinking as MCV was 100 but now 98 after 3 month of B supplement.
My nails are also ridged and I get terrible dandruff.
How much zinc should I take? I was worried If I could make my copper low if I was wrong about deficency, but my zinc supplement contains copper too.
Please advise.
Symptoms: These include depression, anxiety, sleep problems, vitiligo (since I was teenager but very slow spread, premature grey hairs (gradual progression since 1 year ago), acne (moderate since teenager), low sex drive, lack of erections, no sporadically erections, obsessiveness, slight ridging on nails, restless legs, feeling weak.
I've drank alcohol every weekend heavily for last 5 years. After taking zinc I sometimes get a feeling of higher libido, but I havent taken zinc regularly but think it could cure my acne and low sex drive as the alcohol could have caused the defiency.
I also think my Vitamin B was low as result of drinking as MCV was 100 but now 98 after 3 month of B supplement.
My nails are also ridged and I get terrible dandruff.
How much zinc should I take? I was worried If I could make my copper low if I was wrong about deficency, but my zinc supplement contains copper too.
Please advise.
Brief Answer:
A part of symptoms could be related to Zinc.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
It is true that excess alcohol consumption can cause low Zinc and low vitamin B12.
A part, but not all, of your symptoms can be related to low Zinc ( sexual and nail problems, acne ).
Vitiligo and gray hair have nothing to do with Zinc.
Your depressive symptoms may be related to Alcohol.
To restore any microelements deficiency, first there is need for lab evidence of the deficiency, so I suggest you to have lab tests done about Zinc, XXXXXXX and B12 vitamin levels.
If XXXXXXX low too, you can take Zinc supplement that contains XXXXXXX
If no then you can have supplements with only Zinc. ( Galzin, Orazinc etc.)
The best way to treat Zinc deficiency is to stop alcohol and have a appropriate diet.
Foods rich in Zinc are red meats, seafood (oysters, herring), peas and beans.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
A part of symptoms could be related to Zinc.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
It is true that excess alcohol consumption can cause low Zinc and low vitamin B12.
A part, but not all, of your symptoms can be related to low Zinc ( sexual and nail problems, acne ).
Vitiligo and gray hair have nothing to do with Zinc.
Your depressive symptoms may be related to Alcohol.
To restore any microelements deficiency, first there is need for lab evidence of the deficiency, so I suggest you to have lab tests done about Zinc, XXXXXXX and B12 vitamin levels.
If XXXXXXX low too, you can take Zinc supplement that contains XXXXXXX
If no then you can have supplements with only Zinc. ( Galzin, Orazinc etc.)
The best way to treat Zinc deficiency is to stop alcohol and have a appropriate diet.
Foods rich in Zinc are red meats, seafood (oysters, herring), peas and beans.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Hi,
thanks for reply.
Because I cant get a zinc test then is 15mg of copper daily with 0.75mg of copper good to prevent deficency in those?
For Vitamin B as said my MCv was 100. After 3 months of vitamin b complex MCV retested at 98 and was a bit lower.
I eat diet high in protein, so I think alcohol could make deficent?
I read about zinc and gray hair too? But I put this down to either natural or vitamin B deficency?
Please advise.
thanks for reply.
Because I cant get a zinc test then is 15mg of copper daily with 0.75mg of copper good to prevent deficency in those?
For Vitamin B as said my MCv was 100. After 3 months of vitamin b complex MCV retested at 98 and was a bit lower.
I eat diet high in protein, so I think alcohol could make deficent?
I read about zinc and gray hair too? But I put this down to either natural or vitamin B deficency?
Please advise.
Brief Answer:
White spots on nails are not necessarily related to zinc.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Those amounts of Zinc and Copper are sufficient to prevent deficiency.
If MCV was high and after vitamin B12 use lowered, then this was probably a vitamin B12 deficiency, but could be a folate deficiency too.
Gray hair in vitiligo are located as patches, in Zinc deficiency are scattered.
All these problems are affected by excess alcohol use so you need to stop it.
White patches on nails are believed to be related to vitamin and microelements deficiency, ( I don't think so), but thre is not scientific evidence for this.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
White spots on nails are not necessarily related to zinc.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Those amounts of Zinc and Copper are sufficient to prevent deficiency.
If MCV was high and after vitamin B12 use lowered, then this was probably a vitamin B12 deficiency, but could be a folate deficiency too.
Gray hair in vitiligo are located as patches, in Zinc deficiency are scattered.
All these problems are affected by excess alcohol use so you need to stop it.
White patches on nails are believed to be related to vitamin and microelements deficiency, ( I don't think so), but thre is not scientific evidence for this.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for reply.
So I should continue B Complex and Zinc supplements and wait for symptoms to go? How long of zinc before it would take away nail ridges? How quick it will work? And how long for acne and sex drive improvement? days, weeks or months?
Thanks
So I should continue B Complex and Zinc supplements and wait for symptoms to go? How long of zinc before it would take away nail ridges? How quick it will work? And how long for acne and sex drive improvement? days, weeks or months?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Nail ridges are not necessarily related to Zinc deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Nail ridges could come and go, they are not necessarily related to Zinc deficiency.
If you use regularly supplements of Zinc and B12 vitamin, then in few weeks you should see results, but you have to stop using alcohol, otherwise improvement it's not guaranteed.
Hope I helped you. Wishing you good health.
Nail ridges are not necessarily related to Zinc deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Nail ridges could come and go, they are not necessarily related to Zinc deficiency.
If you use regularly supplements of Zinc and B12 vitamin, then in few weeks you should see results, but you have to stop using alcohol, otherwise improvement it's not guaranteed.
Hope I helped you. Wishing you good health.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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