Both zinc and magnesium may be less effective or cause adverse effects when taken with certain drugs. In particular, certain drugs may negatively impact your ability to absorb either nutrient. In turn, zinc and magnesium could prevent certain medications from working properly, especially if taken around the same time.
Side Effects of Taking a Combination of Zinc and Magnesium
But even if taken at low-to-moderate doses, zinc may cause an upset stomach or nausea, especially if taken on an empty stomach. You might also not like the supplement's metallic taste.
“There is a potential for both zinc and magnesium to interfere with the absorption or function of certain medications and botanical supplements,” says Lamb.
Adverse effects of high zinc intake include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and headaches. Intakes of 150–450 mg of zinc per day have been associated with such chronic effects as low copper status, altered iron function and reduced immune function.
More common side effects from magnesium include upset stomach and diarrhea. Magnesium competes with calcium for absorption and can cause a calcium deficiency if calcium levels are already low. Some medications may lower magnesium levels in the body.
When taken in very large amounts (greater than 350 mg daily), magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.
Causes. Every organ in the body, especially the heart, muscles, and kidneys, needs the mineral magnesium. It also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones. Magnesium is needed for many functions in the body.
Although rare, some individuals, such as those with a history of stomach surgery or prolonged intravenous nutrition, may be at an increased risk for copper deficiency. If you fall into this category, you should avoid taking a zinc supplement because it could decrease your copper levels even more.
Because zinc has many functions throughout the body, zinc deficiency affects many different tissues and organs [29]. Zinc deficiency can affect, for example, skin; bones; and the digestive, reproductive, central nervous, and immune systems [29]. The manifestations of zinc deficiency vary by age [29].
There have been many studies that show how too much zinc can lead to hair loss and other issues. Why is this? Even though we need to have a certain amount of zinc in our diets, there are many problems that can arise, including hair loss, if we have too much.
Zinc improves sexual performance and erectile function by preventing penile oxidative injury and upregulating circulating testosterone in lead-exposed rats - PMC.
Magnesium pairs well with vitamin D, calcium, zinc and vitamin B6. While it's always best to focus on getting the nutrients you need from a healthy, balanced diet, supplementation can help you bridge any gaps to ensure you get all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Magnesium and Zinc are both essential nutrients for health. Magnesium supports muscle relaxation, nerve, heart, and bone health. Zinc is vital for normal growth and development, and supports the body's natural immune defense system. Taking a Magnesium and Zinc supplement together can support well-being.
Results. The reductions of body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly higher in the zinc group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.032, 0.025, 0.003, and 0.0001, respectively).
If large doses of zinc (10-15 times higher than the RDA) are taken by mouth even for a short time, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Ingesting high levels of zinc for several months may cause anemia, damage the pancreas, and decrease levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Zinc or magnesium deficiencies can lead to worse body odor because they affect how you metabolize foods, which influences smell.
Don't take zinc at the same time as iron or calcium supplements. A strong relationship exists between zinc and copper. Too much of one can cause a deficiency in the other. If you take zinc, including zinc in a multivitamin, you should also take copper.
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease, or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider.
When oral zinc is taken long term and in high doses it can cause copper deficiency. People with low copper levels might experience neurological issues, such as numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.
Many people do not meet their daily magnesium needs. Adult males need 400-420 milligrams daily, while females require 310-400 milligrams. Fruits like papaya, prickly pear, figs, bananas, apricots, and guava are good sources of magnesium.