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Have there been times when the thought, can you take zinc and Vitamin C together, hit you? Or have you taken Vitamin C and zinc together at some point?
As you know, both Vitamin C and zinc are dietary supplements. Hence, the doubt you can take zinc and vitamin C together is not surprising.
Studies suggest it is always better to stick to taking one vitamin tablet unless the doctor has advised otherwise, keeping in mind your health conditions. If your doctor has prescribed taking them together, then the doses prescribed will also be proper and will not cause serious side effects.
Many illnesses show the importance of an excellent immune system, and it has catapulted these two vitamins and minerals to the fore. However, there is no evidence of their roles in curing you of any significant illnesses. These minerals and nutrients proved to be good in boosting the immune function against viral infections and keeping your health in good condition.
1. What is Zinc?
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? Before we determine whether you can take zinc and Vitamin C together, let us be informed about zinc, its benefits, and why the human body requires a certain amount of this mineral to function well.
Zinc is essential for your body and health, and it is a mineral not made by your body. It is found in certain foods and is available in medical stores as dietary supplements.
Often the foods you eat might not give you the zinc required for your body. Zinc has a lot of health benefits, making it one of the reasons you should be taking supplements so that your body has enough zinc.
2. Benefits of Zinc
Since the health benefits of zinc are many, taking zinc in food items or dietary supplements is essential to stay healthy. Let us look at its symptoms, causes, benefit, and interactions.
2.1. Helps Immune System
It is suitable for your immune system. You will have a more robust immune system if you have the right amount of zinc content.
2.2. Helps in the Development
It helps in your growth and development. Zinc deficiency can lead to delayed growth and development. Zinc sulfate is one of the dietary supplements used. However, you have to consult your doctor first before taking any form of the drug because if the dosage is incorrect, there can be side effects.
2.3. Treating Acne
Acne is a common skin condition. Studies show acne can be treated by topical and oral zinc treatment. People with acne are said to be deficient in zinc, and taking zinc supplements will be helpful.
It is one of the safest treatments compared to taking steroids and other antibiotic ointments 1because there will be no side effects.
2.4. Fights Infections
Zinc reduces oxidative stress that leads to chronic inflammation and boosts the activity of the natural killer cells. It will protect your body from infections, especially age-related ones like pneumonia2, cardiovascular disease, cancer, macular degeneration, etc. Your health is good even as you age.
2.5. Heals Wounds Faster
Since this mineral plays a crucial role in collagen synthesis3 and immune function, there will be a faster recovery of wounds. If there is a zinc deficiency in the body, you can see a delay in wound healing. Hence you can see it being used in hospitals for the treatment of burns, skin injuries, and ulcers in the form of a drug or other supplementation.
2.6. Reduces Inflammation
It is anti-inflammatory, and zinc reduces inflammation by reducing the levels of specific inflammatory proteins in the body.
2.7. Controls Blood Sugar Levels
Studies point toward the benefits of zinc supplements in helping with short-term and long-term sugar control in people with diabetes.
2.8. Increased Bone Strength
Zinc contributes to strong bones, and along with a combination of Vitamin D, it will have a good effect on your bones and cure you of Vitamin D deficiency.
Now that you are aware of the health benefits of zinc, it is essential to know the adverse effects of a zinc deficiency in your body. Suppose you have zinc deficiency in the body; in that case,
- Delay in growth and development
- Delayed sexual maturity
- Skin rashes
- An upset stomach
- Behavioral issues
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fertility problems
- Delay in healing wounds
3. Other Facts About Zinc
These are some of the symptoms that can occur if your body lacks the right amount of zinc content.
Poor absorption of the mineral, alcohol consumption in excess, old age, genetic mutations, and poor dietary intake are some of the risk factors for lack of zinc in the body.
The body’s zinc content can increase by consuming certain foods and a recommended dose of zinc vitamins and minerals. Hence it is essential not to neglect if you are deficient in zinc as the contents of zinc play essential roles in your body.
Zinc content is high in foods like:
- eggs
- whole grains
- dairy products (many dairy products are high in both Vitamin C and zinc)
- nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, hemp seeds, etc.)
- shellfish (oysters, crabs, mussels, clams, and lobsters)
- meat (beef, pork, lamb, and bison)
- fish (sardines, sole, and salmon)
- certain vegetables like mushrooms, kale, asparagus, peas, and beet greens
Incorporating these foods into your diet regime is suitable for the prevention of diseases caused due to lack of zinc in your body. A good doctor will guide you on how to effectively add zinc to your diet by following a healthy diet, and in case that is not sufficient for your health, you can increase zinc content by taking zinc supplements.
3.1 When to Consult A Doctor:
If you cannot control zinc deficiency by making changes in your diet, then you will have to supplement it with the correct dosage of zinc medications or drugs that will take care of your health. A doctor will be the best person to prescribe the right dosage suitable for your health.
High doses of zinc are not good and can have adverse side effects; hence, do not take supplements without a doctor’s prescription.
Patients who have chronic liver disease, kidney ailments, gut conditions like Crohn’s disease and coeliac disease, and cases where they have persistent diarrhea, and those who consume alcohol in excess are all prone to zinc deficiency.
The deficiency of zinc in the body can be life-threatening to many patients suffering from other health issues.
4. Vitamin C
What is Vitamin C, and what are its benefits? Let us delve into this topic and learn more about Vitamin C, its benefits, supplementation, symptoms, interactions, and dosage before we move into, Cann you take zinc and Vitamin C together?’
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid as it is otherwise called, like zinc, is one of the essential nutrients found in food and taken as a supplement.
It is known to be suitable for your immune system and helps fight cold symptoms and reduce the severity of a cold. The common cold is one of the common health conditions that affect everyone, and many a time, it can be treated with the help of Vitamin C.
5. Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamins are essential for the body to stay healthy, and Vitamin C and zinc are used to treat many health conditions, mainly on the advice of a doctor.
Though there is not much evidence to show how Vitamin C is helpful for your health, these are some of its benefits:
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It is used to treat and prevent asthma, a lung disease.
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Vitamin C is also helpful when it comes to treating bronchitis, which is an inflammation in the air passage of the lungs.
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Respiratory tract diseases like a common cold can be treated with a recommended dose of vitamin C by your doctor.
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It is good to have a suitable dosage of this ascorbic acid if you have cataracts and glaucoma, both related to the eyes and eyesight.
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The proper doses of vitamin C are helpful for the immune system and will prevent you from the common cold.
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Vitamin C will enhance your immune defense against high blood pressure and heart diseases.
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It is suitable for patients with Parkinson’s disease, which affects the nervous system.
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Osteoarthritic patients also benefit from vitamin C supplements.
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With a combination of other nutrients, Vitamin C is good for reducing the risk of many life-threatening illnesses in many patients.
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Reduces the risk of gout. Vitamin C supplements and foods reduce blood uric acid and lower the risk of getting gout.
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Vitamin C is suitable for your hair and will prevent hair loss as it has antioxidant properties and makes collagen protein which is good for the hair.
6. Other Facts About Vitamin C
Though Vitamin C is safe, an overdose of this supplement can cause:
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Stomach cramps
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Kidney stones
Vitamin C can interfere with certain other medications, also. Hence, it is advisable to consult a doctor first to administer the correct dosage without causing a risk to your health.
Vitamin C is one of the nutrients that will benefit your health immensely and is found in foods like
- Oranges
- Kiwi fruits
- Strawberries
- Tomato juice
- Cantaloupe
- Cooked broccoli
- Cooked Brussels sprouts
It is better to add these foods to your diet to benefit from getting the correct vitamin C dosage of vitamin c instead of taking high doses of supplements to treat the deficiency.
Vitamin C supplements are available as tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, dissolving tablets and powders, and gummies, and the dosage is determined depending on the severity of the deficiency.
In many of the supplements, calcium is added along with ascorbic acid to reduce the acidity of vitamin C supplements.
Citrus bioflavonoids4, L-ascorbic acid derived from corn, and a combination of vitamin C with sodium or calcium are some of the vitamin C supplements available on the market.
People who consume alcohol in excess, patients with chronic diseases, both active and passive smokers, and people with malabsorption are prone to vitamin C deficiency.
7. Can You Take Zinc and Vitamin C Together
Now that you know about the symptoms, benefits, and interactions of Vitamin C and zinc, let us head toward the next question, can you take zinc and Vitamin C together?
Experts say though both Vitamin C and zinc are minerals and nutrients required by the human body, they might not be effective when taken together. However, they prove to be effective for many illnesses and deficiencies.
Though there are a few controversies regarding taking Vitamin C and zinc together to reduce the severity of a cold, Vitamin C can help you under stress, and zinc can help prevent viruses from multiplying. A medicine with a good combination of these two will be good for health if the correct dosage is taken.
Often, the diet and the food you take are unable to give your body the vitamins you require, and a necessity to have additional vitamins and minerals becomes essential. They might be necessary to be included in your daily diet to prevent deficiencies caused during pregnancies, digestive problems, and if you are on other medications.
8. Health Benefits of Taking Zinc and Vitamin C Together
Before we look at the hazards of taking these two vitamins together, let us have a look at the health benefit of taking Vitamin C and zinc together. While Vitamin C helps absorb plant-based iron, zinc is necessary to make DNA 5for cell division in the body.
8.1 Benefits Patients with the Risk of Heart Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are on the rise globally and are one of the significant causes of death. Studies show how both Vitamin C and zinc help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? In patients with heart diseases, zinc supplements help reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol, and Vitamin C is good for lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.
Studies also show that a high level of zinc content in the body is good for lowering systolic blood pressure levels.
8.2 Good to Boost Immune Function and Fight Any Inflammation in the Body
Studies show that vitamin C and zinc combined significantly reduced the common cold’s duration to some extent. You can use nasal zinc sprays, zinc lozenges, Vitamin C tablets, etc., to shorten your cold if it is just a common cold.
It is better to avoid zinc nasal sprays as they can cause permanent loss of smell.
Vitamin C enhances the production of white blood cells, which is suitable for the immune system as it protects the body from any infection. Likewise, zinc intake also reduces infections and inflammations and the frequency of inflammations.
You can take zinc lozenges when a cold starts and a good amount of Vitamin C is good for the body at the first sign of a cold.
Zinc boosts the production of WBC and T cells which are infection-fighting cells. This mineral is also a carrier for the immune system and decreases the level of cytokines, the toxic chemicals in the body.
8.3 Lowers the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? In some instances, it helps. Both zinc and Vitamin C are vitamins and minerals that help lower the risk of macular degeneration, an age-related disease.
Both vitamin C and zinc slow down the process of vision loss and blindness. Hence a recommended dose of both these by the doctor can benefit patients. So if you want an answer to the question, can you take zinc and vitamin C together? Then it is a yes in some instances.
8.4 Weight Loss
A daily dose of Vitamin C and zinc might help weight loss if you are obese and overweight, mainly because your body will start functioning correctly.
A diet rich in Vitamin C foods like high-fiber fresh fruits and vegetables will fill your stomach without gaining extra calories.
8.5 Useful While Recovering from Certain Diseases
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? Combining these two vitamins and minerals is good while recuperating from malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Get a doctor’s prescription for the correct dosage so that you get the maximum benefit of these two vitamins and minerals.
8.6 Long-termUsee Effects on Type 2 Diabetes Patients
The antioxidant element in zinc and the dietary antioxidant in vitamin C are closely connected to type 2 diabetes and its complications. Studies point toward a noticeable improvement in the severity of the disease after administering the required dosage of Vitamin C and zinc.
Studies show there was complete healing of foot ulcers without using antibiotics. There was a significant decrease in FBG, blood pressure, urination times, HbA1C6, and improvements in lipid profile.
8.7 Wound Healing
Collagen is a component of the skin’s connective tissue, and vitamin C is essential for the body to form this collagen. On the other hand, zinc supports the skin and mucous membranes, which also helps wound healing.
A good combination of these two is good medicine when it comes to wound healing, and that answers the question, can you take zinc and Vitamin C together?
An adequate intake of Vitamin C and zinc is good for respiratory tract infections and, as mentioned above, a common cold.
Vitamin C and zinc can interfere with many other medicines in case you are on other medications. It is advisable to consult a doctor and go for a prescribed dosage, especially if you are on another medicine.
Zinc is mostly found in meat and seafood, and Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables. This will give you an idea of what to include in your diet if you follow a proper health plan and take zinc and Vitamin C together.
Now that you have the answer to the question, can you take zinc and Vitamin C together, and what are the benefits of the combination? Let us look at the detrimental effects of taking zinc and Vitamin C together. You get to see an increased intake of these two vitamins and minerals being taken together during certain illnesses.
9. Side-Effects of Taking Vitamin C and Zinc together
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? Though this combination of Vitamin C and zinc has a variety of health benefits, the side effects of this combination, if not appropriately taken, can be
- Throwing up
- Diarrhea
- Numbness and tingling
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle weakness
- Uneven heart rate
- Confusion
- Feeling limp
The best way to avoid all the health problems after an overdose of zinc and vitamin C combination is to take the drugs on the advice of a doctor so that your health is not affected.
High doses of any vitamins and minerals, like zinc, calcium, magnesium, etc., should be avoided, making you ponder whether you can take zinc and Vitamin C together. They can be combined in a multivitamin tablet or spaced out if you take them separately.
Your doctor will be able to give you better drug information and treat you properly with the proper supplementation of these drugs without causing any harmful effects on your health.
Like zinc and Vitamin C, vitamin D is also essential for health, and vitamin D deficiency can harm the body. Vitamin D boosts the immune system, and it is also protective against many other illnesses and their severity.
Studies showed those with Vitamin D deficiency were more prone to heart disease than the ones with normal levels of Vitamin D.
10. In The End
Can you take zinc and Vitamin C together? Vitamin tablets and minerals should be administered together only after consulting a doctor or a healthcare worker so that they do not interfere with your health and other medications if you are taking any.
A high-dose vitamin can have side effects and can cause risks to your health.
Never overdose on any supplements because they can cause long-lasting side effects. The question can you take zinc and Vitamin C together is straightforward now and will give you clarity on how important it is to be careful while taking them together as a medicine.
In case you liked this article, here is something more.
- Ashraf, Davin C., et al. “The role of topical antibiotic prophylaxis in oculofacial plastic surgery: a randomized controlled study.” Ophthalmology 127.12 (2020): 1747-1754. ↩︎
- de Benedictis, Fernando M., et al. “Complicated pneumonia in children.” The Lancet 396.10253 (2020): 786-798. ↩︎
- Hu, Xiaoting, et al. “PI3K-Akt-mTOR/PFKFB3 pathway mediated lung fibroblast aerobic glycolysis and collagen synthesis in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary fibrosis.” Laboratory Investigation 100.6 (2020): 801-811. ↩︎
- Dadwal, Vikas, and Mahesh Gupta. “Recent developments in citrus bioflavonoid encapsulation to reinforce controlled antioxidant delivery and generate therapeutic uses.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 63.9 (2023): 1187-1207. ↩︎
- Huang, Ruixue, and Ping-Kun Zhou. “DNA damage repair: Historical perspectives, mechanistic pathways and clinical translation for targeted cancer therapy.” Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy 6.1 (2021): 254. ↩︎
- Wang, Mawson, and Tien-Ming Hng. “HbA1c: More than just a number.” Australian journal of general practice 50.9 (2021): 628-632. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology