Zinc and copper: why balance matters
Extra zinc can lower copper over time. Here is how the two minerals work together, and what balance to look for.
Zinc and copper are two minerals that are often low after bariatric surgery. They are also closely linked: too much zinc can push copper down. That is why the balance between them matters as much as the amount.
Why zinc matters
Zinc helps your immune system, wound healing, hair, skin and sense of taste. After surgery you eat less, and your body may absorb less zinc, so many bariatric teams check zinc levels and some recommend extra.
How zinc can lower copper
Zinc and copper are absorbed in the same part of the gut. When you take a lot of zinc, your gut makes more of a protein that holds on to copper, and that copper is lost instead of absorbed. Over time this can lead to low copper.
Low copper is easy to miss. It can cause anemia, a low white blood cell count, and nerve problems such as numbness or trouble walking. These can become serious, so copper should never be forgotten when extra zinc is taken.
What a balanced ratio looks like
Bariatric guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) suggest about 8 to 15 mg of zinc for every 1 mg of copper when supplementing.
Noon Bariatric Zinc & Copper gives 20 mg zinc and 2 mg copper in one capsule, a 10:1 ratio that sits inside that range. Both minerals are glycinate chelates.
Good to know
- Take zinc with food if it upsets your stomach.
- Keep it a few hours away from iron, since they compete.
- Add up the zinc from all your supplements, including your multivitamin. For adults, the upper limit from all sources is 40 mg a day unless your doctor advises otherwise.
- Ask your team before adding extra zinc, and keep up with your blood tests.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Your bariatric team knows your surgery and your blood work, so follow the plan they give you.