Intoxicación por zinc
- Loreto Martín-Navarro 1
- Rocío Falcón-Roca 1
- María Hernández-García 1
- Paula Reyes-Suárez 1
- Iballa Jiménez-Cabrera 1
- Daniel Martínez-Martínez 1
- Candelaria Martín-González 1
- Lucía Romero-Acevedo 1
- Emilio González-Reimers. 1
- 1 Universidad de Laguna (ESP)
ISSN: 1697-5529
Year of publication: 2016
Issue: 12
Pages: 36-40
Type: Article
More publications in: Majorensis: Revista Electrónica de Ciencia y Tecnología
Abstract
Zinc is an essential trace element that acts as cofactor of more than one hundred enzymes, most of them involved in DNA synthesis, RNA synthesis and antioxidative mechanisms. Dietary supply is usually easily provided given the abundancy of this element both in vegetable and animal sources. Intoxication is rarely reported and may occur via inhalation (metal fume fever) or by ingestion either of drinks containing zinc salts or by the ingestion of zinc supplements. This last source may be especially dangerous because toxicity of zinc is related to copper deficiency. This may occur when only-zinc containing supplements are consumed. Even the chronic consumption of 50-60 mg zinc may lead to a clinical picture defined by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, eventually diarrhea and pancreatic inflammation, as happened in a 77-yearold patient who was recently attended in our unit. After thoroughly evaluation no reason was found for protracted severe chronic gastritis besides the consumption since several months ago of at least 56 mg zinc in addition to dietary supply. It is important to keep in mind that over the counter consumption of multivitamins and similar products related to “natural medicine” may lead to situations similar to that described in this manuscript.