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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qqqsimmons on November 26, 2008, at 9:15:18
my experience is that, for me, zinc is a good anti-depressant and also helps with concentration. ymmv.
however, even small daily increases (less than 100% RDA) seem to lead me eventually to insomnia. and poor sleep tends to lead to other bad things...like getting angry about not sleeping...
i was wondering if anyone had tinkered with alternating zinc-copper dosing for optimal mood/concentration without too much insomnia.
i figure it's a long shot, but worth asking...
Posted by Lao Tzu on November 29, 2008, at 10:10:53
In reply to tinkering with zinc/copper balance, posted by qqqsimmons on November 26, 2008, at 9:15:18
I would suggest getting a mineral analysis done to see what minerals you may be deficient in instead of just tinkering because you might not know how much zinc and copper is sufficient for you. Besides, high copper levels are implicated in bipolar disorder, so adding more copper might not be a good idea. Also, zinc and copper supplements can affect your mental status. You might be taking copper/zinc supplements to address your depression, when all along it might be some other nutrient or mineral deficiency that is causing the problem. It is very difficult to tell without getting some tests done first. For myself, I take a very small dosage of a complete mineral supplement at night with my dinner to ensure I'm getting at least a little of ALL necessary minerals. I don't know how well this affects my mental status, however. Because too high a dosage of any one mineral can possibly make your problems worse. For instance, if I take too much zinc or manganese, my depression and mood worsen. I'm just saying you have to be careful with minerals, and a mineral analysis (done through testing of a hair sample and other ways too) can give you a more accurate picture of what deficiencies you might have. Since there are so many different causes of depression, it is hard to conclude that a zinc/copper imbalance is truly your problem. For instance, a lot of times there are problems with magnesium and calcium in mental disorders, either too much or too little. I found out that my calcium levels were low (hypocalcemia) and adding more calcium to my nutrient regimen greatly helps my mood. On the other hand, some people have to much calcium in their tissues (hypercalcemia) and adding calcium makes their problems worse. Instead, some people benefit more from increasing their magnesium levels. The general consensus is that you should obtain a balance of both calcium and magnesium for optimal mental health, but this might not be the case for everybody. Also, there are many different vitamins that you might be deficient in on top of any mineral imbalances. Whatever the case, it is not always easy to identify the deficiencies without clinical testing and trial and error of taking various combinations of vitamins. Also to consider is medication, which might benefit your worst symptoms, especially if you are bipolar or have any symptoms of psychosis. So if you are that concerned about any mineral imbalances you might have, perhaps look into getting a mineral analysis done. Good luck!!!
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