Zinc Acetate Dihydrate
Indications
Zinc Acetate Dihydrate is used for:
Zinc deficiency, Wilson’s disease, Improved immunity system, Common cold, Diarrhea, Chronic Liver Disease, Dialysis patient
Adult Dose
Oral
Adult:
50 mg 3 times daily.
Maximum Dose 50 mg 5 times daily.
Child Dose
Children and adolescents dose:
1 - 6 years: 25 mg twice daily
6 to 16 years (bodyweight under 57 kg): 25 mg three times daily
16 years or (bodyweight above 57 kg): 50 mg three times daily.
Renal Dose
Administration
Patients should take zinc acetate on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two to three hours after meals.
Contra Indications
It is contraindicated in those who are hypersensitive to any component of a zinc-containing supplement.
Intake of tetracycline, quinolone, and penicillamine along with zinc at a time may decrease the absorption of both drugs.
Precautions
Patients with diabetes & acute renal failure should use zinc products cautiously.
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monitor full blood count and serum cholesterol.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Zinc acetate
Studies in pregnant women have not shown that zinc acetate or zinc sulfate increases the risk of fetal abnormalities if administered during all trimesters of pregnancy
If used during pregnancy, the possibility of fetal harm appears remote; because studies cannot rule out the possibility of harm, however, administer zinc acetate during pregnancy only if clearly needed
While zinc acetate should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed, copper toxicosis can develop during pregnancy if anti-copper therapy is stopped
Animal data
Oral teratology studies have been performed with zinc sulfate in pregnant rats at doses up to 42.5 mg/Kg/day (2 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area), mice at doses up to 30 mg/Kg/day (1 time the recommended human dose based on body surface area), rabbits at
doses up to 60 mg/Kg/day (6 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) and hamsters at doses up to 88 mg/Kg/day (5 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to fetus due to zinc sulfate
Lactation
Zinc acetate
Zinc does appear in breast milk and zinc-induced copper deficiency in nursing baby may occur; therefore, it is recommended that women on zinc therapy not nurse their babies
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Zinc Acetate Dihydrate :
Common or very common Epigastric discomfort (usually transient)
Zinc might cause nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, stomach upset, gastric irritation etc.
Uncommon Leucopenia. sideroblastic anaemia
Mechanism of Action
Zinc Acetate Dihydrate introduce Metallothionein (Mt): When zinc acetate is ingested, it dissociates into ionic zinc in the stomach and small intestine. High concentrations of these zinc ions induce the production of the protein metallothionein within the enterocytes (intestinal cells).
Copper Binding: Metallothionein has a higher binding affinity for copper than for zinc. When dietary copper, as well as copper secreted endogenously in saliva, bile, and gastric juices, enters the intestinal cells, it binds to the newly induced metallothionein.
Excretion: The copper-bound metallothionein is trapped within the intestinal cells. As these cells have a normal lifespan of about six days and are constantly shed into the bowel lumen, the complexed copper is eliminated in the feces.