vitamin advice - the iron, zinc, copper question

This may sound weird but ....  I've been "into" equine nutrition for a couple years now.  In horses iron overload is a big, bad deal.  They require zinc and copper for healthy hooves and hair but the iron in their daily diet usually blocks the absorbtion.  So I supplement extra zinc and copper to balance things out. 

I take 60mg of iron a day with a 500mg vitamin c.  Does the iron block the absorption of zinc and copper in humans?  If so, should I be supplementing with extra?  As in more than what's in my multi?

Are you having a 6 month checkup? If so, ask your doc to check your iron, zinc and copper levels. Mine doesn't check copper and zin****il 2 years out, but if you're worried, ask. I'd wait to see what your levels are before you supplement. Everyone is different.

Jan

Yeah, when you get labs done they should be checking iron, zinc and copper.  You may have to ask for zinc and copper specifically, some docs don't routinely check them though that makes no sense to me.

It's my understanding that iron might interefere some with our zinc and copper but many people do just fine with the amount in their multi.  I think we are more likely to need extra zinc than copper.  If you're using a good multi twice a day, though, you're getting a good bit of both.  (This is just one of many reasons we should not use gummy vitamins - they are lacking zinc and/or copper, depending on the brand).