Zinc gluconate: acute ingestion.

METHODS

Despite the popularity of zinc gluconate for use in attenuation of common cold symptoms, there is little information on the effects of acute overdose. A 17-year-old male ingested approximately 85 tablets or 4 g zinc gluconate (570 mg elemental zinc). He experienced severe nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes of the ingestion but had no further sequelae such as diarrhea, gastric erosions, esophageal burns, shock, neurologic dysfunction, symptoms of anemia, or hepatic inflammation. Serum zinc level was 4.97 mg/dL at approximately 5 hours postingestion.