Zinc for prostate disease and other conditions: a little evidence, a lot of hype, and a significant potential problem.

Dietary and supplemental zinc, especially in excess, has received much attention in numerous alternative medicine resources. There is a small amount of medical evidence that zinc may alleviate some mostly rare medical conditions (such as Wilson's disease). However, in prostate conditions, such as BPH, large concentrations of zinc are found in the prostate gland. Excess intake of zinc, especially with individual supplements, has the potential to encourage the growth of prostate conditions from BPH to cancer. In fact, one large study found a significantly higher risk of advanced prostate cancer in men consuming large intakes of these supplements. Large doses of zinc can inhibit the benefits of bisphosphonate drugs, increase testosterone level, increase cholesterol, reduce levels of "good cholesterol" or HDL, and can promote immune dysfunction. More research is needed in this area, but in the meantime, the time seems more than ripe to discourage or immediately discontinue the intake of larger concentrations of zinc for most individuals until adequate research resolves this controversial issue.