Tuesday Sep 30, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- It is not a good idea to take zinc supplements during prolonged steroid therapy as a new study suggests moderate zinc supplementation can boost calcium deficiency in individuals receiving steroid therapy.

In the study, female rats aged 6 to 8 weeks with 150 to 200 grams of body weight were assigned to receive one of the four treatments for eight weeks, normal control, prednisolone-treatment (40 mg/kg body weight orally, thrice a week), zinc supplementation (227 mg/L in drinking water, daily), and combined prednisolone treatment plus zinc supplementation.

Prednisolone treatment led to a noticeable decrease in calcium levels both in the bone and the serum, and also in bone dry weight, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density in the animals. 

Prednisolone-treated rats also supplemented with zinc experienced additional reduction in calcium levels, bone dry weight, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density. 

The study concluded "moderate intake of zinc as a nutritional supplement during steroid therapy could enhance calcium deficiency in the body and accelerate bone loss."

The study was conducted by R. Kamal from the University Institute of Emerging Areas in Science and Technology (UIEAST), Panjab University in Chandigarh, India and colleagues. (David Liu, PHD)

Kamal R, Bansal SC, Khandelwal N, Rai DV, Dhawan DK.  Moderate zinc supplementation during prolonged steroid therapy exacerbates bone loss in rats. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2014 Sep;160(3):383-91.