NeuroTalk Support Groups - Polly Grip and Neuropathy

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/)

- - Polly Grip and Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/20235-polly-grip-neuropathy.html)

i found this site on my first search..just remember..it's just a site i found..i can't vouch for it. :)

http://altmed.creighton.edu/pelvic2/toxicity.htm

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<FONT size=4>Zinc is an essential mineral, but too much is not beneficial. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy and dehydration. Further signs include growth retardation, altered iron function, anemia, copper deficiency, decreased immune function, decreased HDL (high density lipoprotein), increased LDL (low density lipoprotein), and increased HgbA1C.

Thanks Curious....

I looked alot for documentation. That is what I could not find.

Zinc toxicity is preceeded by common side effects, so it may not be common to see it progress as far as the neuro symptoms.

One does have to be careful with Alternative sites/books. That book Nutritional Healing has good and not so good stuff in it for example. It can get very confusing.

I think the timing of the PolyGrip change in formula is also worrisome. They may have removed the zinc for example(improved taste)...but we will not find evidence of that, since drug companies (especially big ones like GSK) cover themselves really well.

mrsd..janet..the reporter has more information and was going to update her blog. i am sure she would share whatever info she has with you. like if the ingredient list was from the current stuff.

hehe..i added my little disclaimer. it's just what i found on a search.

OMG. I can't imagine. Something that's supposed to be safe and it causes permanent damage to the nerves. My heart goes out to this guy and the many others who've experienced this.

ETA: This also included Sea Bond brand as it seems, from the patent information, that Zinc is the primary adhesive ingredient. I've been using Sea Bond for almost 10 years. Looking for more information. This is scaring the hell out of me. :(

Yep, it uses Zinc also. I was hoping not as it's a pad type adhesive rather than a paste or powder type. I wonder what the levels, per item are, that is; a paste compared to the Sea Bond.

I would get some tests done.

Blood tests/urine tests for zinc. And perhaps a hair test too (it will show if long term issues exist for you). I would also suggest a zinc/copper ratio.
Elevated zinc levels are not typical, and doctors do not look for them. Elevated copper occurs in Wilson's disease (a genetic liver disorder).

I found another legal website..unfortunately no new information there yet:
http://www.schmidtandclark.com/Dentures/

This article has 3 accounts of zinc overuse. One man ATE a tube of PolyGrip a day...ate and swallowed excess, I guess because he liked it?

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497023_1

Quote:

Based on our review of the bone marrow biopsy specimen, additional laboratory testing was obtained, which revealed serum copper levels below the detectable range, extremely low ceruloplasmin levels, and high zinc levels (Table 1). The patient was asked further about possible zinc ingestion, and it was determined that he had been consuming an entire tube (68 g) of PoliGrip denture cream (containing polymethyvinylether maleic acid calcium-zinc salt) daily for the past 4 to 5 years. The patient was using the denture adhesive for his dentures and additionally eating "pellets" of it from the tube. The patient was advised to stop ingesting the denture cream, and copper sulfate supplementation was initiated. Approximately 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment, the patient's serum copper levels increased to 20 µg/dL (3.1 µmol/L), and his hematologic values normalized completely (hemoglobin level, 13.0 [130 g/dL]; hematocrit, 39.9 [0.40]; WBC count, 7,900/µL [7.9 × 109/L]). However, the neuropathy showed no improvement.

Eating the paste would place the zinc in the small intestine where the active transporters are.
The second case was taking 600mg a day of zinc...and had no neuropathy. (he was young)

The discussion of low copper induced by zinc ingestion is on page 5. The paper is too long to copy here...but joining Medscape is free:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497023_5

Quote:

Idiopathic hyperzincemia and hypocupremia associated with extensive central nervous system demyelination, similar to that seen in case 1, recently was reported for the first time.[37] Furthermore, irreversible demyelination has been reported even after copper levels were stabilized through supplementation, although serum zinc levels remained high (unknown cause). In addition, 2 previous descriptions of patients with copper deficiency and concomitant severe progressive peripheral neuropathy have been reported.[15,36] In both of these cases, copper supplementation improved the hematologic symptoms; however, the neuropathies were irreversible.

So it appears to be a low copper issue as well. Very low copper, induced by the excess zinc. There is mention in this article on page 5, certain drugs used (not common) and alcohol may be contributory to the low copper effects on the blood system.

And this article does state, that these are not common occurances. I suggest interested posters here read the whole 5 pages to get a full understanding of this situation.

I wondered if anyone that has used poligrip has suffered severe digestive problems. I have used it for about 4 years and since that time have went from a size 9 to a size 1. My weight is currently 90lbs. Have been treated for IBS, Ulcertive Colitis and lactose intolerance, but so far nothing has helped. In the last year I have went from someone who could eat almost anything and really enjoyed food, to no appetite and unable to digest most food. I just recently explored if polygrip could be the culprit to find out about the Zinc. When I looked up the symptons of Zinc poisoning, the first thing listed was digestive problems, including diarreah which I now have up to 15 times a day. Any help on this would be appreciated
Tag

Hello folks. THe link between denture cream use (zinc ingestion) and neuropathy is becoming clearer as more studies are done on this subject.

I have some information you may be interested in reviewing on the subject. Bottom line is that, if you ahve used these products, you should discuss this issue with your doctor, specifically whether you should be tested for zinc and copper levels in your body.

*-*

thanks and best wishes.

-GW*-*

This also makes me wonder about BPH in bite splints? You know, the stuff they found in baby bottles....bis-phenols? I stopped wearing my bite splint wondering if it is giving off BPH. I read something that they DO have BPH but 'that amount' won't hurt.

I also am upset with the addition of Vitamin D to foods. IF, and this is an IF, I am facing neurosarc, I don't want anymore D in my life. I have high levels of D already. Let ME decide what I put in my mouth without having to drive 30 miles to Whole Foods or own a goat!

Why put vitamins in food when we can take a pill?

All this crud is marketing....it is competition....some one gets a concept, wants recognition, writes some paper and gets some pharmaceutical company on board and off they go...Sell, baby sell.

Now I understand that the new talk is every one is deficient in D. I do understand some people don't absorb D. Is it possible we don't understand D. Vitamin D is a secosteroid that activates the immune system. It is lipid soluable, so it stays in our bodies.

I understand many don't get the sunshine they used to, but some people do, and some people have diseases that D is not good for. There was a guy on NPR, a doctor who was doling out advice to people and the moderator of the program ended up telling the audience to speak to their OWN doctors before implementing these very high doses of D. Perhaps they should check people for D related diseases prior to pushing D.

With so many people with autoimmune disease, I don't think we should add D to foods without knowing what all these people have.....how many folks have had T cell panels? This is not routine....heck, it isn't even done when you are sick with some odd thing!!

Why can't we just have natural foods anymore?

I would have assumed Polygrip is totally safe!! Well, at least as safe as my mercury/silver fillings! Bahhh....I am so disgusted with the lack of regulation. I am going to go sulk.

Never mind that Quest diagnostics just admitted that most of their Vit D tests were done wrong!

You won't want to read about the mercury in high fructose corn syrup then.

BenGay is not safe either. A young female athlete just died last year using too much of that too.

Unfortunately given that people are all genetically different, there will be exceptions to many things the majority can benefit from.

The autism community knows this very well.

Frustration and anger are very understandable with disease.
I sure was angry after suffering from hypothyroidism thru my pregnancy and for 15 yrs after!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD (Post 465298)

BenGay is not safe either. A young female athlete just died last year using too much of that too.

I kind of remember that one. Didn't she like put it all over her? That certainly wouldn't be the thing to do.