Neurology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Published online before print June 4, 2008, doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000312375.79881.94)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Take the CME quiz
Right arrow CME: Take the course for this article:
 Volume 71, Number 9, August 26, 2008
Right arrow Podcast
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
01.wnl.0000312375.79881.94v1
71/9/639    most recent
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Correspondence:
View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nations, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by Trivedi, J. R.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nations, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by Trivedi, J. R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Other toxicology
NEUROLOGY 2008;71:639-643
© 2008 American Academy of Neurology

Denture cream

An unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease

S. P. Nations, MD, P. J. Boyer, MD, PhD, L. A. Love, MD, M. F. Burritt, PhD, J. A. Butz, BA, G. I. Wolfe, MD, L. S. Hynan, PhD, J. Reisch, PhD and J. R. Trivedi, MD

From the Departments of Neurology (S.P.N., L.A.L, G.I.W., J.R.T.) and Clinical Sciences (L.S.H., J.R.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; the Department of Pathology (P.J.B.), University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; and the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.F.B., J.A.B.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Sharon P. Nations, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8897 sharon.nations{at}utsouthwestern.edu

Background: Chronic, excess zinc intake can result in copper deficiency and profound neurologic disease. However, when hyperzincemia is identified, the source often remains elusive. We identified four patients, one previously reported, with various neurologic abnormalities in the setting of hypocupremia and hyperzincemia. Each of these patients wore dentures and used very large amounts of denture cream chronically.

Objective: To determine zinc concentration in the denture creams used by the patients as a possible source of excess zinc ingestion.

Methods: Detailed clinical and laboratory data for each patient were compiled. Tubes of denture adhesives were analyzed for zinc content using dynamic reaction cell-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Patients received copper supplementation. Copper and zinc levels were obtained post-treatment at varying intervals.

Results: Zinc concentrations ranging from about 17,000 to 34,000 µg/g were identified in Fixodent and Poli-Grip denture creams. Serum zinc levels improved in three patients following cessation of denture cream use. Copper supplementation resulted in mild neurologic improvement in two patients who stopped using denture cream. No alternative source of excess zinc ingestion or explanation for hypocupremia was identified.

Conclusion: Denture cream contains zinc, and chronic excessive use may result in hypocupremia and serious neurologic disease.

Abbreviations: Hct = hematocrit; MRC = Medical Research Council; NCS = nerve conduction study; WBC = white blood cell.

Editorial, page 622

e-Pub ahead of print on June 4, 2008, at www.neurology.org.

Disclosure: The authors report no disclosures.

Received October 30, 2006. Accepted in final form February 5, 2008.




Correspondence:

Read all Correspondence

Denture cream: An unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease
Marco Spinazzi, et al.
Neurology Online, 28 Oct 2008 [Full text]

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.