When he began getting weak, 61-year-old Ronald Beaver, from Miami in the US, figured he might just be feeling his age. Eventually his problem was traced to a serious blood disorder caused by low levels of copper.It wasn't until several weeks later that Beaver's doctor mentioned that getting too much zinc can trigger loss of copper. The only source of that much zinc they surmised was the tubes of PoliGrip denture cream he had been grossly overusing for a decade.
Now Beaver, who said he never fully recovered, and hundreds of other people claiming similar problems are suing consumer products giants Procter & Gamble Co., which makes Fixodent, and GlaxoSmithKline, maker of PoliGrip.
At least 25 lawsuits from 11 US states have been consolidated for pretrial hearings before a federal judge in Miami, who will decide if they go to trial or not. Another hearing is planned for next month.
The companies say denture cream containing zinc is safe when used as directed and the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates denture adhesives, has never issued any warnings about the products.
The companies say denture cream containing zinc is safe when used as directed and the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates denture adhesives, has never issued any warnings about the products.
Indeed, the amount of zinc found in the recommended application of denture cream is similar to the amount found in a 6-ounce hamburger, and the overwhelming majority of users have no problems. The zinc improves adhesive power.
The legal action followed a 2008 report in the medical journal Neurology about a possible link between denture cream zinc and nerve damage. Doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas described four patients who all used excessive amounts of denture cream and had various nerve-related disorders.
The researchers said their report did not prove denture cream caused the problems, but concluded the issue warranted further study. The human body needs both zinc and copper in the proper amounts, and zinc is commonly found in many foods, vitamin supplements and even cold lozenges. Too much zinc, though, can purge the body of copper.
A copper deficiency can cause nerve damage, resulting in symptoms such as weakness and numbness in arms and legs; difficulty walking and loss of balance; and even cognitive or memory impairment, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The legal action followed a 2008 report in the medical journal Neurology about a possible link between denture cream zinc and nerve damage. Doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas described four patients who all used excessive amounts of denture cream and had various nerve-related disorders.
The researchers said their report did not prove denture cream caused the problems, but concluded the issue warranted further study. The human body needs both zinc and copper in the proper amounts, and zinc is commonly found in many foods, vitamin supplements and even cold lozenges. Too much zinc, though, can purge the body of copper.
A copper deficiency can cause nerve damage, resulting in symptoms such as weakness and numbness in arms and legs; difficulty walking and loss of balance; and even cognitive or memory impairment, according to the National Institutes of Health.
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