ZMA vs Plain Zinc and Magnesium

**tooncesthecat** · November 21st, 2007, 11:06 PM

Could someone please answer this question? Can I basically "create" ZMA by taking zinc and magnesium as individual supplements? Is the zinc in ZMA the same as other zinc supplements? Furthermore, any practical experience with ZMA working or not working?
Thanks!

**varbo** · November 22nd, 2007, 09:11 AM

There is a 3rd component of Vitamin B6 in there but I'm not sure.

I was going to try it but then noticed that my multiviamin gives me almost as much Zinc and Magnesium as ZMA if I take the reccomended two vitamins a day. Might want to check how much zinc you're getting with your multi.

If you should be taking that much in a multi and ZMA as well, I'd be curious to know that.

**Bisons** · November 22nd, 2007, 08:20 PM

The zinc in ZMA is in the highly bio available forms of Znic L-Methionine and Zinc Aspartate. The magnesium is also in Aspartate form.

Don't confuse these with the poor forms you see in cheap multi-vits, such as oxides which are not only useless but probably toxic.

If you can source your own zinc and mag in those forms then yes you could make your own. As already said there's B6 in there aswell but this is very cheap to buy.

**tooncesthecat** · November 22nd, 2007, 10:54 PM

I get some zinc in my multi (4x15 mg zinc oxide) and then I take 1x50 mg zinc gluconate. Bisons, why is the zinc oxide so bad?

**Bisons** · November 23rd, 2007, 03:22 PM

Oxides are cheap and nasty and you will find them in all the poor quality vitamins and multi-vitamins & minerals. NEVER in good, high quality examples. They have very low bio-availability, your body probably using something like 1% of what's ingested.

Quote:

Zinc oxide is not the same kind of zinc you get from oysters, or other foods. It is entirely inorganic, and has
demonstrated mutagenic and teratrogenic effects in animal studies. It is produced through vaporization of
metallic zinc and oxidation of vapors with preheated air (French Process). (Merck Index, 1996, p. 1734). Its main
uses are for pigments in paints, reflective agent in sunscreen, manufacture of glass, automobile tires, white
glue, matches, porcelains, flame retardant, plastics, rayon, lubricants, fabrics, etc.

Have a read of this for some idea on how bad some of these vitamins and minerals can be, especially the cheap, nasty forms like oxides.

Read Me

**varbo** · December 3rd, 2007, 11:48 AM

Hey Bison,
What multi do you use?

**number1point** · December 4th, 2007, 07:00 PM

the zma works good for me...when i wake up i feel like ive just woke up from a hibernation and ready to get to work...so zma i will keep in my supplements if i were you...as far as makin your own...hell if i know..but why try to make somethin that you can just by and its only 21 bux if you have your gnc card...

**Bisons** · December 4th, 2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varbo

Hey Bison,
What multi do you use?

At the moment I'm not actually using any, as I get loads of fruit and veg (organic aswell) in my diet. I'd rather spend the vitamin money on organic versions and more of it

If I decide I need a multi then I'd use the Now ADAM's Mens Multi, it's incredibly good value compared to most of the others.

You will probably find this thread interesting: All Vitamin Supplements Are Not Created Equal