‘Poligrip’ is a certain brand of denture cream, used to hold “dentures” or false teeth in place. Senior citizens who have ill-fitting dentures and accident patients who happen to lose teeth / injured jaw are prescribed denture creams to hold the false teeth in place.
What are not well-known to these users are the side effects caused by the ingredients used in such denture creams. Zinc, a major chemical used in denture creams causes no harm when present in small quantities. However, it has been scientifically proven that excessive intake of Zinc causes Hypocupremia or depletion of Copper in the body. This results in a host of neurological complications such as Neuropathy, Nephrotic syndrome, Wilson’s disease, etc.
In a well-researched document , the American Academy of Neurology cites denture cream as an unusual source of Zinc poisoning (hyperzincemia) which inturn leads to Hypocupremia (depletion of copper) and Neurological disease. Depletion of Copper due to excessive Zinc in the human body causes Demyelination, a condition whereby Myelin, a chemical which acts as an insulator for the nerves in the human body, gets depleted. According to a publication of the Neurological Society of India, serious neurological complications occur due to Hypocupremia.
To maintain a healthy diet, the human body requires a minimum amount of Zinc. The accepted daily dosage level of zinc required by the human body is about 15 milligrams. However, when the daily level of Zinc crosses 40 milligrams, it turns toxic. Researchers in the University of Texas South western have come out with startling revelations among a test population of denture cream users with daily Zinc levels of up to 330 milligrams. Excessive Zinc and depletion of copper from the blood, in turn sets off a chain of reactions that finally affect the spinal cord. Irreversible injury and neuropathy have been reported from patients of Hyperzincemia.
According to the American Academy of Neurology, denture fixative creams such as Poligrip have been found to contain Zinc concentrations from 17000 to 34000 µg/g. Dozens of law suits have been filed against GlaxoSmithkline, the manufacturer of Poligrip, by affected users for failure to warn people about the dangers of chronic usage and Zinc poisoning
If you know someone who exhibits symptoms similar to those stated above, immediately consult a physician and request to investigate denture cream usage as a possible cause. Alongside, try to get in touch with an experienced attorney to advice on lawsuits and legal proceedings. If you are not sure who to contact, just fill out the form given in this page or give us a call and we would provide you with the required expert advice on how to go about it, free of cost