Zinc Supplementation in Alcoholic Cirrhosis.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A double‐blind clinical trial with zinc sulfate, 0.2 g three times daily, and a placebo was performed in 30 patients with biopsy‐proven alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The disease was in a stable phase, and none of the patients showed evidence of a decompensated liver function. Parameters of liver function, taste acuity, dark adaptation and of zinc and vitamin A metabolism were followed for six weeks. In the zinc‐treated group of 16 patients, serum zinc rose from a normal mean value of 13.3 to 17.4 μmol/l, whereas the mean serum vitamin A level remained practically unaltered within the normal range, 1.89 at the entry and 1.83 μmol/l at the end of the study. Plasma prothrombin and serum alkaline phosphatase levels of the zinc group increased and serum bilirubin and serum carotene decreased significantly. The dark adaptation did not change, but the taste function was significantly improved during zinc treatment. The results indicate that zinc supplementation causes alleviation of certain abnormalities of cirrhotics, which deserves further attention.

ALTERATION OF TASTE BUDS IN EXPERIMENTAL CIRRHOSIS. Is there correlation with human hypogeusia?

“…These are common symptoms in patients with chronic liver diseases, especially liver cirrhosis (16) . Reinforcing the characteristics of this metal, low zinc levels have been observed in cirrhotic animals (39) , and this was confirmed in the present study.…”

Zinc and the Liver: An Active Interaction

“…The role of Zn in taste perception has not been completely delineated [130]. Thus, in some studies Zn deficiency was not correlated with reduced taste acuity [126,127,131], while Zn supplementation in cirrhotic patients either did [132,133] or did not [126] increase taste perception compared with placebo.…”

“…Different results of Zn supplementation may be attributed to differences in the design of the study (e.g., duration and method of Zn administration and reported outcome). Zn supplementation increased serum and hepatic Zn levels in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis [132,183,184]. It also increased the cellular immunity [185] and ameliorated clinical and biochemical parameters [132] but did not improve the antipyrine clearance [140] in these patients.…”

Hepatology – Guidelines on Parenteral Nutrition, Chapter 16

“…Supplementations of zinc and vitamin A might indirectly improve the food intake and nutritional state by improving dysgeusia [86], [87]. Zinc and selenium deficiencies were observed in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease [88], [89], [90], [91].…”