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Updated: Jul 27, 2026
13:04
Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
Urinary zinc in hepatic cirrhosis
Scottish Medical Journal
|May 1, 1975
Summary
Reduced plasma zinc is common in chronic liver disease. However, higher renal zinc clearance may help identify alcohol-related liver conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nephrology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Chronic hepatic disorders often involve altered zinc homeostasis.
- Plasma zinc levels are frequently diminished in liver disease patients.
- Differentiating causes of chronic hepatic disease can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma zinc levels and renal zinc clearance in patients with chronic hepatic disorders.
- To determine if zinc parameters can differentiate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic chronic hepatic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of plasma zinc concentrations.
- Assessment of renal clearance of zinc in patient cohorts and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Plasma zinc levels were reduced across all chronic hepatic disease groups, showing no diagnostic value for differentiation.
- Renal clearance of zinc was significantly elevated in patients with alcoholic chronic hepatic disease (1.25 ml/min) compared to non-alcoholic (0.52 ml/min) and normal subjects (0.33 ml/min).
Conclusions:
- Plasma zinc levels are not useful for distinguishing between different types of chronic hepatic disease.
- Elevated renal clearance of zinc shows potential as a biomarker for identifying alcohol-related chronic hepatic disease.
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