Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
09:50
Use of Synaptic Zinc Histochemistry to Reveal Different Regions and Laminae in the Developing and Adult Brain
Published on: October 29, 2017
Overt hepatic encephalopathy precipitated by zinc deficiency
C C Van der Rijt1, S W Schalm, H Schat
1Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Gastroenterology
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Zinc deficiency is linked to severe hepatic encephalopathy. Supplementation with zinc improved symptoms and quality of life in patients with liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Neurology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) management often involves protein restriction and medications like lactulose and neomycin.
- Treatment resistance is common in severe and recurrent cases of HE.
- The role of zinc deficiency in overt HE remains unclear despite evidence of zinc's benefit in liver cirrhosis.
Observation:
- A patient with severe, recurrent HE underwent a study to link encephalopathy signs with zinc deficiency.
- Zinc deficiency was induced orally using histidine, triggering an overt encephalopathy episode.
- This episode mirrored previous ones and resolved with oral zinc administration.
Findings:
- The study demonstrated a clear association between HE and zinc deficiency through induced depletion and supplementation.
- Successive zinc depletion and re-supplementation correlated with HE episodes and recovery.
- Long-term zinc supplementation significantly improved severe, recurrent HE symptoms.
Implications:
- Zinc supplementation may be a viable therapeutic strategy for refractory hepatic encephalopathy.
- Addressing zinc deficiency could improve patient outcomes and quality of life in liver disease patients with HE.
- Further research into the mechanisms of zinc's role in HE is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
03:02Standard Electrode Potentials
On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
01:08Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
01:29Hepatic Encephalopathy
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...