[Clinical aspects of zinc]

In the literature an increasingly large body of evidence has revealed disturbances of zinc metabolism and a consecutive zinc deficit in a broad spectrum of chronic diseases. The authors call attention to the therapeutic benefit of zinc substitution mainly in chronic hepatic diseases, pancreatitis and colitis, as well as in diabetes and in several cases of immunodeficiency with various complications. Since suitable preparations are not available on the market 'possibilities concerning zinc substitution are rather limited. There is a real need for completing our therapeutic arsenal with an up-to-date zinc preparate, possibly in combination with a magnesium compound.