Zinc and some zinc dependent enzymes in sickle cell anemia

Plasma zinc concentrations were determined in patients with sickle cell anemia and in disease free controls in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Plasma zinc level in patients was found to be close to that of the control subjects. Similarly, there was no difference in urinary zinc level between the two groups. Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), two zinc dependent enzymes in these patients, were also close to those of normals. This is in contrast to the situation which exists in North American Blacks with sickle cell anemia, who are known to have zinc deficiency coupled with a decrease in the activity of these enzymes.