Urinary and serum zinc levels in chronic pancreatitis

Urinary and serum zinc levels were determined in 51 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Urinary zinc excretion in patients with chronic calcified pancreatitis (832 +/- 111 micrograms/day) (mean +/- SE) but not in noncalcified pancreatitis (684 +/- 65 micrograms/day) was significantly higher than in normal controls (418 +/- 46 micrograms/day). The urinary zinc excretion increased with deterioration of exocrine pancreatic function. Serum zinc levels in advanced pancreatitis (105.9 +/- 4.5 micrograms/100 ml) were significantly higher when compared to the pancreatitis with normal exocrine pancreatic function (91.6 +/- 3.0 micrograms/100 ml), but the difference was less pronounced than for urinary zinc excretion. This may be due to complicating diabetes, which usually lowers serum zinc. Serum zinc and urinary zinc excretion were low in a patient with chronic calcified pancreatitis complicated with a pulmonary abscess and hypoalbuminemia. In conclusion, urinary and serum zinc levels in chronic pancreatitis were increased as a result of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. Association of diabetes may lower serum zinc, and associated malnutrition depresses both urinary and serum zinc levels.