Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
08:51
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
10.0K
Zinc in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mikkel Bredholt1, Jette Lautrup Frederiksen2
1Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet - Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark mikkelbredholt@hotmail.com.
ASN Neuro
|June 11, 2016
Summary
This review found lower zinc levels in the blood of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Further research is needed to understand zinc's role in MS pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Zinc (Zn) is a vital trace element with potential implications in neurological diseases.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of zinc in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To conduct a meta-analysis of studies measuring serum or plasma zinc levels in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed and EMBASE.
- 24 studies measuring zinc in MS patients were identified; 13 were included in the meta-analysis.
- Analysis included studies measuring zinc in serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, whole blood, and erythrocytes.
Main Results:
- Meta-analysis revealed significantly reduced serum or plasma zinc levels in MS patients (p = .001).
- One study showed increased cerebrospinal fluid zinc levels in MS patients.
- Whole blood and erythrocyte zinc levels were higher in MS patients, decreasing during relapsing-remitting attacks.
Conclusions:
- Serum or plasma zinc levels are reduced in multiple sclerosis patients.
- Altered zinc levels, particularly local alterations, are hypothesized to be involved in MS pathogenesis.
- Future studies should analyze homogenous MS subgroups to clarify zinc's role.
