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Intestinal zinc absorption in cirrhotic patients
J Solis-Herruzo1, B De Cuenca, M C Muñoz-Rivero
1Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Doce de Octubre, School of Medicine Universidad Complutense, MAdrid, Spain.
Zeitschrift Fur Gastroenterologie
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Cirrhosis patients exhibit low serum zinc levels due to multifactorial causes. Impaired intestinal zinc absorption is significant in severe liver dysfunction, while alcoholics may also experience increased urinary zinc excretion.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum zinc levels are often diminished in patients with liver cirrhosis.
- The precise mechanisms contributing to zinc deficiency in cirrhosis remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intestinal zinc absorption and urinary zinc excretion in cirrhotic patients.
- To determine the factors contributing to low serum zinc levels in cirrhosis.
Main Methods:
- Oral zinc tolerance test to assess intestinal zinc absorption.
- Measurement of daily urinary zinc excretion.
- Comparison between healthy controls, alcoholic cirrhotics, and non-alcoholic cirrhotics.
Main Results:
- Cirrhotic patients (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) had significantly lower serum zinc levels than controls.
- Alcoholic cirrhotics showed significantly higher daily urinary zinc excretion.
- Intestinal zinc absorption was significantly reduced in cirrhotics, correlating with liver dysfunction severity.
Conclusions:
- Low serum zinc in cirrhosis is multifactorial.
- Impaired intestinal zinc absorption contributes to zinc deficiency, especially in severe liver dysfunction.
- Increased urinary zinc excretion may exacerbate zinc deficiency in alcoholic cirrhosis.