Managing Zinc Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients: Balancing and Preventing Deficiencies in Serum Copper and...

Zinc supplementation induces metallothionein, leading to reduced serum copper levels. Conversely, serum copper concentrations tend to rise with the use of HIF-PH inhibitors.

To establish a safe level of zinc supplementation that avoids copper deficiency, serum copper and zinc concentrations measured every three months were retrospectively analyzed over five years in 50 patients undergoing hemodialysis.

At the initiation of the study, the median (IQR) concentrations were 100 (84.25-109) µg/dL for serum copper and 60.5 (50.5-70) µg/dL for serum zinc. All participants without zinc supplementation exhibited zinc deficiency (<80 µg/dL). After three months, copper deficiency (<71 µg/dL) was observed when serum copper concentrations were <98.6 µg/dL for patients with HIF-PH inhibitors and <90.3 µg/dL for patients without them. Reduced zinc supplementation may be necessary when serum copper falls below 90 µg/dL. Zinc levels remained deficient because supplementation was limited due to concerns about copper deficiency. Lowering the target zinc level to around 80 µg/dL instead of the conventional 80-120 µg/dL may be safer.

Regular monitoring of both copper and zinc levels, taking place at least every three months, is recommended to adjust zinc supplementation, especially in patients on HIF-PH inhibitors. Copper supplementation should also be considered alongside zinc supplementation to effectively treat hypozincemia.