Serum zinc before and after cholecystectomy in zinc-treated patients

Nine female patients were given zinc sulphate (Solvezinc) 220 mg three times daily for 4 weeks prior to cholecystectomy. Mean serum zinc before zinc treatment was 17 +/- 0.8 mumol/l and rose 25 +/- 1.6 mumol/l after zinc treatment. 6 hours postoperatively serum zinc was 13 +/- 1.4 mumol/l. Thereafter it gradually increased to 20 +/- 0.7 mumol/l by the third postoperative day. The present investigation thus shows that pretreatment with zinc increases the serum zinc level but does not prevent the drop in serum zinc in connection with cholecystectomy. However, with the pretreatment serum zinc never falls below the normal range.