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Zinc deficiency in Crohn's disease
Digestion
|January 1, 1977
Summary
Patients with Crohn's disease show low zinc levels and impaired taste. Reduced plasma zinc correlates with albumin, suggesting altered binding affects zinc status and potentially healing in Crohn's disease.
Area of Science:
- Human nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease.
- Nutrient deficiencies, including zinc, are common in Crohn's disease patients.
- Zinc plays a crucial role in immune function, wound healing, and overall growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess zinc status in patients with Crohn's disease.
- To investigate the relationship between plasma zinc, hair zinc, and taste acuity.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying zinc deficiency in Crohn's disease.
Main Methods:
- Studied 30 patients with Crohn's disease.
- Measured plasma zinc concentrations.
- Assessed hair zinc content and taste acuity.
Main Results:
- Patients with Crohn's disease exhibited significantly reduced plasma zinc concentrations and impaired taste acuity compared to healthy controls.
- Hair zinc levels were generally low, with several patients showing deficient values.
- A strong correlation was found between plasma zinc and albumin levels.
Conclusions:
- Patients with Crohn's disease frequently experience zinc deficiency.
- Altered plasma protein binding, particularly involving albumin, may contribute to low plasma zinc levels in Crohn's disease.
- Maintaining adequate zinc levels is important for managing growth and healing in Crohn's disease.