PMN cell phagocytic function in malnourished patients with zinc uptake

Zinc effects on phagocytic activity depend upon its serum concentration. According to certain experimental findings, a decrease in zinc serum concentration is parallel to a deficiency in host defense mechanisms and thus we were interested in studying the effect of zinc sulphate in the phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear cells of 15 zinc deficient patients with III degree malnourishment. In all patients, zinc serum determinations were made before and after zinc intake and chemotaxis, phagocytosis and NBT reduction tests were made at 7, 14 and 30 days. Results are compared with an eight patient group with similar clinical and nutritional characteristics observing an improvement in PMN cell phagocytic activity in patients with zinc uptake (p < 0.001). No differences were observed in a chemotaxic phagocytosis and NBT reduction tests in regard to the time during which patients did not receive zinc uptake.