Effects of zinc supplementation on metabolic status in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Being a micronutrient, zinc involves in numerous biochemical reactions as a principle component or catalyzing enzymes for proper propagation of enzymatic function. Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been increasingly reported to be associated with derangement of the intrinsic physiological functions including suppression of micronutrient functionality and concentration. During the COVID-19 outbreak, a relatively high dose of zinc has been prescribed by private clinics for non-infected/high-risk subjects;who include patients with MS on polytherapy. We aimed to investigate the effect of 50mg-zinc tablet administered as an add-on therapy for three months to patients with MS. According to our health care providers;MS patients undergo an annual quadruple check by measuring the routine biochemical factors (serum glucose, and lipid profile), blood pressure, and body mass indices. Data were collected before and after zinc administration and statistically analyzed in comparison to the control non-zinc user group. The results confirmed that zinc positively improved measured parameters by significantly reducing blood pressure, serum glucose, and lipid indices;together with slightly modulating body mass indices. To confirm that the quality of the zinc tablet provided by the supplier, plasma zinc concentrations were also measured before and after therapy. In conclusion, zinc supplementation could be part of the therapy for metabolic diseases and we do advise intermittent zinc use in such patients.