The efficacy and safety of zinc gluconate supplementation on quality of life, sleep quality, and serum albumin in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients suffer from several conditions, including low quality of life, poor sleep quality, and decreased serum albumin. We hypothesized that zinc supplementation may improve these problems. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of zinc gluconate supplementation on quality of life, sleep quality, and serum albumin. In this parallel randomized clinical trial, 87 hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned in the zinc (n=44) or placebo group (n=43) for 12 weeks. Patients in the zinc group received one 30 mg zinc gluconate tablet per day. Quality of life was assessed The Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) instrument, and sleep quality was evaluated by The Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire. Also, serum concentrations of albumin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline and end of the study. There were beneficial effects of zinc supplementation on sleep quality (Effect (95% CI):-0.91(-1.34, -0.48)) and albumin concentration (Effect (95% CI): 0.327(0.06,0.59)), compared with placebo. However, we observed no changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Effect (95% CI): -6.59(-19.94,6.76)) and quality of life (Effect (95% CI): 0.17(-1.32,1.65) in zinc group in comparison with placebo. Also, we observed no adverse events from zinc supplementation in these patients. This randomized clinical trial showed that zinc supplementation elicited beneficial effects on sleep quality and albumin levels in hemodialysis patients. This randomized clinical trial was registered at IRCT.ir (IRCT20130903014551N10).