Serum Zinc Levels In Patients Research Articles

Association between Serum Zinc Level and Cutaneous Viral Warts: A Case Control Study

Introduction: Cutaneous viral warts are one of the common skin disorders in general population which can affect any age group and any gender in any country and pose a significant health problem. A possible association with zinc has been suggested in previous studies. Zinc is known to be required for efficient functioning of immune system.
 Objective: To find out the association between serum zinc level and cutaneous viral warts. 
 Materials and methods: In this case-control study, total of hundred patients were enrolled. Among them 50 (males – 27, females – 23) with cutaneous viral warts were taken as cases and 50 (males – 25, females – 25) healthy individuals were taken as controls after matching the age and sex. The patients were selected from Dermatology outpatient Department of Universal College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Bhairahawa, Nepal. The serum zinc level was measured using spectrophotometry principle.
 Results: The mean serum zinc level in the cases and controls were 80.50±37.24 mg/dl and 104.31±25.31 mg/dl respectively. Significant difference in serum zinc level was observed between cases and controls (p=0.0001). There was a strong association between low serum zinc level and cutaneous viral warts (OR=7.37; 95% CI=1.98 – 27.31; p=0.0028).
 Conclusion: Serum zinc level in patients with cutaneous viral warts was significantly low as compared to the healthy controls.

Examination of serum zinc levels in patients with chronic liver diseases

Examination of serum zinc levels in patients with chronic liver diseases

Zinc Deficiency in Autism: A Controlled Study

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired socialisation and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Zinc deficiency has previously been reported in patients with ASD. A retrospective controlled trial of serum zinc levels in patients with ASD vs. non-ASD controls was undertaken to explore the potential presence of zinc deficiency in the ASD population. 72 patients with ASD were compared with 234 non-ASD controls. Serum zinc levels were compared between groups and correlations analysed for age, sex, supplement use and diet. Serum chromium and manganese levels were also compared between ASD and control groups to assess general micronutrient status. Further analysis was undertaken in the ASD group investigating potential correlations between serum zinc levels and immune function. 86% of patients with ASD were found to be zinc deficient versus 24% of the non-ASD control group. There was a mean difference of serum zinc levels between the ASD and non-ASD groups of 1·75 μmol/l (P<0·001, CI 1·2-2·1). There was no effect of age or sex on serum zinc levels in either the ASD or control groups. There was no significant difference in chromium or manganese levels between the ASD and control group. These results suggest zinc deficiency is likely to be common in ASD patients and is a potentially modifiable environmental factor associated with the condition. Zinc’s potential role in the aetio-pathogenesis and disease evolution is discussed, and the need to consider zinc status in patients with ASD is highlighted.

Higher serum zinc levels may reduce the risk of cervical cancer in Asian women: A meta-analysis.

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis was conducted to examine the possible association between serum zinc concentration and cervical cancer risk.MethodsPubMed, WanFang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and SinoMed databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 1980 and September 2017. Results were combined using a random-effects model, and pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare serum zinc levels in patients with cervical cancer versus controls. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s funnel plot and Egger’s regression asymmetry test.ResultsTwelve articles regarding serum zinc levels and cervical cancer were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results showed that serum zinc levels in cervical cancer cases were significantly lower than in controls without cervical cancer (summary SMD –1.379, 95% CI –1.527, –1.231), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.8%). Analysis of data stratified by geographic location showed a significant association between serum zinc levels and cervical cancer risk in Asian populations (summary SMD –1.391, 95% CI –1.543, –1.239).ConclusionsHigher serum zinc levels may be a protective factor for cervical cancer in Asian women.

Lower Serum Zinc Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Healthy Controls.

Objective: Diminished blood levels of zinc have been reported to be associated with T-cell-mediated autoimmunity, which has been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to compare the distribution of serum zinc status in MS patients with that in healthy controls (HCs) and to investigate a potential correlation with clinical state, through analysis of serum zinc concentration in MS patients suffering from different disease subtypes. Methods: Serum zinc concentrations of 133 patients with relapsing (RMS) and 18 patients with the progressive form of MS (PMS), according to the McDonald criteria of 2010, were measured. Clinical status was quantified using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Zinc concentrations were also determined in the sera of 50 HCs, matched for age and sex at a group level. Results: MS patients showed significantly lower zinc concentrations (mean (SD)) than HCs (12.5 (2.1) µmol/L vs. 14.6 (2.3) µmol/L, p < 0.001). In contrast, we did not find any difference between RMS (12.4 (2.0) µmol/L) and PMS (13.0 (3.0) µmol/L) cases (p = 0.8). Patients receiving disease-modifying treatment showed lower mean (SD) serum zinc levels than untreated cases (12.3 (1.9) µmol/L vs. 13.5 (3.2) µmol/L, p < 0.03). Zinc levels were not related to disease duration, EDSS, annual relapse rate, or the median number of relapses. Conclusions: The data suggest that a diagnosis of MS is related to lower serum zinc concentrations than in HCs, and concentrations were lower still under disease-modifying therapy. However, zinc levels did not predict disease subtypes or disability status.

Serum Zinc Levels in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Case-Control Study.

Serum zinc levels in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have not been previously studied. The aim was to investigate the association between HS and serum zinc levels. A multicenter, prospective clinical and analytical case-control study was designed to assess the possible association between HS and serum zinc levels. Consecutive patients with moderate or severe HS (Hurley II or III exclusively) were enrolled. A control population was recruited from primary care clinics. Fasting blood samples were extracted from each patient and serum zinc levels determined. Candidate predictors for low serum zinc levels were determined using logistic regression models. In total, 122 patients with HS and 122 control subjects were studied. Of the 122 HS patients, 79 (64.8%) were Hurley II and 43 (35.2%) were Hurley III. Low serum zinc levels (≤ 83.3µg/dL) were more prevalent in HS (adjusted odds ratio [ORa] 6.7, P < 0.001). After logistic regression analysis, low serum zinc levels were associated with Hurley III (ORa 4.4, P < 0.001), Dermatology Life Quality Index ≥ 9 (ORa 3.1, P = 0.005), number of affected sites ≥ 3 (ORa 2.4, P = 0.042), genital location (ORa 2.9, P = 0.009), and perineal location (ORa 2.5, P = 0.025). Low serum zinc levels are more prevalent in HS than in a healthy population, an indicator that may also be associated with disease severity.

Serum Zinc Level in Vitiligo: A Case-control Study.

Background:Vitiligo is characterized by the idiopathic destruction of melanocytes, probably of autoimmune etiology, that results in depigmented patches of skin and mucosal surfaces. Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Zinc, a trace element with antiapoptotic properties, plays a major role in the process of melanogenesis and elimination of free radicals. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing serum zinc levels in patients with vitiligo and in normal controls.Materials and Methods:In this case–control study, we studied 103 patients with vitiligo and 103 healthy sex-and age-matched controls. Serum zinc levels were measured in these two groups using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compared with each other.Results:The mean serum zinc level was 92.1 mcg/dl in the focal vitiligo, 81.3 mcg/dl in the generalized vitiligo, and 91.8 mcg/dl in the control group. A significant difference in serum zinc levels was observed between the patients with generalized vitiligo and the controls. Lower serum zinc levels were also correlated with longer duration of the disease. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between serum zinc level and age of patients with vitiligo.Conclusion:Serum zinc level is low in patients with generalized vitiligo. In these patients, serum zinc level is in negative correlation with patient's age and disease duration.

Relationship between serum zinc levels and simple febrile seizures: hospital based case control study

Background: Owing to the excessive susceptibility of the immature brain to temperature, febrile seizures remain one of the common neurological conditions of childhood. Although simple febrile seizures do not pose any increased neurological problems in adult life, but the anxiety, hospitalization and prophylaxis for the episode do call for a genuine concern. A correlation between zinc deficiency and febrile seizures has been proposed and a few studies undertaken have shown mixed conclusions. This case control study was undertaken to compare the serum Zinc levels in patients with simple febrile seizures against the controlled patients with short febrile illness without seizures and to find the correlation if any between simple febrile seizures and serum zinc levels.Methods: The hospital based, observational case control study was done in Batra Hospital and Medical research Centre, New Delhi. A total of 200 children aged 6 months to 6 years admitted in the hospital with history of short pyrexia (fever for 2 days or less) and fulfilling our inclusion criteria were enrolled for the study after taking an informed consent from their attendants and classified into 2 groups of 100 each as cases and controls. Patients with history of simple febrile seizures as cases and those with fever without seizures as controls. A detailed history was taken, and complete physical examination was done on the patients and recorded on a precoded and pretested proforma. The data was analysed on SPSS 17.Results: Our results showed a mean of serum zinc levels in cases as 61.53±15.87 mcg/dl which was found to be lower compared to controls as 71.90+18.50 mcg /dl. Further the difference was found to be statistically significant (P&lt;0.05).Conclusions: Low serum zinc levels in the patients of simple febrile seizures in association with other risk factors may enhance the occurrence of seizures triggered by fever. Thus, a possible correlation exists between the mean serum zinc level and simple febrile seizures.

Evaluation of serum zinc level as a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancers

Introduction: Gastric adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are the second and third common cancer in Iran respectively and are the leading causes of cancer deaths in the world. The status of serum zinc level in these cancers has not been fully evaluated. Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare serum zinc levels in patients with ESCC and gastric adenocarcinoma as compared to patients with other non-digestive cancers. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients (10 patients with SCC of the esophagus, 40 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 50 cases with other non-digestive cancers as the controls). Morning blood samples were taken containing 5 ml of blood from both groups and immediately stored in the laboratory at 8°C until all samples were taken. After collecting, serum levels of zinc in the specimens were measured by 24i chemistry analyzer. The SPSS version 23.0 for Windows was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The results of this study did not show a significant difference between mean serum level of zinc across the patients with ESCC and patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or those with other nondigestive cancers adjusted for age and gender (P > 0.05). However, a significant difference between the mean serum zinc level in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and other non-digestive cancers was detected (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Regarding the normal serum level of zinc in other non-digestive cancers and a decrease in zinc level in gastrointestinal cancers in our study, malnutrition which is common in all malignancies, has no effect on zinc deficiency in gastrointestinal malignancies, and zinc deficiency can be considered as a primary risk factor for the development of these two digestive malignancies.

Evaluation of serum zinc levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)

BackgroundRecurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an ulcerative disease of the oral mucosa without a clearly defined etiology. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum zinc levels in patients with RAS in comparison to healthy controls and to validate the association between zinc levels and the course of RAS.MethodsSeventy-five patients with RAS and 72 controls underwent full dental examination. Serum zinc levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (F AAS). The results were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, chi-square tests and the test of difference between the two rates of structure with p < 0.05 as a significance level (Statistica 10, StatSoft®).ResultsNo statistically significant differences were detected in serum zinc levels between RAS patients and healthy controls. The mean serum zinc concentration was found to be 84.2 μg/dL in RAS group and 83.9 μd/dL in controls, within the accepted norms. Zinc deficiency was observed in 10.7% patients from the RAS group and in 6.9% controls. No significant differences in serum zinc levels were found between patients when the course of the disease was considered.ConclusionsSerum zinc concentrations did not differ significantly in RAS patients and in healthy controls and it did not influence the course of the disease. Therefore, zinc does not appear to be an important modifying factor in the development of RAS.

Evaluation of the serum zinc level in adult patients with melasma: Is there a relationship with serum zinc deficiency and melasma?

Melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis of sun-exposed skin, particularly on the face, which presents as symmetric, light- to gray-brown-colored macules and patches. There are several studies of serum zinc levels in cutaneous disorders. So far, no studies have been carried out to assess the serum zinc level in patients with melasma. The aim of this study is to determine the serum zinc level in patients with melasma compared to healthy subjects. A total of 118 patients with melasma and 118 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. The two groups were matched for age and sex. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The mean serum level of zinc in melasma patients and controls was 77.4±23.2μg/dL and 82.2±23.9μg/dL, respectively (P-value=.0001). Serum zinc deficiency was found in 45.8% and 23.7% of melasma patients and control subjects, respectively. A positive family history of melasma in first-degree relatives was present in 46 (39%) of the cases, and a history of taking oral contraceptive pill was found in 95 (81%) of women with melasma. The aggravating factors for melasma were stated as: sun exposure (11.1%), pregnancy (15.3%), nutrition (2.5%), oral contraceptive pills (18.6%), and emotional stress (5.9%). The malar and centrofacial patterns were seen in 3.4% and 72% of cases, respectively, whereas 24.6% of the patients had both centrofacial distribution and malar distribution, and there was no patient with mandibular pattern. Among patients with melasma, 20.3% had thyroid dysfunction, while in the control subjects, 8.4% had thyroid dysfunction (P=.001). There is a significant relationship between low levels of zinc and melasma. Zinc deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of melasma. Also, treatment with oral zinc supplements can be tried in these patients to see the outcome. However, to make recommendations on screening for zinc deficiency in patients with melasma, future research of good methodological quality is needed.

Association between itching and the serum zinc levels in patients with varicose veins

BackgroundVaricose veins commonly occur in the lower extremities and can cause pain and discomfort in the affected area. Many patients with varicose veins suffer from itching, but its cause has not been sufficiently explained. In recent years, the role of zinc in maintaining the integrity of skin has been reported, and zinc supplementation has been suggested to be effective in relieving itching. The objective of this study is to elucidate the relationship between itching and serum zinc concentration in patients with varicose veins.MethodsWe measured the stratum corneum water content, TEWL and zinc levels in each participant. The study subjects were 11 patients with varicose veins who were experiencing itching (2 males and 9 females, mean age: 65.9 ± 9.4 years old) and 13 patients without itching (6 males and 7 females, mean age: 59.3 ± 9.5 years old). The control group was comprised of 9 healthy individuals without varicose veins (mean age: 41.7 ± 7.0 years old).ResultsThe level of stratum corneum water content was significantly lower in the patients experiencing itching compared to those without the symptom, and it was significantly lower in both patient groups than in the control group. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was significantly higher in the patients experiencing itching than those without the symptom, and it was significantly higher in both patient groups than in the control group. In addition, zinc level was significantly lower in the patients with itching compared to those without itching or the control group. For all study participants, relationships between the stratum corneum water content and TEWL against serum zinc were examined. There was a positive correlation between the stratum corneum water content and serum zinc, and a negative correlation was found between TEWL and serum zinc.ConclusionOur novel findings suggested that the development of varicose veins leads to decrease in serum zinc, causing dry skin which could contribute to itching.

Prognostic value of serum zinc levels in patients with acute HC/zinc chloride smoke inhalation.

Hexachloroethane (HC)/zinc chloride (ZnCl, smoke bomb) exposure in the military setting results in lung injury which is uncommon and has been rarely described in previous studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the serum zinc in patients with HC/ZnCl smoke inhalation lung injury and disease severity. A total of 15 patients with HC/ZnCl-related conditions were recruited in this study. The serum zinc level and the pulmonary function tests and liver function tests including total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory pressure in 1 second (FEV1), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were analyzed. Eleven cases had mild clinical manifestations. Four cases rapidly developed features typical of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome. The level of serum zinc was increased, but FVC, FEV1, and TLC was decreased significantly in the moderate and severe cases. In addition, the serum zinc level correlated well with the TLC, FVC, and FEV1 (r = −0.587, −0.626, −0.617, respectively; P = .027, .017, .019, respectively). The 4 cases in moderate and severe group had delayed impairment of liver functions after the accident. This study suggested that the serum zinc level may be associated with the severity of lung and liver injuries after HC/ZnCl smoke inhalation.

Comparison of serum zinc level in patients with major depression with a healthy control group

Comparison of serum zinc level in patients with major depression with a healthy control group

Evaluation of the serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo.

IntroductionVitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches, which affects approximately 0.1–2% of the general population worldwide. Zinc is an essential trace element that is necessary for growth and development at all stages of life. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and vitiligo.AimTo measure the serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo compared to healthy subjects.Material and methodsOne hundred patients with vitiligo and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic. The two groups were matched for age and sex. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.ResultsThe mean serum level of zinc in vitiligo patients and controls was 80.11 ±17.10 μg/dl and 96.10 ±16.16 μg/dl, respectively. The serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo was significantly lower than in healthy controls (p = 0.0001).ConclusionsThe results of our study revealed a significant association between vitiligo and serum zinc levels. A relative decrease in the serum zinc level in vitiligo patients can highlight the role of zinc in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and large-scale studies need to be conducted to confirm these findings and assess the effect of oral zinc supplements in patients with low zinc levels.

Serum Zinc Levels in Patients with Acne Vulgaris and Its Correlation with Severity of Acne

Serum Zinc Levels in Patients with Acne Vulgaris and Its Correlation with Severity of Acne

Serum zinc levels in patients with iron deficiency anemia and its association with symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major public health problem especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Zinc is the co-factor of several enzymes and plays a role in iron metabolism, so zinc deficiency is associated with IDA. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship of symptoms of IDA and zinc deficiency in adult IDA patients. The study included 43 IDA patients and 43 healthy control subjects. All patients were asked to provide a detailed history and were subjected to a physical examination. The hematological parameters evaluated included hemoglobin (Hb); hematocrit (Ht); red blood cell (erythrocyte) count (RBC); and red cell indices mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (МСН), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (МСНС), and red cell distribution width (RDW). Anemia was defined according to the criteria defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Serum zinc levels were measured in the flame unit of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Symptoms attributed to iron deficiency or depletion, defined as fatigue, cardiopulmonary symptoms, mental manifestations, epithelial manifestations, and neuromuscular symptoms, were also recorded and categorized. Serum zinc levels were lower in anemic patients (103.51 ± 34.64 μ/dL) than in the control subjects (256.92 ± 88.54 μ/dL; <0.001). Patients with zinc level <99 μ/dL had significantly more frequent mental manifestations (p < 0.001), cardiopulmonary symptoms (p = 0.004), restless leg syndrome (p = 0.016), and epithelial manifestations (p < 0.001) than patients with zinc level > 100 μ/dL. When the serum zinc level was compared with pica, no statistically significant correlation was found (p = 0.742). Zinc is a trace element that functions in several processes in the body, and zinc deficiency aggravates IDA symptoms. Measurement of zinc levels and supplementation if necessary should be considered for IDA patients.

Levels of Serum Zinc and Manganese among Post-Menopausal Patients with Thyroid Dysfunction

The objective of this study is to shed more light on the role of trace metals and their mode of action in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in Post-Menopausal Patients. The content of the trace elements Zinc and Manganese (Zn, and Mn) in the serum of patients was determined. Forty patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were participated in this study. Serum zinc and manganese were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique. The study showed that serum zinc and manganese levels of hyperthyroidism patients were significantly lower (p&lt;0.05). While a significant increase in serum manganese level with decrease serum zinc levels in patients with hypothyroidism (p&lt;0.05). The present study confirmed a significant change in the levels of serum Zn, Mn in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism among Post-Menopausal patients and these changes may be related to pathophysiology of thyroid disease.

Zinc Levels in community acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients; a case control study

IntroductionPneumonia usually connotes the infection of pulmonary parenchyma. Pneumonia is best classified according to the setting in which it occurs i.e community acquired pneumonia (CAP) hospital acquired or immunodeficiency associated. Dietary zinc deficiency is widespread in developing countries. Zinc deficiency is related to the morbidity and mortality in CAP. Aims and objectivesTo compare serum zinc values of community acquired pneumonia patients with healthy controls and to see the effect of zinc levels with severity of pneumonia. Methods and materialsA case control study involved 100 patients of community acquired pneumonia with age and sex matched healthy controls, after getting informed consent from all subjects. The serum zinc level was measured, analyzed and interpreted with regard to age, CURB-65, comorbidity and hospital stay. Results and observationThe mean age of patients was 59.74years. 53 patients were males and 47 were females. Smoking history was present in 55 patients. The mean serum zinc level in patients was 89.9μg/dl whereas in controls it was 105.65μg/dl, which was statistically significant. The zinc levels were low in elderly patients and controls as compared to young ones. Mean zinc level was lower in patients of high CURB-65 score and vice versa. SummaryOur study revealed a definite relation of low serum levels of zinc with community acquired pneumonia and there is definite decrease in serum zinc levels as the age increases. Considering the morbidity, mortality, hospital stay and financial burden and to reduce the use of antibiotics for pneumonia, especially in developing countries like ours, serum zinc levels should be routinely measured and thereby supplemented.

Serum zinc levels in 368 patients with oral mucosal diseases: A preliminary study.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the serum zinc levels in patients with common oral mucosal diseases by comparing these to healthy controls.Material and MethodsA total of 368 patients, which consisted of 156 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients, 57 oral lichen planus (OLP) patients, 55 burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients, 54 atrophic glossitis (AG) patients, 46 xerostomia patients, and 115 sex-and age-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum zinc levels were measured in all participants. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA, t-test, and Chi-square test.ResultsThe mean serum zinc level in the healthy control group was significantly higher than the levels of all other groups (p < 0.001). No individual in the healthy control group had a serum zinc level less than the minimum normal value. However, up to 24.7% (13/54) of patients with AG presented with zinc deficiency, while 21.2% (33/156) of patients with RAS, 16.4% (9/55) of patients with BMS, 15.2% (7/46) of patients with xerostomia, and 14.0% (8/57) of patients with OLP were zinc deficient. Altogether, the zinc deficiency rate was 19.02% (70/368) in the oral mucosal diseases (OMD) group (all patients with OMD). The difference between the OMD and healthy control group was significant (p <0.001). Gender differences in serum zinc levels were also present, although not statistically significant.ConclusionsZinc deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of common oral mucosal diseases. Zinc supplementation may be a useful treatment for oral mucosal diseases, but this requires further investigation; the optimal serum level of zinc, for the prevention and treatment of oral mucosal diseases, remains to be determined. Key words:Oral mucosal diseases, Zinc deficiency, pathogenesis.