Zinc Metabolism In Patients Research Articles

Advances in the research of zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation treatment in patients with severe burns

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements in human body, which plays an important role in regulating acute inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, anti-oxidation, immune and gastrointestinal function of patients with severe burns. Patients with severe burns may suffer from zinc deficiency because of insufficient amount of zinc intake from the diet and a large amount of zinc lose through wounds and urine. Zinc deficiency may affect their wound healing process and prognosis. This article reviews the characteristics of zinc metabolism in patients with severe burns through dynamic monitoring the plasma and urinary concentration of zinc. An adequate dosage of zinc supplemented to patients with severe burns by an appropriate method can increase the level of zinc in plasma and skin tissue and improve wound healing, as well as reduce the infection rates and mortality. At the same time, it is important to observe the symptoms and signs of nausea, dizziness, leukopenia and arrhythmia in patients with severe burns after supplementing excessive zinc.

Effect of A One-Week Balanced Diet on Expression of Genes Related to Zinc Metabolism and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

To evaluate the effect of diet on metabolic control and zinc metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One-week balanced diet was provided to 10 Brazilians patients with T2DM. Nutritional assessment, laboratorial parameters and expression of zinc transporter and inflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were performed. Healthy non-diabetic subjects of the same demographic were recruited to provide baseline data. Diabetic patients had higher body mass index and greater fasting plasma glucose, plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and plasma interleukin 6 (IL6) levels compared with healthy subjects. In addition, the expression of transporters 4 (ZnT4) mRNA was lower and IL6 mRNA was higher in PBMC of these diabetic patients than in healthy subject. One week after a balanced diet was provided, fasting plasma glucose decreased significantly as did TNFα, IL6 and Metallothionein 1 (MT1) mRNAs. No change was observed in zinc transporter expression in PBMC after the dietary intervention. A healthy eating pattern maintained for one week was able to improve metabolic control of diabetic patients by lowering fasting plasma glucose. This metabolic control may be related to down-regulation of zinc-related transcripts from PBMCs, as TNFα, IL6 and MT1 mRNA.

Olfactory function improves following hemodialysis

Olfactory function has been shown to be affected in chronic kidney disease; however, studies are contradictory and little is known on the effects of dialysis. To resolve these issues we tested olfactory function in 24 healthy controls and in 28 patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis (20 patients) or peritoneal dialysis (the other 8). As assays for olfactory function we measured smell identification, n-butanol and acetic acid thresholds, Kt/V urea, percentage reduced urea, and weights before and after dialysis. Olfactory function was also self-rated by the participants. Compared to healthy controls, predialysis olfactory function was moderately but significantly decreased in the two dialysis groups, with hemodialysis patients being more affected. Patients self-rated olfactory function similar to that of healthy controls, suggesting that patients are unaware of the olfactory decrease. Olfactory function was significantly improved by one hemodialysis session. Neither body mass index, total volume loss, nor any other dialysis parameter correlated with olfactory function or its restitution following hemodialysis. The observed pattern of improvement suggests underlying mixed peripheral and central mechanisms. Thus, olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease is readily reversible by hemodialysis.

Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE i) on zinc metabolism in patients with heart failure

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and furosemide on zinc metabolism by assessing serum zinc and urine levels in hospitalized subjects. We recruited 11 patients with heart failure from the Internal Medicine Department; these patients had been hospitalized less than 72 h before. Heart failure was defined using clinical and radiological signs. Serum zinc concentrations were measured using an air/acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Urine zinc levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data were obtained from the 11 patients and 24 healthy controls matched for age and sex. Results indicate higher urine zinc levels and lower concentrations of zinc in serum in heart failure patients vs matched controls ( p<0.05). This study suggests that treating heart failure patients with ACE inhibitors may result in zinc deficiency.

Zinc Metabolism in Patients with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Objective: Metabolism of zinc was studied by administering radioactive zinc (Zn65), and by performing metabolic balance studies in eight patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and eighteen control subjects.Methods: Retention of radioactive zinc was measured by total body counter, and its urinary and fecal excretion by gamma scintillation counter. Metabolic balance studies were carried out by measuring dietary zinc intake as well as fecal and urinary excretion of zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in this group of patients.Results: These studies revealed a 50% reduction in intestinal absorption of Zn65 in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as compared to alcoholic and non-alcoholic control subjects. In addition, there was a 2 to 4 fold increase (p<0.05) in urinary excretion of zinc in subjects with pancreatic disease. In pancreatic insufficiency, reduced zinc absorption and increased urinary zinc excretion were balanced by lower (p<0.05) endogenous excretion of zinc as evidenced by reduced excretion of Zn65 in feces during the second 4-day period. The mean biological half-life of Zn65 tended to be lower in patients with pancreatic insufficiency as compared to alcoholic control subjects, however the difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion: These observations indicate marked alterations in zinc metabolism in patients with advanced chronic pancreatic disease and provide greater insight into development of zinc deficiency in this group of patients.

Impaired peripheral zinc metabolism in patients with senile dementia of probable Alzheimer's type as shown by low plasma concentrations of thymulin.

Plasma concentrations of a zinc carrier peptide, namely thymulin, were measured according to a bioassay in young donors, healthy elderly, and patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT). Thymulin is a hormone released by thymic epithelial cells and its biological activity on cells of immune system is dependent on the presence of one molecule of zinc bound to the peptide. Plasma from different subjects were fractionated by gel filtration to yield protein-bound thymulin and free thymulin. The biological activity of the peptide was then assessed in the two different fractions. The activity of protein-bound thymulin was higher in young donors than in elderly or SDAT patients, being the lowest in SDAT. Addition of zinc ions to plasma fractions increased the thymulin activity of samples from elderly and SDAT patients to levels observed in young donors. Thymulin activity in free thymulin fractions was lower in the elderly than in the young and was practically undetectable in SDAT patients. The addition of zinc ions normalized the activity of thymulin in these fractions from both the elderly and SDAT patients. These findings confirm the presence of an altered zinc status in the elderly and suggest that an impaired zinc metabolism may be present in SDAT patients.

Zinc metabolism in patients on chronic haemodialysis

Journal Article Zinc metabolism in patients on chronic haemodialysis Get access J. Zazgornik J. Zazgornik General Hospital Linz, II. Department of MedicineKrankenhausstr. 9. 4020 Linz/Austria Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 9, Issue 7, 1994, Page 877, https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/9.7.877a Published: 01 January 1994

Interaction of niacin and zinc metabolism in patients with alcoholic pellagra

The effect of zinc supplementation on the metabolism of tryptophan conversion to niacin was studied in 14 alcoholic patients with pellagra and in 7 male control subjects aged 21-45 y. The pellagrins received chemically defined diets based on crystalline amino acids through an enteral tube for 7 d. Patients were divided into two groups (A and B), both receiving a diet from which tryptophan, Zn, and niacin were excluded. Patients in group B, however, received 220 mg Zn sulfate orally. Upon admission the pellagra patients had low plasma Zn levels and low urinary excretion values of N'methylnicotinamide (N'MN) and N'methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-PYR) in relation to the control subjects (p less than 0.01). During the experimental period there was an increase in plasma Zn levels (p less than 0.005) and in urinary N'MN (p less than 0.05) and 2-PYR (p less than 0.05) excretion in the patients receiving Zn supplementation (group B). These results suggest that Zn interacts with niacin metabolism in alcoholic patients with pellagra through a probable mediation by vitamin B-6.

Zinc Metabolism in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Recent studies have focused attention on the possible role of zinc depletion in the pathogenesis of uremic symptoms such as dysgeusia and impotence. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of zinc deficiency and abnormalities of zinc metabolism in patients with end-stage renal disease. A total of 43 stable chronic hemodialysis patients were screened for evidence of zinc deficiency by measurement of fasting predialysis leukocyte and plasma zinc. The results were compared with those from 30 healthy volunteers. Seventeen of these 43 patients had 65Zn absorption measured, and in 9 the rate of disappearance of 65Zn from the body was also measured. The results were compared with those obtained in 20 healthy controls. The nutritional status of these 17 patients was estimated by global nutritional assessment and calculation of the Quetelet index while 9 of 17 had dietary zinc intake calculated from a diet history. The mean plasma zinc level was lower in the hemodialysis patients (11.7 +/- 2.3 mumol/l vs. 13.3 +/- 2.9 mumol/l in controls; p less than 0.05). The mean leukocyte zinc level was 0.81 +/- 0.27 mumol/g dry weight in dialysis patients and 0.81 +/- 0.22 mumol/g in controls (p greater than 0.2). The mean 65Zn absorption in the patients was 49 +/- 14% and in controls 53 +/- 12% (p greater than 0.2). Mean turnover of body 65Zn was 0.47 +/- 0.11%/day in patients and 0.43 +/- 0.18%/day in controls (p greater than 0.1). The mean 65Zn half-life was 154 +/- 29 days in patients and 187 +/- 75 days in controls (p greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on Copper and Zinc Metabolism in patients with Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome

Studies on Copper and Zinc Metabolism in patients with Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome

Taste, smell and zinc metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure.

Taste and smell acuity, and zinc concentrations in blood, plasma, red blood cells, and hair were determined in male patients with end stage renal disease (n = 7), male (n = 20) and female (n = 6) patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), and male (n = 23) and female (n = 25) control groups. Taste acuity for salt (NaCl), sweet (sucrose), acid (HCl) and bitter (urea) in all 3 patient groups was lower than in the appropriate control group. These differences were significant only for sucrose (male dialysis, p < 0.05), HCl (male uremics not on dialysis, p < 0.01; male dialysis, p < 0.01; and female dialysis, p < 0.05) and urea (male dialysis, p < 0.01). Smell perception was impaired (not significantly) for the male patient groups, but slightly improved (not significantly) for the female patient group. Red blood cell and hair Zn++ concentrations were elevated for the male HD group (p < 0.001). THe plasma zinc concentration was significantly lowered for the male patient groups (p < 0.05). Age showed a negative correlation with pyridine, NaCl, sucrose, and HCl mean detection levels for both male HD patients and control groups. Sensitivity to urea also decreased with age for male HD patient groups, but increased for the male control group. Blood and RBC Zn++ concentrations increased and plasma and hair Zn++ decreased with age for the male HD patients and the male control group. No correlation was observed between Zn++ concentrations and taste and smell mean detection levels.

Zinc metabolism in patients with severe burns

Serum zinc concentration in six patients and urinary zinc excretion in four patients with major burns were recorded daily for 5–18 days during the early postburn period. Hypozincaemia was observed initially in all the patients. The four patients examined had hyperzincuria of varying severity. The urinary zinc excretions varied in parallel with the urinary potassium and magnesium excretions. It is suggested that the zincuria was due to excretion of material from damaged cells.

Zinc metabolism in patients with severe burns.

Serum zinc concentration in six patients and urinary zinc excretion in four patients with major burns were recorded daily for 5–18 days during the early postburn period. Hypozincaemia was observed initially in all the patients. The four patients examined had hyperzincuria of varying severity. The urinary zinc excretions varied in parallel with the urinary potassium and magnesium excretions. It is suggested that the zincuria was due to excretion of material from damaged cells.