Incidence of Low Serum Zinc in Noncirrhotic Patients

Abstract

Summary

A survey of serum zinc concentration in 225 hospitalized patients indicated that 68% of cirrhotics and 21% of other patients had zinc levels 3 standard deviations below the normal mean. Magnesium and calcium were also lower in the serum of cirrhotics with low zinc but appeared independent of zinc concentration in the other groups. Urinary excretion of zinc and magnesium were comparatively great in cirrhotics despite decreased serum concentration. A group of patients with low serum zinc of uncertain etiology had diminished zinc excretion. Despite the presumed stability of protein binding of zinc, the occurrence of low serum levels of zinc, calcium, and magnesium in the cirrhotic patients with abnormally low serum albumin and α₂ globulin suggests that the decreased serum content is related to diminished serum proteins.