ZINC-SULFATE SUPPLEMENTATION CORRECTS ABNORMAL ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE LONG-CHAIN FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH CROHNS-DISEASE

Patients with Crohn's disease may become zinc-deficient and, in such p atients, an altered metabolism of radiolabelled long-chain fatty acids has been reported. We have investigated the possible reversal by zinc supplementation of altered long-chain fatty acid profiles of red cell s in Crohn's disease. Twenty patients with long-standing Crohn's disea se in clinical remission received 200 mg of zinc sulphate daily for 6 weeks. Phospholipid fatty acid profiles of washed red cells were analy sed before and after zinc treatment and compared to those of 20 unsupp lemented healthy controls. Plasma zinc levels in Crohn's were 72 +/- 8 mug/dL before zinc treatment and increased to 114 +/- 10 mug/dl after the therapy. Prior to zinc supplementation, the percentage of palmiti c, stearic and oleic acids was significantly higher in Crohn's disease , while linoleic, arachidonic and n-3 fatty acids were reduced in Croh n's disease compared to healthy controls. Zinc supplementation abolish ed these pre-treatment differences in red-cell long-chain fatty acid p rofiles but did not affect plasma fatty acid values. Further studies a re needed to clarify whether these fatty acid changes can be related t o the clinical course of the disease.