EFFECT OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS - A DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED STUDY

It has been suggested that some clinical and biological abnormalities observed in alcoholic cirrhotic patients may, at least in part, result from a zinc deficiency. The aim of the present double blind randomize d study was to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on zinc depen dant parameters in this population. Cirrhotic patients with active alc oholism were randomly selected to receive either zinc sulfate (600 mg) or placebo for two months; the two groups were comparable according t o the severity of the cirrhosis, the presence of an histologically pro ven alcoholic hepatitis and zinc status. Enzyme activity (alkaline pho sphatase, 5' nucleotidase, ornithylcarbamyl-transferase), serum level of zinc, copper, selenium and vitamin E, blood testosterone and dihydr otestosterone in male patients cellular immunity all known to be zinc dependant and disturbed in cirrhotic patients, were studied before and after the treatment. At the end of the study, only zincemia was signi ficantly raised in the group receiving zinc supplementation. The subgr oup of alcoholic cirrhotic patients who could get benefit of zinc supp lementation is not yet determined.