EFFECT OF ZINC THERAPY ON NATURAL-KILLER-CELL ACTIVITY IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Disturbances in zinc metabolism have been documented in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study we evaluated the effect of i n vivo treatment with zinc on the in vitro natural killer cell activit y in thirteen inflammatory bowel disease patients, with stable disease and mild-moderate disease activity, in a double-blind randomized cros s-over trial. The results of our study show a long-lasting effect of i n vivo zinc administration, which decreased peripheral blood natural k iller cell activity in inflammatory bowel disease.