Zinc Level in Non-Cirrhotic Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis: A Brief Report

Objectives: In this report, it was intended to evaluate the zinc serum level in cirrhotic patients (with or without encephalopathy) and patients with non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods: In the current analytic cross-sectional study, 75 patients were studied including 25 non-cirrhotic patients with chronic liver disease, 25 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 25 cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Then, the serum zinc levels of their blood samples were measured by spectrophotometry. Results: The average of zinc level was significantly lower in those patients who consumed diuretics or those with ascites (P < 0.0001). In addition, the average of zinc level concentration was lower in patients with hepatic encephalopathy than patients without encephalopathy and non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease. Generally, the average of zinc in cirrhotic patients was lower than non-cirrhotic patients and in the group of child A it was higher than child B (P = 0.025) and child C (P = 0.003). Conclusions: In overall, the serum level of zinc was lower in patients with cirrhosis and those who consumed diuretics as compared to non-cirrhotic patients. The reduction of zinc in these patients may be due to less consumption of meat compounds as a rich source of zinc and also the consumption of diuretics that causes increased urinary excretion of the zinc.