Abstract
Plasma zinc levels have been variably reported as low or normal in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Zinc is a co-factor for more than 60 enzymes including the Δ6 desaturase enzyme, and may be required for the mobilization and transport of vitamin A, reported to be low in patients with CF. Zinc is also important in immune function. For these reasons, zinc is a potentially important mineral in patients with CF. We measured zinc and vitamin A levels in 25 patients with CF (ages 5-29) and compared them to controls. CF patients have significantly lower plasma zinc, 70.12 ± 2.66 and vitamin A, 30.13 ± 1.51, than do controls (94.11 ± 3.21 and 47.85 ± 4.41, respectively, p<0.001, p<0.001). Plasma zinc but not vitamin A levels corresponded to the degree of pulmonary involvement (normal or mildly affected 78.72 ± 4.34, moderately to severely affected 63.65 ± 1.89, p<0.001), but not to the presence of pancreatic insufficiency. Six patients were supplemented with zinc gluconate for 6 weeks with 3 mg/kg/day. Plasma zinc levels rose signficantly, although there was no obvious change observed in their clinical status. Plasma copper levels, which have a reciprocal relationship with plasma zinc, decreased significantly but remained within the normal range. A longer period of supplementation may be required to bring about a change in clinical status. Previous conflicting reports of zinc status in CF may reflect heterogeneity of pulmonary involvement between groups of patients studied.
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Carver, J., Sherman Barness, J. 1741 CORRELATION OF PLASMA ZINC AND CLINICAL STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS. Pediatr Res 19, 401 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01759
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01759