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Safety and efficacy of zinc sulfate in geriatric patients
Author(s) -
Czerwinski Anthony W.,
Clark Mervin L.,
Serafetinides Eustace A.,
Perrier Celia,
Huber Wolfgang
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1974154436
Subject(s) - placebo , zinc , medicine , diarrhea , senile dementia , gastroenterology , dementia , chemistry , pathology , disease , alternative medicine , organic chemistry
Using a double‐blind design, 30 geriatric patients with the diagnosis of senile dementia were treated with zinc sulfate, 220 mg three times daily, or with an identical‐appearing placebo for 24 weeks. Diarrhea occurred in 6 of 16 zinc‐treated patients and in one of 14 placebo patients. In zinc‐treated patients, plasma zinc concentrations increased during the first 4 weeks of study and thereafter stabilized at approximately 150 µg/dl. Psychometric and behavioral evaluations did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between placebo and zinc‐treated patients. Some behavioral tests did illdicate that zinc‐treated subjects deteriorated less rapidly thall concurrent placebo subjects.