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65 Zinc absorption in patients suffering from acrodermatitis enteropathica and in normal adults assessed by whole‐body counting technique
Author(s) -
WEISMANN KAARE,
HOE STEEN,
KNUDSEN LONE,
SØRENSEN SVEN SØLVSTEN
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1979.tb15103.x
Subject(s) - acrodermatitis enteropathica , medicine , acrodermatitis , dermatology , absorption (acoustics) , pediatrics , pathology , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , materials science , micronutrient , alternative medicine , composite material
SUMMARY 65 Zinc absorption was studied in five acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) patients and in eight normal adults by means of a whole‐body counting assay. The absorption was calculated from retention values recorded in the time interval 8—30 days after oral administration of the isotope. Two AE patients (7 and 13 years old) had a low absorption, 3·3 and 1·8% respectively, corroborating their high need for additional elemental zinc (about 2 mg/kg/day). Three adult AE patients, all in their twenties, had a considerably lower need for extra zinc (about 0·2 mg/kg/day). Their zinc absorption ranged from 28 to 36% (mean 34%). In the controls the range was 27.65% (mean 43%). Turnover of retained 65 Zn from day 8.30 was about 0·7% in the patient as well as in the control groups. Oral zinc therapy was withdrawn prior to the study. During the zinc‐free period (3–7) a marked decrease in serum zinc and serum alkaline phosphatase values was noted in the two children with AE and they showed clinical evidence of zinc deficiency (angular stomatitis, scaling around finger nails, and irritability). None of the adult patients showed such evidence of impending zinc deficiency. One complained of exacerbation of facial acne, and another of pain in her feet. All symptoms disappeared promptly when oral zinc therapy was resumed.