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Zinc Deficiency in Surgical Patients: A Clinical Study
Author(s) -
Fawaz Fawzi
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607185009003364
Subject(s) - hypoalbuminemia , zinc , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , medicine , anemia , malnutrition , diarrhea , parenteral nutrition , gastroenterology , micronutrient , surgery , pathology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Four stressed surgical patients who had different diseases are presented. They had dermatitis associated with low serum zinc levels but were not on total parenteral nutrition. The range of serum zinc varied between 25 and 56 μ/dl when first seen. All but one had hypoalbuminemia and anemia; one patient had diarrhea. When measured, other microelements were normal. These patients were thought to have zinc deficiency and all their symptoms responded favorably to oral zinc and nutritional support. A highlight of previous reported cases of zinc deficiency is presented along with a brief review of the subject. Acute stress including major operations will decrease the serum zinc level temporarily. Zinc deficiency may be the result of chronic zinc depletion caused by other conditions. Chronic leg ulcers are associated with low serum zinc levels and might precipitate zinc selectively. A zinc supplement will help in the healing of these ulcers and wounds in general. The possibility of an interrelationship of zinc and other microelements is raised but is not clear. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9:364–369, 1985)