| Theme |
Nutrition Therapy for Liver Diseases |
| Title |
Clinical Significance of Zinc Supplementation for Patients with Type C Hepatitis Related Cirrhosis |
| Author |
Mitsuhiko Moriyama |
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hiroshi Matsumura |
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Naohide Tanaka |
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Yasuyuki Arakawa |
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Zinc concentrations in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and RNA-positive chronic liver disease were evaluated. A correlation was then made with the clinical profiles of patients. The median concentration of zinc in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) was statistically lower than that in healthy control subjects or chronic hepatitis (CH) patients. A significant correlation was observed between the zinc concentrations and prothrombin time and albumin concentrations. Zinc concentrations decreased with the development of Child-Pugh stage. Zinc supplementation therapy reduced AST and ALT levels during as well as after therapy in patients with LC. Zinc supplementation therapy group exhibited significantly reduced platelet counts than the control group. It was concluded that serum concentrations of zinc influenced clinical profiles in patients with LC, and that zinc supplementation improved long term outcomes in LC patients. |