Plasma zinc status in critically ill patients with chronic liver disease

Abstract

Zinc is an essential trace element in the body and has crucial roles in numerous enzymatic and metabolic processes, including gene transcription, immunoregulation, cellular restoration and protein synthesis (1). The liver plays an important role in zinc homeostasis. Zinc levels are abnormally decreased in chronic liver disease (CLD) and may lead to metabolic complications such as hepatic encephalopathy (2). Hypozincaemia is observed in the critically ill and is associated with increased mortality and illness severity scores (3). Zinc deficiency in CLD patients may increase their susceptibility to endotoxaemia by increasing intestinal barrier permeability via oxidative Original Article