The prevalence and risk factors associated with zinc deficiency after pancreatic surgery.

Purpose: To clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical implications associated with zinc deficiency in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery.

Methods: The serum zinc levels were measured in 329 patients post-pancreatic surgery between January and April 2021. The postoperative serum zinc levels and clinicopathological variables were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The median serum zinc level was 73 µg/dL (33-218). Zinc deficiency (zinc level < 60 µg/dL) was observed in 52 patients (16%). A total of 329 patients were classified into zinc-deficient (n = 52) and non-deficient (zinc ≥ 60 µg/dL, n = 277) groups. A univariate analysis revealed significant differences in sex, postoperative body mass index, serum albumin, total cholesterol, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), HbA1c levels, diabetes, surgical procedures, and operative blood loss. According to a multivariate analysis, male sex [odds ratio (OR) 3.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.67-8.20; p = 0.001], postoperative serum albumin levels < 3.9 g/dL (OR 6.39; 95% CI 3.30-12.37; p < 0.001), postoperative serum AST ≥ 51 U/L (OR, 4.6; 95% CI 0.07-0.29; p < 0.001), and total pancreatectomy (OR 3.68; 95% CI 1.37-9.85; p = 0.009) were found to be independent predictors of zinc deficiency after pancreatic surgery.

Conclusions: Zinc deficiency frequently occurs in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. Lower postoperative zinc levels could be linked to sex, the serum albumin and AST levels, and surgery type.