title: Zinc absorption in alcoholics using zinc-65.
abstract: Alcoholism is occasionally complicated by zinc deficiency. We have assessed the possibility that malabsorption of zinc may be a potential cause. Using a dual isotope absorption technique the absorption of 65Zn in 18 alcoholic patients was 37% (13 +/- SD) and 56% (10 +/- SD) in a normal control group (p less than 0.001). The mean serum zinc in 55 alcoholic patients was 11.6 mumol/l (3.0 +/- SD) and in 36 normal volunteers the mean serum zinc was 13.6 mumol/l (1.8 +/- SD; p less than 0.001). This study suggests that chronic alcohol abuse will decrease the absorption of zinc and this may contribute towards the zinc deficiency occasionally associated with alcoholism.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D015037:Zinc Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D015037:Zinc Radioisotopes; D015032:Zinc