Oral zinc supplementation improves hepatic encephalopathy. Results of a randomised controlled trial.
22 cirrhotic patients with chronic encephalopathy were given oral zinc supplementation or placebo in a double-blind randomised trial. In the group which received zinc acetate 600 mg a day for 7 days, serum zinc had been restored to normal by day 8. On day 8 hepatic encephalopathy, as assessed by a trailmaking test, was improved in the supplemented group but not in the placebo group. There was also a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen in the supplemented group. Short-term oral zinc supplementation probably improved hepatic encephalopathy by correcting the zinc deficiency that compromises conversion of ammonia to urea. The duration of this improvement requires further investigation.
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014145:Trail Making Test; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D000085:Acetates; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D019342:Acetic Acid