The effect of zinc supplementation on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with interferon and ribavirin.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on serum zinc and copper levels, and the severity of adverse reactions and virologic responses in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing interferon (IFN)/ribavirin therapy.


METHODS
Forty subjects were randomly assigned to receive IFN-alpha-2a/ribavirin with or without zinc gluconate for 24 weeks, then a period of 6 months for follow-up. Twenty healthy controls were also enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected at different time points during therapy and at 6 months after the completion of therapy and were analyzed for zinc and copper levels. The adverse reactions and the virologic responses were also examined accordingly.


RESULTS
Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy controls and further depressed by IFN/ribavirin treatment. However, serum zinc levels in patients were remediable by zinc supplements. No apparent difference was seen in virologic responses between subjects with or without zinc supplements, but certain adverse side effects associated with the zinc therapy were significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Zinc supplementation may be a complementary therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients to increase the tolerance to IFN-alpha-2a and ribavirin.
Ko
Wang-Sheng
WS
Department of Food and Nutrition, Hung Kuang University, Taichung 433, Taiwan, Republic of China. eillyguo@sunrise.hk.edu.tw
Guo
Chih-Hung
CH
Hsu
Guoo-Shyng W
GS
Chiou
Ya-Ling
YL
Yeh
Maw-Sheng
MS
Yaun
Shyu-Rong
SR
D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005942:Gluconates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005942:Gluconates; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D015032:Zinc; C030691:gluconic acid