title: Low plasma zinc concentrations in pediatric patients with cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine plasma zinc concentrations in children and adolescents with cirrhosis and to investigate the association between these results and dietary zinc intake, anthropometric data, and severity of liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma zinc concentration was assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 30 children and adolescents with cirrhosis (105.0+/-60.0 months; 22 girls) and 27 without liver disease (122.3+/-47.3 months, 14 girls). Dietary zinc data were evaluated by 3-day food intake records. Anthropometry measures included height, weight, skinfold thickness, brachial circumference, and upper arm muscle size. Severity of liver disease was classified according to the Child-Pugh, MELD, and PELD criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (+/- standard deviation) plasma zinc concentrations in control subjects and patients were 105.69+/-19.46 and 75.44+/-24.45 microg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). No associations were found between anthropometric measures, dietary zinc intake, and plasma zinc concentration. There was statistical difference related to plasma zinc concentrations between Child-Pugh B + C patients and control subjects (p < 0.001), and concerning PELD, between patients below the cutoff score of 15 and those above (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of hypozincemia was 43% for patients with cirrhosis. Although low plasma zinc concentration was associated with more severe liver disease, it was present even in some Child-Pugh A patients. Therefore, zinc supplementation should be considered for cirrhotic children.
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. schneiderac@gmail.com
authors: Ana C R
authors: AC
authors: Schneider
authors: Raquel B
authors: RB
authors: Pinto
authors: Pedro E
authors: PE
authors: Fröehlich
authors: Thais O
authors: TO
authors: Hammes
authors: Themis R da
authors: TR
authors: Silveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc