scholarly journals Serum zinc level: a prognostic marker for severe pneumonia in children

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
I. Abhiram ◽  
Suresh Panchanathan ◽  
Rajaguru Ganesan ◽  
Antony Jenifer

Background: Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of under 5 mortality among children in developing countries. Zinc deficiency is postulated as cause of severe pneumonia, but evidences shows conflicting results on whether serum zinc levels predicts the severity of pneumonia. So prospective study was undertaken to study the relationship between serum zinc levels and severity of pneumonia in children with community acquired pneumonia.Methods: Fifty cases of pneumonia (group 1) and 50 cases of severe pneumonia (group 2) according to WHO classification were enrolled into the study. Demography, anthropometry and immunization status were recorded. A single zinc measurement was performed for all the patients within 24 hours of admission. The severity, clinical course including recovery to discharge was compared between two groups with respect to their serum zinc levels.Results: Mean (±SD) age group of the study population was 22 months±16.05 and 21.88 months±15.97 months in boys and girls respectively. Pneumonia was high in girls (59%) and children between 2 to <12 months had higher (36%) infection rate. Mean zinc level in pneumonia and severe pneumonia group were 68.69µg/dl±28.77 and 68.08µg/dl±27.55 respectively. There was no difference in the nutritional status (weight for height and height for age) of the study group. Serum Zn level was low in 56 % and 52% of pneumonia and severe pneumonia group respectively. Comparison of serum zinc levels between the ARTI groups did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.430). However, the duration of recovery is earlier than 1 week in pneumonia cases when compared to severe pneumonia patients (p<0.001, OR 1.375).Conclusions: Normal zinc levels was associated with early recovery in simple pneumonia patient, so study of serum zinc levels in severe pneumonia patients has prognostic value. 

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 588
Author(s):  
Madhubalan T. ◽  
Chidambaranathan S. ◽  
Ramamoorthy R.

Background: A seizure is a paroxysmal time-limited change in motor activity and or behavior that results from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are common in the pediatric age group and occur in approximately 10% of children. Most seizures in children are provoked by somatic disorders originating outside the brain such as high fever, infection, syncope, head trauma, hypoxia, or toxins. To determine whether children with febrile convulsion have decreased serum zinc level when compared to normal children and children with fever without convulsions.Methods: The study included children admitted with bronchiolitis in between during the period of September 2018 to January 2019 at Department of Pediatrics, Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital. It is a case-control study. A sample size of 50 was selected for each group Totally 3 Groups, 1. Children with febrile convulsions,2. Children with fever without convulsions, 3. Normal Children.Results: The mean serum zinc level in children with febrile convulsions was 42.9 mcg/dl. The serum zinc level in children with fever and normal children was 70 mcg/dl and 71 mcg/dl respectively. On comparing the serum zinc level among the three groups statistical significance was obtained between children with febrile convulsions and the other two groups namely normal children and children with fever alone. Thus, decreased serum zinc level is a significant predisposing factor for febrile convulsions. By using Posthoc Multiple comparisons test we came to know that the Fever convulsion group is significantly different from fever and normal group. There is no significant difference between fever and normal group.Conclusions: This study shows that serum zinc levels are decreased in children with febrile convulsions, thus indicating that zinc deprivation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jee Wook Kim ◽  
Min Soo Byun ◽  
Dahyun Yi ◽  
Jun Ho Lee ◽  
Min Jung Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Despite the known associations between zinc levels and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and related cognitive impairment, the underlying neuropathological links remain poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that serum zinc level is associated with cerebral beta-amyloid protein (Ab) deposition. Additionally, we explored associations between serum zinc levels and other AD pathologies [i.e., tau deposition and AD-signature cerebral glucose metabolism (AD-CM)] and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), which are measures of cerebrovascular injury. Methods: A total of 241 cognitively normal older adults between 55 and 90 years of age were enrolled. All the participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessments, serum zinc level measurement, and multimodal brain imaging, including Pittsburgh compound B-positron emission tomography (PET), AV-1451 PET, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, and magnetic resonance imaging. Zinc levels were stratified into three categories: < 80 µg/dL (low), 80 to 90 µg/dL (medium), and > 90 µg/dL (high). Results: A low serum zinc level was significantly associated with increased Ab retention. In addition, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE4) status moderated the association: the relationship between low zinc level and Ab retention was significant only in APOE4 carriers. Although a low zinc level appeared to reduce AD-CM, the relationship became insignificant on sensitivity analysis including only individuals with no nutritional deficiency. The serum zinc level was associated with neither tau deposition nor the WMH volume. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that decreased serum zinc levels are associated with elevation of brain amyloid deposition. In terms of AD prevention, more attention needs to be paid to the role of zinc.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-44
Author(s):  
Itir Yegenaga ◽  
Zeki Aydin

AbstractIntroduction.Anemia is a complication of chronic renal failure observed in patients on hemodialysis (HD) affecting morbidity and mortality of these patients. It is associated with erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency and can be treated by human recombinant erythropoietin (hrEPO). Iron deficiency has been reported as the first line cause for inadequate response to this treatment. Zinc deficiency in hemodialysis (HD) patients was previously reported and the relationship between iron and zinc deficiencies has been known for years. The aim of this study was to find out the relationship between serum zinc level, anemia and rhEPO consuming in HD patients.Methods.A total of 69 HD patients and 34 healthy individuals were included in the study. Serum zinc levels, clinical, hematologic, biochemical parameters and rhEPO doses were evaluated.Results.Serum zinc levels were found to be lower in HD patients in comparison to those in the control group (29.92±12.94, 44.82±27.69μg/dL, respectively) (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between serum zinc and hemoglobin (Hb) in the control group (R2=0.06). In HD patients who needed less then 8000U/week rhEPO, Hb levels (p<0.05) and serum zinc levels were higher. Serum zinc and Hb levels were found to be higher in patients who were under HD treatment for more than 12 months (10.05±1.06 vs 10.69±1.29; p=0.022 and 26.96±13.29 vs 30.88±12.61; p=0.178).Conclusions.HD patients who needed lower dose of EPO had higher serum zinc levels. Although the difference was not statistically significant, these results provide evidence that serum zinc level should be taken into consideration especially in HD patients resistant to EPO therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jee Wook Kim ◽  
Min Soo Byun ◽  
Dahyun Yi ◽  
Jun Ho Lee ◽  
Min Jung Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite the known associations between zinc levels and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and related cognitive impairment, the underlying neuropathological links remain poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that serum zinc level is associated with cerebral beta-amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition. Additionally, we explored associations between serum zinc levels and other AD pathologies [i.e., tau deposition and AD-signature cerebral glucose metabolism (AD-CM)] and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), which are measures of cerebrovascular injury. Methods A total of 241 cognitively normal older adults between 55 and 90 years of age were enrolled. All the participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessments, serum zinc level measurement, and multimodal brain imaging, including Pittsburgh compound B-positron emission tomography (PET), AV-1451 PET, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, and magnetic resonance imaging. Zinc levels were stratified into three categories: < 80 μg/dL (low), 80 to 90 μg/dL (medium), and > 90 μg/dL (high). Results A low serum zinc level was significantly associated with increased Aβ retention. In addition, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE4) status moderated the association: the relationship between low zinc level and Aβ retention was significant only in APOE4 carriers. Although a low zinc level appeared to reduce AD-CM, the relationship became insignificant on sensitivity analysis including only individuals with no nutritional deficiency. The serum zinc level was associated with neither tau deposition nor the WMH volume. Conclusions Our findings suggest that decreased serum zinc levels are associated with elevation of brain amyloid deposition. In terms of AD prevention, more attention needs to be paid to the role of zinc.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2077
Author(s):  
Jiun-Chi Huang ◽  
Ya-Chin Huang ◽  
Pei-Yu Wu ◽  
Wen-Hsien Lee ◽  
Yi-Chun Tsai ◽  
...  

Diastolic dysfunction is an emerging challenge among hemodialysis (HD) patients, and the associations between serum zinc with echocardiographic parameters and diastolic function remain uncertain. A total of 185 maintenance HD patients were stratified by the tertiles of serum zinc level to compare their clinical characteristics and echocardiography. Correlations of serum zinc levels with echocardiographic parameters were examined using Pearson’s analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the determinants of E/e’ ratio >15 and left atrial volume index (LAVI) > 34 mL/m2, both indicators of diastolic dysfunction. Patients belonging to the first tertile of serum zinc level had a significantly higher E/e’ ratio and LAVI. Serum zinc levels were negatively correlated with E (r = −0.204, p = 0.005), E/e’ ratio (r = −0.217, p = 0.003), and LAVI (r = −0.197, p = 0.007). In a multivariate analysis, older age, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and lower serum zinc levels (OR = 0.974, 95% CI = 0.950–0.999, p = 0.039) were significantly associated with E/e’ ratio >15. Furthermore, diabetes and lower serum zinc levels (OR = 0.978, 95% CI = 0.958–0.999, p = 0.041) were significantly associated with LAVI >34 mL/m2. Reduced serum zinc level was significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction among HD patients. Further prospective studies are warranted to investigate whether zinc supplementation can attenuate cardiac dysfunction in maintenance HD patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Matsui ◽  
Tomonaga Ameku ◽  
Daisuke Takada ◽  
Shinji Ono

Abstract Background Hypozincemia contributes to phosphate-induced vascular calcification in model animals of renal failure, but the association between hypozincemia and aortic stenosis (AS) prevalence in patients with end-stage kidney disease remains unreported in clinical settings. Methods To investigate the association between hypozincemia and AS prevalence in patients undergoing hemodialysis, we designed a single-center cross-sectional study. Our outcome “AS” was defined as prevalence of moderate or severe AS or surgical history for AS. Depending on serum zinc levels, we divided patients undergoing hemodialysis into deciles. The association between hypozincemia and AS prevalence was analyzed via logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, dialysis vintage, diabetes history, serum albumin, and history of taking calcium-containing phosphate binder. Results Ninety-three patients undergoing hemodialysis were eligible. The mean serum zinc level was 61.3 ± 13.9 μg/dL. Twelve patients who belonged to 1st decile had serum zinc levels ≤ 48 μg/dL. Of these twelve patients, six patients (50 %) had AS. On the other hand, of eighty one patients who belonged to 2nd–10th deciles (serum zinc levels > 48 μg/dL), thirteen patients (16 %) had AS. Hypozincemia (serum zinc levels ≤ 48 μg/dL) was associated with AS prevalence (P = 0.038; odds ratio 4.43; 95% confidence interval 1.09–18.0). Conclusions AS was more prevalent in patients undergoing hemodialysis with severe hypozincemia in our cross-sectional study, although interventional studies are required to elucidate the benefit of zinc supplementation for AS progression.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 272-280
Author(s):  
S. A. Ibrahim ◽  
A. Abdel Maksoud ◽  
M. F. Nassar

We looked at the relationship between linear growth retardation and deficiencies of certain nutrients in Egyptian children. A group of 107 stunted children aged between 10 and 18 years were subjected to history-taking, physical examination and laboratory investigations. Selected cases were referred to radiology for assessment of bone age. Thirty-nine children were enrolled as controls. Serum haemoglobin, alpha-tocopherol, retinol and magnesium levels were significantly decreased in stunted children compared with the controls. Serum zinc levels were also lower in the stunted group but not significantly so. We conclude that several nutrient deficiencies occur simultaneously in stunted children and all of them may be responsible for stunting.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hironobu Hata ◽  
Yojiro Ota ◽  
Katsuhiko Uesaka ◽  
Yutaka Yamazaki ◽  
Tsubasa Murata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Zinc is mainly absorbed in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which are removed during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Little is known about the adverse oral events and skin disorders caused by zinc deficiency after PD. Herein, we reviewed studies regarding the development of zinc deficiency after PD and presented the case of a patient with zinc deficiency after PD, who required home intravenous zinc replacement.Case presentation: A 73-year-old woman with glossitis, taste disorder, and acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption on her fingers presented to the Division of Dentistry and Oral Surgery 69 days after PD. Her serum zinc level markedly decreased to 30 μg/dL. Oral zinc administration was inadequate to treat hypozincemia after PD; therefore, multi-trace elements were injected intravenously under readmission. Her serum zinc levels recovered, and the lesions gradually improved. Furthermore, a central venous port was implanted to maintain normal serum zinc levels, and she continued self-injecting zinc at home.Conclusion: Zinc deficiency after PD rarely occurs. The clinical oncologist community, including dentists responsible for the oral care of cancer patients, should be aware of dysgeusia associated with zinc deficiency after cancer surgery, as well as that induced by chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1083-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Yoshida ◽  
Tatsuhiko Urakami ◽  
Remi Kuwabara ◽  
Ichiro Morioka

Abstract Background and methods We investigated the frequency of zinc deficiency in Japanese children with idiopathic short stature, and evaluated whether serum zinc levels correlated with background factors, including age and standard deviation scores (SDSs) for height and serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels. The study subjects consisted of 89 Japanese children. Results The mean serum zinc level was 79 ± 12 (49–108) μg/dL. Of all the children, 48.3% had a low zinc level, in the 60–80 μg/dL range, and 6.7% had zinc deficiency with a zinc level below 60 μg/dL. The majority with a low zinc level and zinc deficiency were asymptomatic other than for short stature. We found no significant correlations of serum zinc with age, or the SDSs for height and serum IGF-1 levels, in either the entire subject population or those with a zinc level below 80 μg/dL. Conclusions We found a low zinc level to be common in Japanese children with idiopathic short stature, whereas actual zinc deficiency was rare. However, other as yet unknown mechanisms not associated with the growth hormone (GH)-IGF-1 axis could be involved in growth retardation in idiopathic short stature.


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