Clinical trials assessing zinc supplementation in liver diseases do not show benefits in terms of clinical improvement or disease halting .
There are possible benefits of zinc supplementation on hepatic encephalopathy , however , this is based on limited evidence .
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Zinc deficiency has been associated with poor prognosis in chronic liver disease .
This systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to evaluate the role of zinc supplementation in the management of chronic liver diseases .
The effect of zinc supplementation on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with interferon and ribavirin.
OBJECTIVES 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 . DESIGN AND METHODS Forty subjects were r and omly 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 sample s 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
Clinical trials assessing zinc supplementation in liver diseases do not show benefits in terms of clinical improvement or disease halting .
There are possible benefits of zinc supplementation on hepatic encephalopathy , however , this is based on limited evidence .
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Zinc deficiency has been associated with poor prognosis in chronic liver disease .
This systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to evaluate the role of zinc supplementation in the management of chronic liver diseases .