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 .
Management of hepatic encephalopathy with oral zinc supplementation: a long-term treatment.
OBJECTIVES The effect of long-term oral zinc supplementation , in addition to st and ard therapy ( protein-restricted diet and lactulose ) on recurrent hepatic encephalopathy , was assessed in a double-blind study . METHODS Ninety cirrhotic patients with stable recurrent hepatic encephalopathy , after following a one month period of st and ard therapy , were r and omized to receive oral zinc acetate supplementation ( 600 mg/day ) in addition to st and ard therapy or to continue only st and ard therapy ( a diet containing 0.8 g/kg/day of protein and 90 g/day of lactulose ) for six months . Psychometric tests , NCT ( number correction test ) and PSE ( portal-systemic encephalopathy ) Index , were used to evaluate the degree of hepatic encephalopathy , both at the beginning and the end of each treatment period . RESULTS Oral zinc supplementation in addition to st and ard therapy was able to normalize serum zinc levels .  The patients who never showed clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy during the trial were 88.6 % in zinc-group and 86 % in only st and ard therapy group . Psychometric tests , NCT and PSE Index , were statistically better than basal values either in zinc-group or in only st and ard therapy group . CONCLUSIONS Final values of psychometric tests were better in zinc-group than only st and ard therapy group but the differences were not statistically significant
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 .