Effects of oral administration of zinc and diiodohydroxyquinolein on plasma zinc levels of uremic patients.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Zinc in this randomized controlled trial publication.

In this study Zn supplementation and a Zn-chelating drug, diiodohydroxyquinolein (DQ), were used to assess the effects of Zn intake and Zn transporters on Zn plasma levels in patients with chronic renal failure.

Why It Was Studied

Patients with chronic renal failure often have low plasma zinc (Zn) levels.

Some factors that may account for abnormal Zn metabolism in these patients are low dietary Zn intake, a specific Zn transport defect, or absence of intestinal Zn ligand.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 20 patients were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and placebo-controlled.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Zinc group and the comparison group should start out alike.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Zinc could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

Patients with chronic renal failure often have low plasma zinc (Zn) levels.

Some factors that may account for abnormal Zn metabolism in these patients are low dietary Zn intake, a specific Zn transport defect, or absence of intestinal Zn ligand.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Blood Proteins, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine, Hemoglobins, Iodoquinol, Uremia and Zinc.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Zinc in 20 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1995 (Nephron), a journal based in Switzerland.

More context: the related Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc library page, all human trials.