J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 83(2): 163-174, 1982

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Original article

ZINC METABOLISM AND DEFICIENCY IN TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION

In 99 patients receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), studies have been carried out as to zinc levels in plasma, erythrocyte and urine, while careful observation has been made not to overlook any symptoms of zinc deficiency. In 11 patients who had malabsorption or maldigestion primarily, zinc deficient symtoms developed during the course of TPN. In deficient group there was a significant decrease in plasma zinc level, while a fairly but not significant decrease in urinary zinc level and no remarkable changes in erythrocyte zinc level were observed. In the patients by whom plasma zinc level was maintained over 50μg/dl, no signs of deficiency was noted, but the incidence of zinc deficiency was 5/10 (50%) in those showing less than 50μg/dl of plasma zinc level, and zinc deficiency was observed in all of 3 patients showing the plasma zinc level less than 30μg/dl. Zinc deficiency was observed in the patients with digestive tract disease, especially in inflammatory bowel disease.
In such patients, plasma zinc level was low before TPN was administered. By administration of 60 μmol zinc daily for adult patients in TPN solutions, plasma zinc level was maintained almost within normal range and no zinc deficiency was observed during the course of TPN.

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