EVALUATION OF SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN END STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS
Author: G. MURUGAN
Category: Biochemistry
Abstract:
Patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis are potentially at risk of deficiency and toxicity of trace elements in the blood. Trace elements are the essential nutrients of human beings with a gamut of functions. Zinc is known to be essential for all highly proliferating cells in the human body. It is very important to know the zinc status in hemodialysis patients to prevent hypo or hyperzincemia. Serum zinc levels in 50 end stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis were compared with 50 normal subjects. It was found that end stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis had statistically lower serum zinc levels compared to normal subjects. The results include serum zinc (μg /dl) 57.42+ 17.87 vs. 101.48+18.08(Cases vs. Controls). It was determined that the results might be helpful in monitoring zinc status in patients undergoing hemodialysis in terms of insufficiency or excess. The study concludes that there is a deficiency of serum zinc in patients undergoing hemodialysis compared with normal subjects, which suggest supplementation of zinc may be helpful to improve the quality of life in patients undergoing dialysis.
Keywords: Trace elements, zinc, end stage renal disease, hemodialysis.
