The objective of the present study was to assess
zinc nutritional status in alcoholic patients with
pellagra using plasma, hair, urine and nail
zinc levels, as well as the
zinc tolerance test. The study was conducted on 81 patients, 73 males and eight females.
Zinc parameters were compared with those of 84 individuals with no apparent disease aged 23-45 years. Plasma
zinc levels were lower in patients with
pellagra than in the controls (P < 0.01). The results of the
zinc tolerance test showed that: (1) basal
zinc levels were 69.7 +/- 16.8 micrograms/100 ml in pellagrins and 82.3 +/- 34.0 micrograms/100 ml in the controls (P < 0.01); (2) after 1 h the increase in plasma levels was similar in the pellagrin and control groups; (3) during the second hour the increase was more marked in the controls (P < 0.01), and the same was observed during the third and fourth hours (P < 0.05). Urinary
zinc excretion (mg/24 h) was higher in pellagrins (P < 0.01).
Zinc concentration in hair and toenails did not differ between pellagrins and controls. We conclude that pellagrins present
zinc deficiency as demonstrated by plasma and urine
zinc levels and by their abnormal response to the
zinc tolerance test. We suggest that hair and nail
zinc levels should not be used to assess
zinc nutritional status in patients with
pellagra.