Nutritional status and blood trace elements in cirrhotic patients

Background and Aims: To determine the levels of zinc, copper, iron, albumin and zinc to copper ratio in sera of patients in different stages of cirrhosis and to find possible correlation between trace elements and anthropometrics measurements with liver cirrhosis presence and progression. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was carried out on sixty continuous patients with liver cirrhosis referred to hepatology clinic, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The mean of daily calorie and protein intake was determined by Nutrition III software and compared to recommended dietary allowances (RDA), body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and serum Zn, Cu and Fe levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometery and albumin level of serum was measured by calorimetric method. Results: Among sixty studied patients, 39 were male and 21 were female. 53.8% of male patients were in Child-Pugh class B while 23.8% of female patients were in Child-Pugh class B. The mean energy and protein intake of all patients was lower than RDA values and there was no significant correlation between the mean of protein and energy intake with severity of liver cirrhosis. The serum levels of Zn, Albumin and Zn/Cu ratio in patients with Child-Pugh class B were significantly lower than those with Child-Pugh class A. Conclusions: In general, these results suggested that changes in liver cell pathology compounded by functional impairment may alter the metabolism of trace metals, in particular, zinc.