Zinc profiles in rheumatoid arthritis.

Evidence has accumulated which suggests that zinc may play an important role in immune function and inflammation. In this study we examined the zinc status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, other rheumatic diseases and healthy controls. Results indicate that serum and plasma zinc levels are decreased significantly in patients with RA. Reduced zinc values may be due to decreased albumin-bound and micromolecular protein-bound zinc.