Zinc deficiency in Crohn's disease.

Zinc nutriture has been studies in 30 patients with Crohn's disease using plasma zinc, hair zinc, and taste acuity as indices. Significant reductions in plasma zinc concentrations and taste acuity were seen in the patient groups as compared with normal controls. Hair zinc content was also generally low with several deficient values encountered among the Crohn's patients. A highly significant correlation between plasma zinc and albumin suggests a possible role of plasma-binding alterations in the depressed plasma zinc levels of patients with Crohn's disease patients and a potential influence on growth and healing in this disease must be considered.