TLDR Low zinc levels in chronic liver disease patients are linked to more severe symptoms like taste issues and skin problems, and zinc supplements might help.
In 2020, a study involving 578 patients with chronic liver disease found a significant correlation between low serum zinc levels and the severity of subjective symptoms. The symptoms included taste disorder, aphthous stomatitis, dermatitis, alopecia, and anorexia. As serum zinc levels decreased, the prevalence of these symptoms increased, with dermatitis being the most prevalent at 13.3%. The study also found that lower serum zinc levels were associated with older age, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, being female was independently associated with the emergence of aphthous stomatitis and alopecia, both with a prevalence of 8.0%. The study suggested that zinc supplementation could potentially alleviate these symptoms in patients with chronic liver disease.
73 citations,
January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology” People with hair loss, especially those with certain types, have lower zinc levels, and zinc supplements might help.
65 citations,
January 2009 in “Annals of Dermatology” Zinc supplements increased zinc levels in some hair loss patients but didn't significantly improve hair growth.
35 citations,
January 2006 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Zinc can help with some skin problems, but its effectiveness varies depending on the condition.
60 citations,
October 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Zinc can both inhibit and stimulate mouse hair growth, and might help recover hair after chemotherapy.
666 citations,
September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Common baldness, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormones called androgens.
53 citations,
October 1978 in “Archives of dermatology” Zinc supplements can resolve skin issues caused by zinc deficiency.
3 citations,
November 2022 in “Frontiers in oncology” Low zinc levels may be linked to the return of gynecologic cancers.
75 citations,
May 2013 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Zinc deficiency in children can cause skin issues and can be serious if not diagnosed and treated properly.
January 2009 in “Springer eBooks” The document concludes that managing skin conditions during pregnancy is important and requires specialized care.
24 citations,
June 2010 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Taking too many vitamin and mineral supplements can cause serious health problems.
