TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1978//
TI  - Zinc deficiency: a cause of abnormal dark adaptation in cirrhotics
JO  - American journal of clinical nutrition
A1  - Morrison, S. A.
A1  - Russell, R. M.
A1  - Carney, E. A.
A1  - Oaks, E. V.
SP  - 276
EP  - 281
VL  - 31
IS  - 2
N2  - Six stable alcoholic cirrhotics with serum zinc less than 70 microgram/100 ml had abnormal dark adaptation responses (mean dark adapted final threshold 3.2 +/- 0.6 versus 2.1 +/- 0.2 log lux in 21 age matched controls, P less than 0.01). Serum vitamin A ranged from 15 to 37 microgram/100 ml. Zinc sulfate (220 mg/day) was fed to three patients for 1 to 2 weeks and dark adapted final thresholds fell 0.9, 0.4, and 1.2 log lux without concurrent rises in serum vitamin A. Two patients were treated initially with oral vitamin A (10,000 IU/day) for 2 to 4 weeks, but their final thresholds fell to normal (2.1, 2.2 log lux) only after the addition of zinc for 1 to 2 weeks. The sixth patient, treated with vitamin A and zinc together, attained a normal final threshold in 2 weeks. The improvement in dark adaptation by zinc may be due to enhanced activity of previously depressed retinol dehydrogenase.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0002-9165
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -