Managing Zinc Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients: Balancing and Preventing Deficiencies in Serum Copper and Zinc Levels with and Without HIF-PH Inhibitors.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective observational cohort study without a randomized comparator
PubMed 39683529 · doi:10.3390/nu16234135
What was done
A retrospective longitudinal analysis evaluated 50 hemodialysis patients over five years. Serum copper and zinc concentrations measured every three months were analyzed to evaluate the balance between zinc supplementation, copper deficiency, and the use of HIF-PH inhibitors.
What was found
At baseline, median (IQR) serum copper was 100 (84.25-109) µg/dL and serum zinc was 60.5 (50.5-70) µg/dL, with all unsupplemented patients exhibiting zinc deficiency (<80 µg/dL). After three months, copper deficiency (<71 µg/dL) was observed when serum copper concentrations fell below 98.6 µg/dL for patients taking HIF-PH inhibitors and below 90.3 µg/dL for patients not taking them. Zinc levels often remained deficient because supplementation was constrained by concerns over inducing copper deficiency.
Why it matters
Supplementing zinc in hemodialysis patients frequently induces copper deficiency, highlighting the need for concurrent copper monitoring and potentially adjusting target zinc levels.
Limits
The study is retrospective with a small sample size (n = 50) and no randomized comparator group. Specific zinc dosages, types of HIF-PH inhibitors, and clinical outcomes were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Taking zinc supplements over a long period depletes the body of copper.