Zinc absorption in
alcoholism was studied by a combination of
zinc tolerance tests in 382 male patients with
alcoholism (more than 140 g/day of
ethanol) who had alcohol-induced disease of the liver or pancreas. In study 1, the serum
zinc level was measured in all patients, and serum
zinc and fecal
chymotrypsin levels were compared in various disease groups. In study 2, 14 patients with
liver cirrhosis (LC), 15 with
chronic pancreatitis (CP), 7 with LC + CP, and 7 controls underwent oral
zinc tolerance and
zinc dipicolinate tolerance tests,
zinc absorption and disorders of pancreatic exocrine functions were examined. In study 1, the serum
zinc concentration was significantly lower in the CP and LC groups than in the control group, and the fecal
chymotrypsin activity was significantly lower in the CP than in the control groups. In study 2, during the oral
zinc tolerance test, the serum
zinc concentration 3 hours after administration was significantly lower in the LC, CP and LC + CP groups than in the control group. In these groups, the serum
zinc concentration was significantly lower in the abnormal fecal
chymotrypsin group than in the control group at 2 and 3 hours after administration of
zinc sulfate. In the oral
zinc dipicolinate tolerance test, the serum
zinc levels 2 and 3 hours after administration were significantly elevated in the control and all disease groups; there were no significant differences between the control and each disease group. These results suggest that reduction of pancreatic exocrine functions by alcohol and chronic reduction of synthesis of
ligands such as
picolinic acid in the liver are involved in the reduction of serum
zinc in
alcoholism.