The Effect of Zinc Sulfate on Malnutrition in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Malnutrition is common in hemodialysis patients and it must be controlled quickly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on malnutrition in dialysis patients.Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial on ۸۴ hemodialysis patients referred to Imam Hossain Hospital in Shahroud (northeastern of Iran). Patients were randomly divided into two case and control groups. For the intervention group, one tablet of zinc sulfate ۲۲۰ mg was administered daily for ۸ weeks. Both groups were subjected to standard dialysis three times in the week and all patients were assessed for malnutrition using a standard questionnaire, lab tests, and necessary examinations in the first stage, one month and two months after the treatment. Results: Of ۸۴ patients, ۳۹ cases (۴۶.۴%) were female and rest was male. The mean age of the patients was ۵۹.۱±۲۷.۲ years. The mean total duration of dialysis was ۲.۹±۲.۳ years. The severity and extent of malnutrition at the beginning and one month after the study did not differ between the two groups, but after the second month, there was a significant decrease of malnutrition in the intervention group (Pvalue=۰.۰۱۵). Also, malnutrition variables were significantly associated with BMI less than ۱۸ kg/m۲ (Pvalue<۰.۰۳۹), and serum creatinine less than ۳ mg/dl (Pvalue<۰.۰۱۱) and hemoglobin less than ۱۱ g/dl (Pvalue<۰.۰۰۱),Conclusions: The results of this study showed that zinc sulfate consumption for at least ۲ months could significantly reduce the severity of malnutrition in hemodialysis patients.Keywords: Malnutrition, Zinc sulfate, Hemodialysis.Background: Malnutrition is common in hemodialysis patients and it must be controlled quickly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on malnutrition in dialysis patients. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial on ۸۴ hemodialysis patients referred to Imam Hossain Hospital in Shahroud (northeastern of Iran). Patients were randomly divided into two case and control groups. For the intervention group, one tablet of zinc sulfate ۲۲۰ mg was administered daily for ۸ weeks. Both groups were subjected to standard dialysis three times in the week and all patients were assessed for malnutrition using a standard questionnaire, lab tests, and necessary examinations in the first stage, one month and two months after the treatment. Results: Of ۸۴ patients, ۳۹ cases (۴۶.۴%) were female and rest was male. The mean age of the patients was ۵۹.۱±۲۷.۲ years. The mean total duration of dialysis was ۲.۹±۲.۳ years. The severity and extent of malnutrition at the beginning and one month after the study did not differ between the two groups, but after the second month, there was a significant decrease of malnutrition in the intervention group (Pvalue=۰.۰۱۵). Also, malnutrition variables were significantly associated with BMI less than ۱۸ kg/m۲ (Pvalue<۰.۰۳۹), and serum creatinine less than ۳ mg/dl (Pvalue<۰.۰۱۱) and hemoglobin less than ۱۱ g/dl (Pvalue<۰.۰۰۱), Conclusions: The results of this study showed that zinc sulfate consumption for at least ۲ months could significantly reduce the severity of malnutrition in hemodialysis patients. Keywords: Malnutrition, Zinc sulfate, Hemodialysis.