Urinary Excretion of Zinc in Alcoholism and Postalcoholic Cirrhosis

Abstract

Increased urinary excretion of zinc is present in most patients with postalcoholic cirrhosis except in the terminal phase of the disease. Approximately 30 per cent of chronic alcoholics without clinical or laboratory evidence sufficient to warrant a diagnosis of cirrhosis and some nonalcoholic subjects with cirrhosis also show excess zincuria. The mechanism and significance of the excess zinc excretion is uncertain.