Zinc Supplementation in Cirrhotic Patients

Zinc Supplementation as Treatment of Dysgeusias in Cirrhotic Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation in the treatment for dysgeusia, progression disease and quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Taste disorders are symptomatologies in patients with cirrhosis, these have a direct effect in modification of food consumption, increasing weight loss, anorexia and malnutrition, which impacts in decompensation rates and mortality.

It has been proposed that zinc deficiency is one of the causes for development of taste disorders. The aim of this study is to describe the presence of taste disorders in patients with cirrhosis and evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation in treatment of taste disorders, and in progression of chronic liver disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cirrhotic patients by any etiology, with any dysgeusia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with hepatic encephalopathy at the time of dysgeusia evaluation
• Patients with any neurological disease
• Patients with respiratory diseases ath the time of dysgeusia evaluation
• Patients with active alcohol consumption