Zinc Supplementation and Behçet's Syndrome

The Effects of Zinc Gluconate Supplementation on Several Genes Expression, the Serum Level of Inflammatory Factors, Quality of Life, and Disease Activity in Patients With Behcet Syndrome: Double-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

To study the effects of zinc gluconate supplementation on patients with Behçet's syndrome, 50 patients will be randomly allocated to two groups: placebo group or zinc group (one tablet of 30 mg/day elemental zinc) for 12 weeks. All participants will be asked not to alter their diet, medication, and physical activity during the study. At the first and the end of the intervention, genes and proteins expression, the serum level of inflammatory factors, quality of life, disease activity, anthropometric measures, physical activity and serum level of zinc will be assessed and compared between groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age range 20 to 50 years (premenopausal woman)
• Diagnosis of Behcet's disease by a rheumatologist according to IBCD (The International Criteria for Behcet's Disease)
• Patients who want to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy and lactation
• History of diabetes and other chronic diseases
• Smoking and alcohol consumption over the past year
• History of other autoimmune diseases
• Consumption of nutritional and antioxidant supplements over two months prior to the study