Lack of effect of zinc supplementation on antipyrine clearance in alcoholic liver disease

The effect of zinc supplementation on antipyrine clearance was evaluated in 14 outpatients with stable alcoholic liver disease, of whom nine had biopsy proven alcoholic cirrhosis.There was no change in antipyrine clearance after 14 days of zinc supplementation (median 12.5 vs 12.9 ml.min-1). However, a significant increase in P-prothrombin-proconvertin was found. There was a positive correlation between S-zinc and antipyrine clearance at inclusion (rs = 0.76) as well as after zinc supplementation (rs = 0.72).No effect of zinc supplementation on antipyrine clearance was found. The positive correlation between S-zinc and antipyrine clearance could be due to the confounding effect of alcoholic liver disease.