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Article

Factors Attenuating Zinc Deficiency Improvement in Direct-Acting Antiviral Agent-Treated Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
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Nutrients 2018, 10(11), 1620; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111620
Received: 9 October 2018 / Revised: 20 October 2018 / Accepted: 24 October 2018 / Published: 2 November 2018
Zinc deficiency is frequently observed in chronic liver diseases. However, no studies have focused on the zinc status in chronic hepatitis C (HCV)-infected patients receiving direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). In this retrospective study, we assessed the serum zinc status in DAA-treated HCV patients with sustained virologic response for over two years (Zn-2y). Ninety-five patients were enrolled, whose baseline characteristics and blood parameters at DAA therapy initiation were collected. Baseline Zn < 65 µg/dL (odds ratio (OR) = 10.56, p < 0.001) and baseline uric acid (UA) > 5.5 mg/dL (OR = 9.99, p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for Zn-2y deficiency. A decision-tree algorithm classified low-baseline Zn and high-baseline UA as the first two variables, suggesting that baseline hypozincemia and hyperuricemia are prognosticators for long-term zinc deficiency. Baseline Zn was negatively correlated with the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, while baseline UA was significantly higher in habitual alcohol drinkers. In conclusion, serum zinc levels should be closely monitored, considering that zinc status improvement is related to liver fibrosis regression. Hyperuricemia indicates risks of developing metabolic disorders and subsequent zinc deficiency, for which an adjustment of personal lifestyle or dietary habits should be recommended clinically. View Full-Text
Keywords: zinc deficiency; hepatitis C virus; sustained virologic response; direct-acting antiviral agent; hypozincemia; hyperuricemia zinc deficiency; hepatitis C virus; sustained virologic response; direct-acting antiviral agent; hypozincemia; hyperuricemia
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MDPI and ACS Style

Ko, Y.-L.; Morihara, D.; Shibata, K.; Yamauchi, R.; Fukuda, H.; Kunimoto, H.; Takata, K.; Tanaka, T.; Inomata, S.; Yokoyama, K.; Takeyama, Y.; Shakado, S.; Sakisaka, S. Factors Attenuating Zinc Deficiency Improvement in Direct-Acting Antiviral Agent-Treated Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1620. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111620

AMA Style

Ko Y-L, Morihara D, Shibata K, Yamauchi R, Fukuda H, Kunimoto H, Takata K, Tanaka T, Inomata S, Yokoyama K, Takeyama Y, Shakado S, Sakisaka S. Factors Attenuating Zinc Deficiency Improvement in Direct-Acting Antiviral Agent-Treated Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Nutrients. 2018; 10(11):1620. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111620

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ko, Yi-Ling, Daisuke Morihara, Kumiko Shibata, Ryo Yamauchi, Hiromi Fukuda, Hideo Kunimoto, Kazuhide Takata, Takashi Tanaka, Shinjiro Inomata, Keiji Yokoyama, Yasuaki Takeyama, Satoshi Shakado, and Shotaro Sakisaka. 2018. "Factors Attenuating Zinc Deficiency Improvement in Direct-Acting Antiviral Agent-Treated Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection" Nutrients 10, no. 11: 1620. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111620

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