Serum Zinc Concentration and Sarcopenia: A Close Linkage in Chronic Liver Diseases
by
Hiroki Nishikawa
*, 
Hirayuki Enomoto
,
Kazunori Yoh
,
Yoshinori Iwata
,
Yoshiyuki Sakai
,
Kyohei Kishino
,
Naoto Ikeda
,
Tomoyuki Takashima
,
Nobuhiro Aizawa
,
Ryo Takata
,
Kunihiro Hasegawa
,
Noriko Ishii
,
Yukihisa Yuri
,
Takashi Nishimura
,
Hiroko Iijima
and
Shuhei Nishiguchi
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Hyogo, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8(3), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8030336
Submission received: 28 January 2019
/
Revised: 7 March 2019
/
Accepted: 7 March 2019
/
Published: 11 March 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sarcopenia in Older Adults)
Abstract
:We sought to investigate the influence of serum zinc (Zn) concentration on sarcopenia in chronic liver diseases (CLDs, n = 372, median age = 65 years, 147 liver cirrhosis (LC) cases (39.5%)). Sarcopenia was defined by low grip strength and low skeletal muscle mass. Study subjects were divided into the following three groups (High-, Intermediate-, and Low-Zn groups) based on the baseline serum Zn level. The impacts of serum Zn concentration on sarcopenia were examined. The median (interquartile range) serum Zn concentration for all cases was 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) μg/dL. The proportions of sarcopenia in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups were 10.75% (10/93), 11.23% (21/187), and 27.17% (25/92), respectively (P = 0.9046 (High vs. Intermediate), P = 0.0007 (Intermediate vs. Low), P = 0.0044 (High vs. Low), overall P value = 0.0009). The median serum Zn concentrations in patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 66.35, 73.1 and 73.8 μg/dL, respectively (P = 0.0234 (sarcopenia vs. pre-sarcopenia), P = 0.2116 (pre-sarcopenia vs. control), P = 0.0002 (sarcopenia vs. control), overall P value = 0.0016). In the multivariate analyses of factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia, Low-Zn was an independent predictor for all cases (P = 0.0236) and LC cases (P = 0.0082). In conclusion, Zn deficiency can be an independent predictor for sarcopenia in patients with CLDs.
1. Introduction
Zinc (Zn) is an important trace element that is needed for normal cell development, proliferation, and differentiation, and it is also known to be crucial to ensure an appropriate immunological reaction, such as anti-inflammatory effects, anti-oxidant effects, or autophagy [1,2,3,4]. Zn deficiency can cause a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, including appetite loss, body hair loss, impaired taste and smell, atrophy of testis, cerebral and immune dysfunction, and impairment of drug excretion ability, and they are frequently observed in chronic liver diseases (CLDs) as Zn homeostasis is primarily regulated in the liver [3,5,6,7,8,9]. Albumin synthesis disability can cause Zn deficiency in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) [3,10,11]. Serum Zn concentrations had the inverse correlation with serum ammonia levels in LC patients [12,13,14]. The degree of Zn deficiency is reported to correlate well with the severity of liver diseases [15]. On the other hand, Zn deficiency-related abnormalities may be covered by Zn supplementation [3,5,6,7,13]. Katayama et al. reported in their randomized controlled trial that Zn supplementation therapy can be safe and effective for treating hyperammonemia in LC patients [13]. However, numerous clinical aspects of Zn deficiency have not yet been elucidated in CLD patients.
Skeletal muscle mass (SkMM) decreases by approximately 1% after the age of 50 years due to the qualitative and quantitative changes in muscle fibers [16]. Sarcopenia is a common syndrome mainly observed in older population and characterized by progressive decline of muscle mass and muscle function resulting in an increased risk of physical disability, decreased quality of life (QOL), and mortality [17,18,19,20,21,22,23]. In CLD patients, sarcopenia can also be observed irrespective of age due to protein-energy malnutrition or other metabolic or hormonal disorders specific to CLDs [18,19,21,23,24,25,26,27,28]. Sarcopenia in CLDs is therefore a serious health problem. Based on these backgrounds, the Japanese Society of Hepatology (JSH) proposed its own criteria for liver disease-related sarcopenia in 2016 [18]. Notably, there is no age restriction for the evaluation of sarcopenia in the JSH guidelines [18]. Numerous evidences for liver disease-related sarcopenia have been accumulated [28,29,30,31].
However, as far as we are aware, the association between serum Zn concentration and sarcopenia in CLD patients is largely unknown. There seems therefore to be a pressing need for clarifying these issues. In this study, we sought to investigate the influence of serum Zn concentration on sarcopenia in patients with CLDs.
2. Patients and methods
2.1. Patients
A total of 378 CLD patients with data for grip strength (GpS), SkMM using bioimpedance analysis (BIA), and serum Zn concentration were admitted to our institution between November 2013 and August 2018. Because overestimates could occur for the calculation of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) using BIA in patients with massive ascites, 6 subjects with massive ascites were excluded from the study [19]. Three-hundred and seventy-two patients were consequently included in the current analysis. CLD was determined according to patient medical record, laboratory data, histological findings, and imaging findings. LC diagnosis was also based on histological findings (F4) or imaging findings (presence of varices, deformity of the liver, splenomegaly, etc.).
2.2. Our Classification Based on the Serum Zn Concentration
As described later, the median (interquartile range (IQR)) serum Zn concentration for all cases in the current analysis was 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) μg/dL. Thus, our study subjects were divided into the following three groups based on the baseline serum Zn level: (A) Low-Zn (L-Zn) group; patients with serum Zn concentration <63.7 μg/dL (first quartile). (B) Intermediate-Zn (I-Zn) group; patients with 63.7 μg/dL ≤serum Zn concentration ≤81.45 μg/dL (second or third quartile). (C) High-Zn (H-Zn) group; patients with serum Zn concentration >81.45 μg/dL (fourth quartile). (Figure 1) The normal range of serum Zn concentration in our institution is from 80 μg/dL to 130 μg/dL. Hypozincemia was thus defined as serum Zn concentration <80 μg/dL.
2.3. Measurement of GpS and SMI for Evaluating Sarcopenia
GpS was measured according to the current Japanese guidelines [18]. SMI was defined as “appendicular SkMM/(height (m))2” using BIA. According to the current Japanese guidelines, patients with decreased GpS were defined as those with GpS <26 kg for male and <18 kg for female. Similarly, patients with decreased SkMM were defined as those with SMI <7.0 kg/m2 for male and <5.7 kg/m2 for female [18]. In males, patients with GpS <26 kg and SMI <7.0 kg/m2 were classified as having sarcopenia, those with GS <26 kg and SMI ≤7.0 kg/m2 as pre-sarcopenia, those with GS ≤26 kg and SMI <7.0 kg/m2 as pre-sarcopenia, and those with GS ≤26 kg and SMI ≤7.0 kg/m2 as control. In female, patients with GS <18 kg and SMI <5.7 kg/m2 were classified as sarcopenia, those with GS <18 kg and SMI ≤5.7 kg/m2 as pre-sarcopenia, those with GS ≤18 kg and SMI <5.7 kg/m2 as pre-sarcopenia, and those with GS ≤18 kg and SMI ≤5.7 kg/m2 as control.
Firstly, the impacts of serum Zn concentration on sarcopenia were examined for all cases and several subgroups according to the LC status. Secondly, factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia were studied using univariate and multivariate analyses. Correlation between serum Zn concentration and baseline characteristics was also examined. The ethics committee of our hospital acknowledged this study (number: 2296). The protocol in the study strictly observed all regulations of the Declaration of Helsinki.
2.4. Statistical Considerations
As for continuous parameters, Student’s t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient r, analysis of variance, or Kruskal-Wallis test were employed to assess group difference, as applicable. In categorical parameters, Pearson χ2 test was employed to assess group difference, as applicable. Factors with P < 0.05 linked to the presence of sarcopenia in the univariate analysis were subjected to the multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify candidate parameters. Baseline factors significantly correlated with serum Zn concentration in the univariate analysis were also subjected to the multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify candidate parameters. Unless otherwise mentioned, data were indicated as median values (IQR). The threshold for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The JMP 13.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was employed to carry out statistical analysis.
3. Results
3.1. Patient Baseline Characteristics
Baseline characteristics in our study (n = 372, 171 males and 201 females, median age (IQR) = 65 (54, 71.75) years) were shown in Table 1. In terms of liver disease etiology, hepatitis C virus was in the majority (60.2%, 224/372). The median (IQR) serum Zn concentration for all cases was 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) μg/dL. Hypozincemia (<80.0 μg/dL) was identified in 261 patients (70.2%). Sarcopenia was observed in 56 patients (15.1%), while pre-sarcopenia (patients with decreased GpS alone or decreased SkMM alone) was observed in 131 patients (35.2%). There were 93, 187, and 92 patients in the H-Zn, I-Zn, and L-Zn groups, respectively. The proportions of sarcopenia in the H-Zn, I-Zn, and L-Zn groups were 10.75% (10/93), 11.23% (21/187), and 27.17% (25/92), respectively (P values: P = 0.9046 (H-Zn group vs. I-Zn group), P = 0.0007 (I-Zn group vs. L-Zn group), P = 0.0044 (H-Zn group vs. L-Zn group), overall P value = 0.0009) (Figure 2A). The median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 66.35 (54.05, 77.425) μg/dL, 73.1 (60.4, 82.1) μg/dL, and 73.8 (67.2, 81.85) μg/dL, respectively (P values: P = 0.0234 (sarcopenia vs. pre-sarcopenia), P = 0.2116 (pre-sarcopenia vs. control), P = 0.0002 (sarcopenia vs. control), overall P value = 0.0016) (Figure 2B).
3.2. Analyses According to the LC Status
LC and non-LC were identified in 147 patients (39.5%) and 225 patients (60.5%) in the current analysis. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentration for LC cases (63.8 (52.7, 74.4) μg/dL) was significantly lower than that for non-LC cases (75.8 (70.45, 84.45) μg/dL) (P < 0.0001) (Figure 3). One-hundred and twenty-four LC patients (84.3%) and 137 non-LC patients (60.9%) had hypozincemia.
In LC patients, there were 29 (19.7%), 56 (38.1%), and 62 (42.2%) patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control, respectively. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in LC patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 55.7 (43.15, 61.4) μg/dL, 64.6 (51.55, 77.325) μg/dL, and 66.4 (58.45, 74.175) μg/dL, respectively (P values: P = 0.0516 (sarcopenia vs. pre-sarcopenia), P = 0.4142 (pre-sarcopenia vs. control), P = 0.0004 (sarcopenia vs. control), overall P value = 0.0055) (Figure 4A).
In non-LC patients, there were 27 (12.0%), 75 (33.3%), and 123 (54.7%) patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control, respectively. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in non-LC patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 73.9 (66.9, 81.9) μg/dL, 75.4 (69.0, 86.0) μg/dL, and 76.5 (71.2, 84.3) μg/dL, respectively (P values: P = 0.5069 (sarcopenia vs. pre-sarcopenia), P = 0.5152 (pre-sarcopenia vs. control), P = 0.1582 (sarcopenia vs. control), overall P value = 0.3125) (Figure 4B).
3.3. Uni- and Multivariate Analyses of Factors Associated with the Presence of Sarcopenia for All Cases (n = 372)
In all cases, univariate analysis identified nine factors to be significantly associated with the presence of sarcopenia: age (P < 0.0001), body mass index, (BMI, P < 0.0001), presence of LC (P = 0.0416), total bilirubin (P = 0.0276), serum albumin (P = 0.0008), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, P = 0.0143), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, P = 0.0178), serum sodium (P = 0.0164), and our classification of serum zinc concentration (P = 0.0009) (Table 2). Multivariate analysis for the nine factors showed that age (P = 0.0005), BMI (P = 0.0003), serum albumin (P = 0.0011), and L-Zn group (P = 0.0236, I-Zn group as a reference) were found to be significant factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia (Table 3). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these variables were listed in Table 3.
3.4. Uni- and Multivariate Analyses of Factors Associated with the Presence of Sarcopenia for LC Cases (n = 147)
In LC-cases, univariate analysis identified four factors to be significantly associated with the presence of sarcopenia: age (P = 0.0026), BMI (P = 0.0010), serum albumin (P = 0.0035), and our classification of serum zinc concentration (P = 0.0016) (Table 4). Multivariate analysis for the four factors showed that age (P = 0.0363), BMI (P = 0.0014), and L-Zn group (P = 0.0082, I-Zn group as a reference) were found to be significant factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia (Table 5). HRs and 95% CIs for these variables were listed in Table 5.
3.5. Uni- and Multivariate Analyses of Factors Associated with the Presence of Sarcopenia for Non-LC Cases (n = 225)
In non-LC cases, univariate analysis identified four factors to be significantly associated with the presence of sarcopenia: age (P < 0.0001), BMI (P = 0.0003), eGFR (P = 0.0063), and HbA1c (P = 0.0091) (Table 6). Multivariate analysis for the four factors showed that age (P = 0.0249) and BMI (P = 0.0021) were found to be significant factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia (Table 7). HRs and 95% CIs for these variables were listed in Table 7.
3.6. Correlation between Serum Zinc Concentration and Baseline Characteristics
Correlation coefficients and P values between serum zinc concentration and baseline characteristics were listed in Table 8. Serum albumin level had the strongest positive correlation with serum Zn concentration (r = 0.654, P < 0.0001) followed by branched-chain amino acid to tyrosine ratio (r = 0.496, P < 0.0001), while FIB-4 index had the strongest negative correlation with serum Zn concentration (r = −0.360, P < 0.0001) followed by total bilirubin (r = −0.355, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis of factors significantly correlated with serum Zn concentration revealed that only serum albumin level was a significant factor linked to serum Zn concentration (P < 0.0001).
4. Discussion
Chronic liver injury results in the impaired Zn homeostasis and eventually Zn deficiency, and most CLD patients have Zn deficiency [3,4,5,10,13,14,32]. Zn deficiency can present numerous symptoms, which can be associated with decreased QOL and worse clinical outcomes [3,5,33]. However, as mentioned earlier, there is little data currently available regarding relationship between serum Zn concentration and sarcopenia in CLDs. To clarify these issues is clinically of great importance due to the increasing interest for sarcopenia in CLDs these days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study elucidating the association between serum Zn level and sarcopenia in CLDs using large cohort (n = 372).
First of all, the validity of our classification of H-Zn, I-Zn, and L-Zn groups needs discussion. As mentioned above, CLD patients have tendency for lower serum Zn levels and only 111 of our analyzed subjects (29.8%) had normal serum Zn value (reference range, 80 μg/dL ≤serum Zn concentration ≤130 μg/dL in our institution) [3,5,7]. Therefore, we classified them into three groups based on quartiles in our cohort for the appropriate analysis and investigated the impact of serum Zn concentration on sarcopenia. In our analysis, the proportion of sarcopenia in the L-Zn group was significantly higher than that in the I-Zn group or the H-Zn group. Additionally, our multivariate analyses revealed that L-Zn was an independent predictor linked to the presence of sarcopenia for all cases and LC cases. These results suggest the clinical significance of serum Zn concentration for sarcopenia in CLD patients, even considering the non-significant relation between serum Zn concentration and sarcopenia in non-LC cases. Zn deficiency induces a number of physiological problems, which can be associated with sarcopenia [34]. In CLD patients, close monitoring for serum Zn concentration may be required for identifying sarcopenic subjects. While patients with pre-sarcopenia had similar serum Zn concentration to those with control for all cases, LC cases, and non-LC cases. Reviewing these results, sarcopenia staging (i.e., distinguishing between sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia) seems to be an important strategy for CLD patients. A recent study reported that a stepwise increase of the proportion of fallers according to the severity of sarcopenia was observed in older populations, which was in line with our current results [35]. On the other hand, appropriate timing of Zn supplementation therapy should also be considered in CLD patients from the clinicians’ perspective. In addition, whether Zn supplementation therapy in sarcopenic CLD patients can reverse sarcopenia needs to be clarified in future studies.
In comparison between L-Zn group and H-Zn group, the impact on sarcopenia was not prominent in the multivariate analysis for all cases (HR = 1.672, P = 0.3881, H-Zn as a reference). Although the reasons for these are unclear, maintaining serum Zn concentration in a certain range may be essential for avoiding sarcopenia in CLD patients.
Serum albumin level had the strongest positive correlation with serum Zn concentration (r = 0.654, P < 0.0001) and it was an independent predictor associated with serum Zn concentration in the multivariate analysis, while FIB-4 index had the strongest negative correlation with serum Zn concentration (r = −0.360, P < 0.0001) in our data. Because protein synthesis ability reflects serum Zn concentration, these results are not so surprising [3,5,7]. More importantly, age was correlated inversely with serum Zn concentration, although the r value was not impressive (r = −0.186, P = 0.0003). In aging process, a lot of mediators can be associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, and imbalance of Zn homeostasis is a common hallmark of aging [36,37,38]. The high prevalence of hypozincemia in our LC patients (84.3%) may be partly attributed to the higher age of our LC patients (median age = 68.0 years), as well as protein synthesis inability and other metabolic disorders [3,5,7]. On the other hand, clinicians should be aware that even in non-LC patients, a considerable number of patients with hypozincemia are present (60.9% in our non-LC patients).
Both age and BMI were independent predictors for all cases, LC cases, and non-LC cases in our multivariate analyses. CLD patients appears to suffer from sarcopenia based on the following two types of sarcopenia: aging-related sarcopenia (primary sarcopenia) and CLD specific abnormalities-related sarcopenia (secondary sarcopenia) [18]. Our current results may be attributed to the increase of aging CLD patients in our country [39,40,41]. As CLD patients age, the incidence of physical performance limitation will increase and sarcopenia may be an inevitable consequence with aging [42]. While lower BMI was shown to have strong influence on sarcopenia in our CLD patients, the impact of obesity on sarcopenia (sarcopenic obesity) cannot be ignored, since there were only 3 patients (0.8%) with BMI >35 kg/m2 in our study subjects [43,44].
We acknowledge several limitations to this study. First, the study was a retrospective single-center observational study without non-CLD patients as a control group. Second, GpS and serum Zn concentration can vary depending on patient daily life activities or dietary habits. Third, patients with massive ascites potentially involved in liver disease-related sarcopenia were excluded because of the lack of reliability in BIA, creating bias. This was the major limitation for the evaluation of muscle mass using BIA compared with using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, however, BIA may be cost-effective. Fourth, data for other trace elements such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium were not included in this study, leading to bias. Fifth, due to the small number of cases with sarcopenic obesity in our study, the relationship between serum Zn concentration and sarcopenic obesity remains unknown. Finally, it was uncertain as to whether sarcopenia caused Zn deficiency or whether Zn deficiency caused sarcopenia in this cross-sectional study. Consequently, caution should be exercised for the interpretation of the current study data and larger prospective studies will be needed to confirm these results. Despite these limitations, our study results denoted that Zn deficiency in CLDs was closely associated with sarcopenia.
5. Conclusions
In conclusion, Zn deficiency can be an independent predictor for sarcopenia in patients with CLDs.
Author Contributions
Data curation, K.Y., Y.I., Y.S., K.K., N.I. (Naoto Ikeda), T.T., N.A., R.T., K.H., (N.I.) Noriko Ishii, Y.Y., T.N., and H.I.; Formal analysis, H.N.; Supervision and S.N.; Writing—original draft, H.N.; Writing—review and editing, H.N. and H.E.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully thank all medical staff in our nutritional guidance room for their help with data collection. This work was partly granted by Hyogo Innovative Challenge, Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
- Alker, W.; Haase, H. Zinc and Sepsis. Nutrients 2018, 10, 976. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Costello, L.C.; Franklin, R.B. Decreased zinc in the development and progression of malignancy: An important common relationship and potential for prevention and treatment of carcinomas. Expert Opin. Ther. Targets 2017, 21, 51–66. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Himoto, T.; Masaki, T. Associations between Zinc Deficiency and Metabolic Abnormalities in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease. Nutrients 2018, 10, 88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Liuzzi, J.P.; Guo, L.; Yoo, C.; Stewart, T.S. Zinc and autophagy. Biometals 2014, 27, 1087–1096. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Grüngreiff, K.; Reinhold, D.; Wedemeyer, H. The role of zinc in liver cirrhosis. Ann. Hepatol. 2016, 15, 7–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Vidot, H.; Carey, S.; Allman-Farinelli, M.; Shackel, N. Systematic review: The treatment of muscle cramps in patients with cirrhosis. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2014, 40, 221–232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Koop, A.H.; Mousa, O.Y.; Pham, L.E.; Corral-Hurtado, J.E.; Pungpapong, S.; Keaveny, A.P. An Argument for Vitamin D, A, and Zinc Monitoring in Cirrhosis. Ann. Hepatol. 2018, 17, 920–932. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Martínez-Peinado, M.; Rueda-Robles, A.; Nogueras-López, F.; Villalón-Mir, M.; Oliveras-López, M.J.; Navarro-Alarcón, M. Serum zinc and copper concentrations and ratios in cirrhotic patients: Correlation with severity index. Nutr. Hosp. 2018, 35, 627–632. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Skalny, A.V.; Skalnaya, M.G.; Grabeklis, A.R.; Skalnaya, A.A.; Tinkov, A.A. Zinc deficiency as a mediator of toxic effects of alcohol abuse. Eur. J. Nutr. 2018, 57, 2313–2322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Grüngreiff, K. Branched Amino Acids and Zinc in the Nutrition of Liver Cirrhosis. J. Clin. Exp. Hepatol. 2018, 8, 480–483. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hosui, A.; Kimura, E.; Abe, S.; Tanimoto, T.; Onishi, K.; Kusumoto, Y.; Sueyoshi, Y.; Matsumoto, K.; Hirao, M.; Yamada, T.; et al. Long-Term Zinc Supplementation Improves Liver Function and Decreases the Risk of Developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1955. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Grüngreiff, K.; Presser, H.J.; Franke, D.; Lössner, B.; Kleine, F.D. Correlations between zinc, amino acids and ammonia in liver cirrhosis. Z. Gastroenteriol. 1989, 27, 731–735. [Google Scholar]
- Katayama, K.; Saito, M.; Kawaguchi, T.; Endo, R.; Sawara, K.; Nishiguchi, S.; Kato, A.; Kohgo, H.; Suzuki, K.; Sakaida, I.; et al. Effect of zinc on liver cirrhosis with hyperammonemia: A preliminary randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Nutrition 2014, 30, 1409–1414. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sengupta, S.; Wroblewski, K.; Aronsohn, A.; Reau, N.; Reddy, K.G.; Jensen, D.; Te, H. Screening for Zinc Deficiency in Patients with Cirrhosis: When Should We Start? Dig. Dis. Sci. 2015, 60, 3130–3135. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kazunari, I.; Hirayuki, E.; Shuhei, N.; Nobuhiro, A.; Yoshiyuki, S.; Yoshinori, I.; Hironori, T.; Naoto, I.; Tomoyuki, T.; Masaki, S.; et al. Serum zinc value in patients with hepatitis virus-related chronic liver disease: Association with the histological degree of liver fibrosis and with the severity of varices in compensated cirrhosis. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 2014, 55, 147–152. [Google Scholar]
- Kim, G.; Kang, S.H.; Kim, M.Y.; Baik, S.K. Prognostic value of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 2017, 12, e0186990. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tsekoura, M.; Kastrinis, A.; Katsoulaki, M.; Billis, E.; Gliatis, J. Sarcopenia and Its Impact on Quality of Life. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2017, 987, 213–218. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Nishikawa, H.; Shiraki, M.; Hiramatsu, A.; Moriya, K.; Hino, K.; Nishiguchi, S. Japan Society of Hepatology guidelines for sarcopenia in liver disease (1st edition): Recommendation from the working group for creation of sarcopenia assessment criteria. Hepatol. Res. 2016, 46, 951–963. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Montano-Loza, A.J. Clinical relevance of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis. World J. Gastroenterol. 2014, 20, 8061–8071. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cruz-Jentoft, A.J.; Landi, F.; Schneider, S.M.; Zúñiga, C.; Arai, H.; Boirie, Y.; Chen, L.K.; Fielding, R.A.; Martin, F.C.; Michel, J.P.; et al. Prevalence of and interventions for sarcopenia in ageing adults: A systematic review. Report of the International Sarcopenia Initiative (EWGSOP and IWGS). Age Ageing 2014, 43, 748–759. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sinclair, M.; Gow, P.J.; Grossmann, M.; Angus, P.W. Review article: Sarcopenia in cirrhosis—aetiology, implications and potential therapeutic interventions. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2016, 43, 765–777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Chen, L.K.; Liu, L.K.; Woo, J.; Assantachai, P.; Auyeung, T.W.; Bahyah, K.S.; Chou, M.Y.; Chen, L.Y.; Hsu, P.S.; Krairit, O.; et al. Sarcopenia in Asia: Consensus Report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. J. Am. Med. Dir. Assoc. 2014, 15, 95–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Nishikawa, H.; Enomoto, H.; Ishii, A.; Iwata, Y.; Miyamoto, Y.; Ishii, N.; Yuri, Y.; Hasegawa, K.; Nakano, C.; Nishimura, T.; et al. Elevated serum myostatin level is associated with worse survival in patients with liver cirrhosis. J. Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2017, 8, 915–925. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Nishikawa, H.; Enomoto, H.; Ishii, A.; Iwata, Y.; Miyamoto, Y.; Ishii, N.; Yuri, Y.; Takata, R.; Hasegawa, K.; Nakano, C.; et al. Development of a simple predictive model for decreased skeletal muscle mass in patients with compensated chronic liver disease. Hepatol. Res. 2017, 47, 1223–1234. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Shirai, H.; Kaido, T.; Hamaguchi, Y.; Kobayashi, A.; Okumura, S.; Yao, S.; Yagi, S.; Kamo, N.; Taura, K.; Okajima, H.; et al. Preoperative Low Muscle Mass and Low Muscle Quality Negatively Impact on Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Cancer 2018, 7, 76–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- De Bandt, J.P.; Jegatheesan, P.; Tennoune-El-Hafaia, N. Muscle Loss in Chronic Liver Diseases: The Example of Nonalcoholic Liver Disease. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1195. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Chang, K.V.; Chen, J.D.; Wu, W.T.; Huang, K.C.; Hsu, C.T.; Han, D.S. Association between Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass and Mortality and Tumor Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Liver Cancer 2018, 7, 90–103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tachi, Y.; Kozuka, A.; Hirai, T.; Ishizu, Y.; Honda, T.; Kuzuya, T.; Hayashi, K.; Ishigami, M.; Goto, H. Impact of myosteatosis on skeletal muscle volume loss in patients with chronic liver disease. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2018. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Laube, R.; Wang, H.; Park, L.; Heyman, J.K.; Vidot, H.; Majumdar, A.; Strasser, S.I.; McCaughan, G.W.; Liu, K. Frailty in advanced liver disease. Liver Int. 2018, 38, 2117–2128. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kahn, J.; Wagner, D.; Homfeld, N.; Müller, H.; Kniepeiss, D.; Schemmer, P. Both sarcopenia and frailty determine suitability of patients for liver transplantation—A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Clin. Transplant. 2018, 32, e13226. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bhanji, R.A.; Narayanan, P.; Allen, A.M.; Malhi, H.; Watt, K.D. Sarcopenia in hiding: The risk and consequence of underestimating muscle dysfunction in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology 2017, 66, 2055–2065. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Grüngreiff, K. Zinc in liver disease. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 2002, 15, 67–78. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kawaguchi, T.; Nagao, Y.; Abe, K.; Imazeki, F.; Honda, K.; Yamasaki, K.; Miyanishi, K.; Taniguchi, E.; Kakuma, T.; Kato, J.; et al. Effects of branched-chain amino acids and zinc-enriched nutrients on prognosticators in HCV-infected patients: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Mol. Med. Rep. 2015, 11, 2159–2166. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Suzuki, H.; Asakawa, A.; Li, J.B.; Tsai, M.; Amitani, H.; Ohinata, K.; Komai, M.; Inui, A. Zinc as an appetite stimulator - the possible role of zinc in the progression of diseases such as cachexia and sarcopenia. Recent Pat. Food Nutr. Agric. 2011, 3, 226–231. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gadelha, A.B.; Vainshelboim, B.; Ferreira, A.P.; Neri, S.G.R.; Bottaro, M.; Lima, R.M. Stages of sarcopenia and the incidence of falls in older women: A prospective study. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2018, 79, 151–157. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Vasto, S.; Candore, G.; Balistreri, C.R.; Caruso, M.; Colonna-Romano, G.; Grimaldi, M.P.; Listi, F.; Nuzzo, D.; Lio, D.; Caruso, C. Inflammatory networks in ageing, age-related diseases and longevity. Mech. Ageing Dev. 2007, 128, 83–91. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Frazzini, V.; Rockabrand, E.; Mocchegiani, E.; Sensi, S.L. Oxidative stress and brain aging: Is zinc the link? Biogerontology 2006, 7, 307–314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Aydemir, T.B.; Troche, C.; Kim, J.; Kim, M.H.; Teran, O.Y.; Leeuwenburgh, C.; Cousins, R.J. Aging amplifies multiple phenotypic defects in mice with zinc transporter Zip14 (Slc39a14) deletion. Exp. Gerontol. 2016, 85, 88–94. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Christensen, K.; Doblhammer, G.; Rau, R.; Vaupel, J.W. Ageing populations: The challenges ahead. Lancet 2009, 374, 1196–1208. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Osaki, Y.; Nishikawa, H. Treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan over the last three decades: Our experience and published work review. Hepatol. Res. 2015, 45, 59–74. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Fukui, H.; Saito, H.; Ueno, Y.; Uto, H.; Obara, K.; Sakaida, I.; Shibuya, A.; Seike, M.; Nagoshi, S.; Segawa, M.; et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis 2015. J. Gastroenterol. 2016, 51, 629–650. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Tieland, M.; Trouwborst, I.; Clark, B.C. Skeletal muscle performance and ageing. J. Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2018, 9, 3–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kamo, N.; Kaido, T.; Hamaguchi, Y.; Okumura, S.; Kobayashi, A.; Shirai, H.; Yao, S.; Yagi, S.; Uemoto, S. Impact of sarcopenic obesity on outcomes in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation. Clin. Nutr. 2018. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Polyzos, S.A.; Margioris, A.N. Sarcopenic obesity. Hormones (Athens) 2018, 17, 321–331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Figure 1.
Our classification based on the serum Zn concentration. The median (interquartile range) serum Zn concentration for all cases in the current analysis was 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) μg/dL. (A) Low-Zn group; patients with serum Zn concentration <63.7 μg/dL (first quartile). (B) Intermediate-Zn group; patients with 63.7 μg/dL <serum Zn concentration <81.45 μg/dL (second or third quartile). (C) High-Zn group; patients with serum Zn concentration >81.45 μg/dL (fourth quartile).
Figure 1.
Our classification based on the serum Zn concentration. The median (interquartile range) serum Zn concentration for all cases in the current analysis was 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) μg/dL. (A) Low-Zn group; patients with serum Zn concentration <63.7 μg/dL (first quartile). (B) Intermediate-Zn group; patients with 63.7 μg/dL <serum Zn concentration <81.45 μg/dL (second or third quartile). (C) High-Zn group; patients with serum Zn concentration >81.45 μg/dL (fourth quartile).
Figure 2.
(A) The proportions of sarcopenia in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups. (B) Boxplots of serum Zn concentration in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 66.35 (54.05, 77.425) μg/dL, 73.1 (60.4, 82.1) μg/dL, and 73.8 (67.2, 81.85) μg/dL, respectively.
Figure 2.
(A) The proportions of sarcopenia in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups. (B) Boxplots of serum Zn concentration in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in patients with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 66.35 (54.05, 77.425) μg/dL, 73.1 (60.4, 82.1) μg/dL, and 73.8 (67.2, 81.85) μg/dL, respectively.
Figure 3.
Serum Zn concentrations in LC (n = 147) and non-LC (n = 225) patients. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentration for LC cases (63.8 (52.7, 74.4) μg/dL) was significantly lower than that for non-LC cases (75.8 (70.45, 84.45) μg/dL) (P < 0.0001).
Figure 3.
Serum Zn concentrations in LC (n = 147) and non-LC (n = 225) patients. The median (IQR) serum Zn concentration for LC cases (63.8 (52.7, 74.4) μg/dL) was significantly lower than that for non-LC cases (75.8 (70.45, 84.45) μg/dL) (P < 0.0001).
Figure 4.
Boxplots of serum Zn concentration in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups in patients with LC (A) and non-LC (B). In LC patients, the median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 55.7 (43.15, 61.4) μg/dL, 64.6 (51.55, 77.325) μg/dL, and 66.4 (58.45, 74.175) μg/dL, respectively. In non-LC patients, the median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 73.9 (66.9, 81.9) μg/dL, 75.4 (69.0, 86.0) μg/dL, and 76.5 (71.2, 84.3) μg/dL, respectively.
Figure 4.
Boxplots of serum Zn concentration in the High-Zn, Intermediate-Zn, and Low-Zn groups in patients with LC (A) and non-LC (B). In LC patients, the median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 55.7 (43.15, 61.4) μg/dL, 64.6 (51.55, 77.325) μg/dL, and 66.4 (58.45, 74.175) μg/dL, respectively. In non-LC patients, the median (IQR) serum Zn concentrations in sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and control were 73.9 (66.9, 81.9) μg/dL, 75.4 (69.0, 86.0) μg/dL, and 76.5 (71.2, 84.3) μg/dL, respectively.
Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Variables | All Cases (n = 372) |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 65 (54, 71.75) |
| Gender, male/female | 171/201 |
| HBV/HCV/HBV and HCV/NBNC | 53/224/8/87 |
| Presence of LC, yes/no | 147/225 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 22.6 (20.4, 25.3) |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 0.8 (0.6, 1.1) |
| Serum albumin (g/dL) | 4.1 (3.8, 4.5) |
| Prothrombin time (%) | 88.5 (78.3, 96.5) |
| Platelet count (×104/mm3) | 16.5 (11.35, 20.7) |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 179 (151, 206) |
| AST (IU/L) | 28 (21, 42) |
| ALT (IU/L) | 23 (15, 40) |
| ALP (IU/L) | 243 (193, 318.25) |
| GGT (IU/L) | 28 (17, 50) |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 83 (70, 96) |
| HbA1c (NGSP) | 5.6 (5.4, 6.0) |
| Serum sodium (mmol/L) | 140 (139, 142) |
| Serum zinc concentration (μg/dL) | 72.85 (63.7, 81.45) |
| BTR | 5.63 (4.2375, 6.65) |
| FIB-4 index | 2.39 (1.60, 4.07) |
| APRI | 0.52 (0.33, 1.15) |
Data are expressed as median value (interquartile range). Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NBNC, non-B and non-C; LC, liver cirrhosis; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; NSGP, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program; BTR, branched-chain amino acid ratio; APRI, AST to platelet ratio index.
Table 2.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for all cases (n = 372).
Table 2.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for all cases (n = 372).
| Variables | Sarcopenia (n = 56) | Non-Sarcopenia (n = 316) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 72.5 (67.25, 76.75) | 63 (52, 70) | <0.0001 |
| Gender, male/female | 27/29 | 144/172 | 0.7144 |
| HBV/HCV/HBV and HCV/NBNC | 6/31/2/17 | 47/193/6/70 | 0.4195 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 20.6 (19.7, 22.7) | 22.95 (20.7, 26) | <0.0001 |
| Presence of LC, yes/no | 29/27 | 118/198 | 0.0416 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 0.7 (0.5, 0.95) | 0.8 (0.6, 1.1) | 0.0276 |
| Serum albumin (g/dL) | 3.95 (3.225, 4.3) | 4.2 (3.8, 4.5) | 0.0008 |
| Prothrombin time (%) | 85.3 (74.45, 98.825) | 88.7 (78.45, 96.475) | 0.6971 |
| Platelet count (×104/mm3) | 15.1 (10.2, 18.6) | 16.75 (11.525, 20.8) | 0.2303 |
| AST (IU/L) | 32 (22, 49) | 27 (21, 40.75) | 0.3978 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 26 (15, 42) | 23 (16, 40) | 0.8374 |
| ALP (IU/L) | 287 (206, 372) | 237 (192, 301) | 0.0143 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 30 (18.5, 52) | 28 (17, 50) | 0.5899 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 179 (142, 212) | 179 (154, 205.75) | 0.3933 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 76 (57, 92) | 83 (71, 96.75) | 0.0178 |
| Serum sodium (mmol/L) | 140 (138, 141) | 140 (139, 142) | 0.0164 |
| HbA1c (NGSP) | 5.85 (5.2, 6.1) | 5.6 (5.4, 6.0) | 0.4177 |
| Serum zinc concentration (High/Intermediate/Low) | 10/21/25 | 83/166/67 | 0.0009 |
| BTR | 5.19 (3.6, 7.21) | 5.64 (4.34, 6.625) | 0.5460 |
| FIB-4 index | 3.09 (2.15, 5.09) | 2.28 (1.49, 4.01) | 0.1409 |
| APRI | 0.61 (0.35, 1.42) | 0.51 (0.32, 1.09) | 0.8192 |
Data are expressed as median value (interquartile range). Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NBNC, non-B and non-C; LC, liver cirrhosis; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; NSGP, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program; BTR, branched-chain amino acid ratio.
Table 3.
Multivariate analyses of factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia for all cases.
| Multivariate Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard Ratio | 95% CI | P Value | |
| Age (per one year) | 1.075 | 1.032–1.120 | 0.0005 |
| BMI (per one kg/m2) | 0.790 | 0.695–0.898 | 0.0003 |
| Presence of LC | 1.541 | 0.645–3.690 | 0.3306 |
| Serum albumin (per one g/dL) | 0.208 | 0.081–0.533 | 0.0011 |
| Total bilirubin (per one mg/dL) | 0.439 | 0.176–1.093 | 0.0769 |
| ALP (per one IU/L) | 1.002 | 0.999–1.005 | 0.1273 |
| eGFR (per one mL/min/1.73 m2) | 1.001 | 0.985–1.018 | 0.8715 |
| Serum sodium (per one mmol/L) | 0.899 | 0.791–1.022 | 0.1061 |
| Classification of serum zinc level | |||
| Intermediate-Zn group | 1.000 | Reference | |
| High-Zn group | 1.812 | 0.722–4.545 | 0.2053 |
| Low-Zn group | 3.030 | 1.160–7.937 | 0.0236 |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; LC, liver cirrhosis; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; Zn, zinc; CI, confidence interval.
Table 4.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for LC cases (n = 147).
Table 4.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for LC cases (n = 147).
| Variables | Sarcopenia (n = 29) | Non-Sarcopenia (n = 118) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 71 (67, 76) | 67 (59, 72) | 0.0026 |
| Gender, male/female | 15/54 | 65/53 | 0.7448 |
| HBV/HCV/HBV and HCV/NBNC | 4/15/1/9 | 15/73/0/30 | 0.1897 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 20.4 (19.8, 23.0) | 23.05 (20.7, 26.275) | 0.0010 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 0.8 (0.6, 1.2) | 1.1 (0.8, 1.625) | 0.0582 |
| Serum albumin (g/dL) | 3.4 (2.95, 3.9) | 3.8 (3.4, 4.125) | 0.0035 |
| Prothrombin time (%) | 81.9 (58.55, 87.95) | 78.25 (63.175, 88.3) | 0.8211 |
| Platelet count (×104/mm3) | 10.4 (8.05, 15.7) | 10.85 (7.4, 14.525) | 0.6432 |
| AST (IU/L) | 45 (29.75, 56.75) | 37.5 (25, 53) | 0.2028 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 32.5 (21.75, 48) | 28.5 (17.75, 43.25) | 0.3652 |
| ALP (IU/L) | 339.5 (234, 499.75) | 264 (219, 402) | 0.1226 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 41 (22, 74) | 37 (21.5, 67) | 0.6964 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 144 (120.75, 188.5) | 155.5 (137, 180) | 0.4466 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 80 (66, 93.75) | 82 (68, 99) | 0.4683 |
| Serum sodium (mmol/L) | 139 (137, 140) | 140 (138, 142) | 0.0574 |
| HbA1c (NGSP) | 5.2 (5.0, 6.0) | 5.6 (5.2, 6.15) | 0.3641 |
| Serum zinc classification High/Intermediate/Low | 2/4/23 | 15/53/50 | 0.0016 |
| BTR | 3.7 (2.9875, 4.935) | 4.245 (3.2675, 5.64) | 0.1690 |
| FIB-4 index | 4.83 (3.14, 7.56) | 4.27 (2.68, 6.80) | 0.9641 |
| APRI | 1.29 (0.70, 1.95) | 1.08 (0.60, 1.91) | 0.6814 |
Data are expressed as median value (interquartile range). Abbreviation: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NBNC, non-B and non-C; LC, liver cirrhosis; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; NSGP, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program; BTR, branched-chain amino acid ratio.
Table 5.
Multivariate analyses of factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia for LC cases.
| Multivariate Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard Ratio | 95% CI | P Value | |
| Age (per one year) | 1.054 | 1.003–1.106 | 0.0363 |
| BMI (per one kg/m2) | 0.755 | 0.636–0.898 | 0.0014 |
| Serum albumin (per one g/dL) | 0.377 | 0.121–1.520 | 0.1890 |
| Classification of serum zinc level | |||
| Intermediate-Zn group | 1.000 | Reference | |
| High-Zn group | 2.500 | 0.377–16.667 | 0.3429 |
| Low-Zn group | 6.410 | 1.618–25.641 | 0.0082 |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; Zn, zinc; CI, confidence interval.
Table 6.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for non-LC cases (n = 225).
Table 6.
Univariate analyses of factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia for non-LC cases (n = 225).
| Variables | Sarcopenia (n = 27) | Non-Sarcopenia (n = 198) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 73 (67, 78) | 60 (48.75, 67) | <0.0001 |
| Gender, male/female | 12/15 | 79/119 | 0.6518 |
| HBV/HCV/HBV and HCV/NBNC | 2/16/1/8 | 32/120/6/40 | 0.5248 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 20.9 (19.3, 22.3) | 22.9 (20.675, 25.725) | 0.0003 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 0.6 (0.5, 0.7) | 0.8 (0.6, 1.0) | 0.0527 |
| Serum albumin (g/dL) | 4.2 (4.0, 4.5) | 4.3 (4.1, 4.5) | 0.1374 |
| Prothrombin time (%) | 93.5 (84.7, 99) | 92.5 (84.95, 100.025) | 0.5236 |
| Platelet count (×104/mm3) | 17.45 (14.85, 20.7) | 19.25 (15.65, 22.95) | 0.5282 |
| AST (IU/L) | 23 (18, 33) | 24 (19, 33) | 0.3645 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 15 (12, 32) | 20 (15, 35.25) | 0.3151 |
| ALP (IU/L) | 243 (177, 306) | 224.5 (178.75, 275.75) | 0.1149 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 25 (15.75, 42.5) | 23 (15, 44) | 0.9164 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 195 (165, 218) | 193 (170.75, 219) | 0.8202 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 66 (56, 92) | 84 (72, 95.5) | 0.0063 |
| Serum sodium (mmol/L) | 140 (138, 142) | 141 (139, 142) | 0.3751 |
| HbA1c (NGSP) | 6.0 (5.6, 6.4) | 5.7 (5.4, 5.925) | 0.0091 |
| Serum zinc classification High/Intermediate/Low | 8/17/2 | 68/113/17 | 0.8444 |
| BTR | 6.92 (5.64, 7.72) | 6.25 (5.28, 7.05) | 0.0544 |
| FIB-4 index | 2.13 (1.64, 2.86) | 1.73 (1.13, 2.47) | 0.1066 |
| APRI | 0.35 (0.28, 0.52) | 0.36 (0.29, 0.63) | 0.3683 |
Data are expressed as median value (interquartile range). Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NBNC, non-B and non-C; LC, liver cirrhosis; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; NSGP, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program; BTR, branched-chain amino acid ratio.
Table 7.
Multivariate analyses of factors linked to the presence of sarcopenia for non-LC cases.
| Multivariate Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard Ratio | 95% CI | P Value | |
| Age (per one year) | 1.071 | 1.004–1.142 | 0.0249 |
| BMI (per one kg/m2) | 0.746 | 0.602–0.923 | 0.0021 |
| eGFR (per one mL/min/1.73 m2) | 0.985 | 0.955–1.015 | 0.3257 |
| HbA1c (per one) | 1.280 | 0.727–5.376 | 0.2127 |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; CI, confidence interval.
Table 8.
Relationship between serum zinc concentration and baseline characteristics.
| r | P Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | −0.186 | 0.0003 |
| Body mass index | −0.032 | 0.5424 |
| Total bilirubin | −0.355 | <0.0001 |
| Serum albumin | 0.654 | <0.0001 |
| Prothrombin time | 0.395 | <0.0001 |
| Platelets | 0.295 | <0.0001 |
| Serum sodium | 0.249 | 0.8923 |
| eGFR | −0.020 | 0.7029 |
| Total cholesterol | 0.266 | <0.0001 |
| AST | −0.230 | <0.0001 |
| ALT | −0.065 | 0.2126 |
| ALP | −0.245 | <0.0001 |
| GGT | −0.206 | <0.0001 |
| HbA1c (NSGP) | 0.133 | 0.0242 |
| BTR | 0.496 | <0.0001 |
| FIB-4 index | −0.360 | <0.0001 |
| APRI | −0.289 | <0.0001 |
Abbreviations: eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; NSGP, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program; BTR, branched-chain amino acid ratio; APRI, AST to platelet ratio index.
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Nishikawa, H.; Enomoto, H.; Yoh, K.; Iwata, Y.; Sakai, Y.; Kishino, K.; Ikeda, N.; Takashima, T.; Aizawa, N.; Takata, R.; et al. Serum Zinc Concentration and Sarcopenia: A Close Linkage in Chronic Liver Diseases. J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8030336
AMA Style
Nishikawa H, Enomoto H, Yoh K, Iwata Y, Sakai Y, Kishino K, Ikeda N, Takashima T, Aizawa N, Takata R, et al. Serum Zinc Concentration and Sarcopenia: A Close Linkage in Chronic Liver Diseases. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2019; 8(3):336. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8030336
Chicago/Turabian StyleNishikawa, Hiroki, Hirayuki Enomoto, Kazunori Yoh, Yoshinori Iwata, Yoshiyuki Sakai, Kyohei Kishino, Naoto Ikeda, Tomoyuki Takashima, Nobuhiro Aizawa, Ryo Takata, and et al. 2019. "Serum Zinc Concentration and Sarcopenia: A Close Linkage in Chronic Liver Diseases" Journal of Clinical Medicine 8, no. 3: 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8030336
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.
