Effectiveness of administering zinc acetate hydrate to patients with inflammatory bowel disease and zinc deficiency: a retrospective observational two-center study

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients frequently have zinc deficiency. IBD patients with zinc defi-ciency have higher risks of IBD-related hospitalization, complications, and requiring surgery. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH; Nobelzin) in IBD patients with zinc deficiency. Methods: IBD patients with zinc deficiency who received ZAH from March 2017 to April 2020 were registered in this two-center, retrospective, observational study. Changes in serum zinc levels and disease activity (Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI]) before and after ZAH ad-ministration were analyzed. Results: Fifty-one patients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 40) or ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 11) were registered. Median serum zinc level and median CDAI scores significantly improved (55.5-91.0 mu g/dL, P < 0.001; 171.5-129, P < 0.001, respectively) in CD patients 4 weeks after starting ZAH administration. Similarly, median serum zinc levels and CDAI scores significantly improved (57.0-81.0 mu g/dL, P < 0.001; 177-148, P = 0.012, respectively) 20 weeks after starting ZAH admin-istration. Similar investigations were conducted in groups where no treatment change, other than ZAH administration, was implemented; significant improvements were observed in both serum zinc level and CDAI scores. Median serum zinc levels in UC patients 4 weeks after starting ZAH administration significantly improved from 63.0 to 94.0 mu g/dL (P= 0.002), but no sig-nificant changes in disease activity were observed. One patient experienced side effects of abdominal discomfort and nausea. Conclusions: ZAH administration is effective in improving zinc deficiency and may contribute to improving disease activity in IBD. (Intest Res, Published online)