Tuberc Respir Dis.  1987 Jun;34(2):157-161. 10.4046/trd.1987.34.2.157.

Serun Zinc Levels and Urinary Zinc Excretion in Patients with Lung Cancer

• KMID: 2528660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1987.34.2.157

Abstract

To determine the change in serum zinc level and possible mechanism of its change in patients with lung cancer, we measured serum zinc level and 24 hour urinary zinc excretion in 60 normal control subjects and 18 lung cancer patients. The results were as follows; 1) Mean serum zinc level in patients with lung cancer (82.9± 27 μg/dl) was significantly lower than that in normal control subjects (117.9 ± 33.6 μg/dl) (p < 0.005). 2) The 24 hour urinary zinc excretion in patients with lung cancer (2588.0±1252.7 μg/24 hour was significantly higher than that in normal control subjects (682.4± 90.2 μg/24 hr)(p < 0.005). 3) In patients with extended ' stage, serum zinc level was lower and 24 hour urinary zinc excretion was higher than that in patients with limited stage, but there were no statistically significant differences (p>0.1). This study confirmed that serum zinc level in patients with lung cancer is lower than that in normal control subjects and suggested that low serum level in patients with lung cancer may be related to higher urinary excretion of zinc.