Rapid improvement in dermatitis after zinc supplementation in a patient with Crohn's disease

Optic Nerve Changes in Zinc-deficient Rats

“…Copper and manganese have been proved by authors to be essential for optic nerve ®bers (Mishima et al, 1996;Gong and Amemiya, 1999). Zn is also thought to be essential for the optic nerve, because papillitis, optic nerve atrophy and optic neuropathy occur under Znde®cient conditions (Sturtevant, 1980;Yolton, 1981), such as chronic alcoholism (Prasad, 1985;Akar and Arcasoy, 1990;Vannucchi et al, 1995), liver cirrhosis (Scholmerich et al, 1983;Ozsoylu et al, 1991), Crohn's disease (Heimburger, Tamura and Marks, 1990;Myung et al, 1998) and acrodermatitis enteropathia (Chesters, 1997;Muga and Grider, 1999) and with the administration of drugs such as ethambutol (Yolton, 1981), disul®ram and penicillamine (Klingberg, Prasad and Oberleas, 1976;Weismann, 1986). However, optic nerves probably damaged under Zn-de®cient conditions have not been examined histopathologically.…”

Nutrition Support for Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Clinical Report of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

“…Reduced serum zinc levels in Crohn disease correlate with disease activity but not with disease location or nutritional status (78,79). Patients with Crohn disease complicated by acrodermatitis experience response to zinc supplementation (80,81).…”

Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children

“…While trace mineral or vitamin deficiency may be more frequent than commonly appreciated in patients with IBD, dermatologic consequences are unusual. Zinc deficiency may be associated with a significant scaly erythematous rash (21). Pellagra (22,23) and scurvy (24) have been described in a few subjects with Crohn's disease.…”